Dieting, lifestyle change, whatever you want to call it comes with a laundry list of the do’s and don’ts for losing weight. Depending on the flavor of the month or fad diet you could be looking at a ton of confusion. Most diets contradict each other. Like Atkins: Eat his fat and protein no carbs. Eating clean: get in those complex carbs, veggies, and protein. Simple (not really) calorie counting. And don’t get me started on keto.
Buzzfeed may have the answer. They recently checked in with registered dieticians Abby Langer and Despina Hyde to find out.
“Sure, your metabolic rate slows down a bit, but it doesn’t stop,” says Langer. “Yes, when it comes to weight management, it’s better to eat your biggest meals around the time of day you’re most active, but in general, your total calories matter more than the timing. And a reasonable snack that satisfies your hunger before bed isn’t enough to derail your healthy eating efforts.”
If this is a consistent issue, chances are you’re not eating enough calories during the day. And check out your protein intake. If you are eating a ton of carbs and fatty foods, this can cause your body to burn that off too quickly, leaving nothing in your reserve, and converting it to fat. Yuck.
“Avoid a too-big meal, since your body will have to work harder to digest, which might actually keep you awake. But if your schedule leaves you with no choice but to eat dinner close to bedtime.” Hyde suggests, “Something that’s about 40% veggies, 40% carbs, and 20% protein.”
Here are 7 snacks that are good to eat at night…
High fiber Cereal
Who doesn’t love Babybel?
Avocado or hard-boiled egg toast
Bananas with peanut butter
Greek yogurt with granola or fruit (or both!)
A simple cup of cottage cheese with crackers
Fruit and nuts are perfect for a sweet craving
So no matter your diet, remember it is important to space out meals, get the proper calorie intake, and eat (healthy) when hungry at night!
Because no one likes a cranky Netflix partner…