There are many reasons why you may get a food craving late at night.
- Dehydration is one of the main reasons of late night food cravings and hunger
- It could derive from boredom
- You could be genuinely hungry because of an early dinner
- You suffer from low salt or sugar levels
- Lack of protein in your body
- Not eating enough earlier in the day
For any of these reasons, your hunger needs to be satisfied and a healthy snack is what you should grab instead of unhealthy junk foods.
Here are 8 quick and easy late night snack ideas:
Frozen banana puree- So I swear Shelly and I didn’t want to believe this one but… blend the hell out of a few bananas and all of the sudden a delicious alternative to ice cream starts to appear. Ok, stay with me! Put frozen bananas in a food processor or blender and pulse it a few times to break it up. Then, run the machine for about three to five minutes, scraping down the bowl occasionally. Transfer to a different bowl and let the puree set up in the freezer for 15 minutes or until it’s scoopable. Cinnamon, a dollop of peanut butter or cool whip to top it off and VIOLA!
Pizza and Popcorn- Toss freshly popped kernels with a touch of olive oil and then mix in grated Parmesan, dried oregano, bits of finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes, garlic powder and a dash of red-pepper flakes. Just keep your portion size to under 2 cups (if possible).
Frozen Blueberries- A cup of the fruit is packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and more than 4 grams of fiber. For a richer snack, top them with a little light whipped cream. 2 tbsp of light whipped cream only adds 2 grams of sugar and tastes sooooo yummy.
Greek Yogurt- It’s high protein, low in sugar, and can really fill you up. For more flavor, mix in your own fruit, like sliced papaya or pineapple for added digestive enzymes. Or mix plain Greek yogurt with a Hidden Valley ranch flavor packets instead of sour cream to make a dip for carrots, celery, cucumbers or any other veggie for a salty and crunchy snack!
Turkey Roll-Up- (3 slices of turkey rolled with Romaine lettuce) 1 cup carrot sticks + 3 tablespoons hummus. The crunchy texture keeps your chompers busy, and the tangy hummus feeds your need for comfort food.
Cottage cheese- is an excellent choice for a nighttime snack because it’s low in carbohydrates and high in protein. Don’t shy away from “full-fat” cottage cheese, as 2/3 cup of full-fat cottage cheese contains less than 6 grams of fat, which will help you feel fuller and kill cravings. Look for cottage cheese with live and active cultures to get a dose of probiotics without having to take a supplement.
Double Chocolate Pudding– This double chocolate spin on instant pudding is a guilt-free way to enjoy a carb-conscious chocolate treat that cuts out 14.5 grams of sugar per serving compared to regular chocolate milk. Ingredients: 1 packet sugar-free, fat-free instant chocolate pudding 2 cups Calorie Countdown Hood Chocolate Milk (found only at WalMart for $2.88).
Hot Chocolate: Cut down the sugar and add some yummy deliciousness to the end of your night with a kick of protein. Add 2 teaspoons of chocolate (or chocolate mint) protein powder to Calorie Countdown Hood Chocolate Milk, warm and drink it up. It satisfies your senses to the maximum. Enjoy a hot snack before going to bed while your muscles soak up that nourishing protein!!!
Check out 3 more awesome recipes plus a few bonus grab and go snacks from the grocery store…
I hope these quick and easy recipes will be exactly what you need to get you over those late night cravings. The difference between making a good decision and a bad decision at that time of night is detrimental to your success.
You are what you eat!
Committed to your fitness success and the next phase of your journey,
Derek Kuryliw, Certified Sports Nutritionist & Personal Trainer LiveFit Bootcamps, CEO/Founder
…for questions or comments email [email protected]
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