Table of contents:
- Various snacks that can be eaten at night
- 1. Cherries
- 2. Oatmeal
- 3. Milk
- 4. Cheese and crackers
- 5. Bananas
- 6. Sweet Potatoes
- 7. Popcorn
- 8. Natural peanut butter
Do you often feel hungry at night or when you wake up in the middle of the night? You want to eat more, but heavy meals add calories to your body, while your metabolism slows down at night. You also switch to snacks. Even though without you knowing it, these snacks are not necessarily lower in calories than heavy foods.
Sometimes, when you are snacking, you don't realize how many calories you have eaten, because often people eat snacks while doing things like watching TV, completing tasks, chatting casually, reading books, or even daydreaming. However, holding back hunger can also make you sleep less soundly, resulting in hormones leptin will be generated; satiety is stimulated by this hormone. Then, what's the solution?
Various snacks that can be eaten at night
You don't need to worry, there are some snacks that are good to eat at night when hunger pops up.
1. Cherries
According to Keri Gans, a dietitian in New York and author of the book The Small Change Diet The melatonin found in cherries helps control our body's internal clock. This internal clock is a daily rhythmic pattern (such as wake-up time, sleep time) that is formed and conceptualized in the brain. Melatonin capsules are also consumed by travelers when going to a place that allows them to experience it jet lag . Research has found that there are changes in the duration and quality of sleep in people with chronic insomnia by drinking tart cherry juice. In addition, these substances can also solve the problem of headaches. Other content in cherries are antioxidants such as beta carotene which is good for heart problems.
2. Oatmeal
Usually people eat oatmeal for breakfast, but you can also eat oatmeal as a snack at night. Why? Because oatmeal can produce the hormone serotonin, and this hormone is believed to stimulate melatonin production. Quoted from Livestrong, oatmeal contains protein and complex carbohydrates, so if you want to increase your protein intake, you can serve it with nonfat yogurt.
3. Milk
We often see promotions about the habit of drinking milk before bedtime, with various health claims. It is even believed that children who are growing need to drink milk before bed to increase their height. Milk can make you sleep soundly because it contains the amino acid tryptophan, which signals the brain to produce serotonin. In addition, drinking milk will also make you feel full.
4. Cheese and crackers
Hmm, who would think you shouldn't eat cheese before bed? Cheese and crackers is another alternative to the combination of protein and complex carbohydrates. However, that does not mean you can eat too much and freely. To be a healthy snack, look at the nutrition labels on the products you eat, preferably around 150 calories in combination crackers whole grains and low-fat cheeses such as cheese feta.
5. Bananas
Apart from being a healthy snack at night, bananas can also be your savior when skipping dinner, because bananas are filling and contain magnesium and potassium. Apart from that, they can also help you to sleep well. Potassium itself has a function for cardiovascular and cognitive health.
6. Sweet Potatoes
Yes, sweet potatoes are also a food that contains complex carbohydrates and potassium. In addition, sweet potatoes also contain potassium and niacin, both of which are good for heart health. Then there is the phosphorus, vitamin A, and vitamin C. You can serve the sweet potatoes by steaming them, to reduce excess oil consumption.
7. Popcorn
You can be happy now because popcorn can be a snack when you are hungry at night, but the popcorn should be tasteless, no salt added, no other flavorings added. The reason popcorn is good for consumption is because popcorn, including foods that are low in calories and fat and high in fiber, also contain antioxidants. Popcorn is also included in whole grain foods. Can be an alternative food to the diet. You can consume about one bowl with a little sprinkling of olive oil.
8. Natural peanut butter
Natural peanut butter is one that doesn't add palm oil to balance it, and of course, doesn't add sugar. Natural peanut butter is good for consumption because it contains unsaturated fats, which can reduce your bad cholesterol level. In addition, peanuts also contain vitamin E, niacin, folate, and protein. You can eat it with whole wheat bread which is also suitable for a diet.
