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For some people, eating at night is a nightmare, and for some — it’s a constant reason for jokes. However, this process can be made very easy and harmless if you substitute donuts and sausages with healthy foods such as cheese and popcorn.
Bright Side has prepared a list of foods for you that make great night snacks. And if you’re still not willing to eat healthy food, you can simply stop eating the foods you absolutely shouldn’t at night which we will tell you about at the end of the article.
1. Cheese
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Scientists from Harvard warn that eating too much can be just as much trouble for sleep as hunger, so they advise to eat something light at nighttime. For example, they recommend eating several slices of cheese that have enough flavor to satisfy the taste receptors and won’t be too difficult for the body to digest.
2. Yogurt
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According to nutrition experts, greek yogurt is perfect for a night snack because it doesn’t contain a lot of fats but it does contain a lot of protein. According to studies, protein in yogurt not only makes you feel full but it also helps the body to burn more calories in the daytime.
3. Crackers
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Whole wheat crackers (not all regular crackers) can be eaten without causing too much harm to healthy sleep. They contain so-called slow carbohydrates that keep you fuller for longer.
4. Popcorn
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Nutrition expert Erika Kannall advises people who like snacks at nighttime to eat a bowl of popcorn without salt. This type of snack won’t impact body shape at all. You can make the popcorn tastier by adding black pepper or garlic to it.
5. Eggs
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A boiled egg contains only 75 kcal and it’s great for a night snack. According to Erika Kannall, such a snack will allow you to forget about the hunger till morning and won’t turn into extra inches on your waist.
6. Vegetables
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If you know for sure that you will wake up at night to have a snack but you realize that one kind of food won’t be enough for you, you can prepare some kind of a dish in advance like a vegetable salad, for example. We recommend eating green vegetables because they contain the kind of carbs that will keep you full until the morning.
7. Applesauce with cinnamon
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Healthy food specialist, Karen Borsari recommends eating applesauce with cinnamon for those who want to eat sweet foods at night. You can add a handful of raisins as well. This dish won’t only kill your craving for donuts and scones, but it will also decrease the level of orexin that makes you get up to eat.
8. A glass of cherry juice
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Of course, we mean natural cherry juice. It may not make you really full but studies show that this juice has a positive influence on the quality of sleep, making it deeper and longer.
9. A banana
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Despite the fact that this fruit is digested pretty fast, it is not likely to wake you up a second time during the night. The thing is, bananas contain a lot of potassium and magnesium that help us relax. It also contains melatonin that according to different studies, improves the quality of sleep.
Bonus: The worst night snacks you can have
Simple carbs such as bakery goods and sweets will definitely have you feeling sorry in the morning, and they will turn into extra weight. Alcohol dehydrates the body and can cause a fever. You will also have to get up during the night to go to the bathroom. Salty and spicy foods can make you get up at night in order to drink a glass of water. And it might be difficult to go back to sleep after that.
Do you get up at night to have a snack? If you do, what foods do you eat? Tell us in the comment section below.
Preview illustrated by Alena Sofronova for BrightSide.me