Guilt-free Healthy Evening Snacks
Have you ever found your stomach grumbling between dinner and bedtime? Or maybe you find yourself pacing the kitchen in the middle of the night unable to sleep — but more than able to eat?
You want something to snack on, but you don’t want to sabotage your health either.
The good news is that you can have both yummy snacks and guilt-free snacks! We’ve got the best healthy evening snacks you can chow down on without any guilt (and without waking up the rest of the house).
Healthy Evening Snacks for Sleeping
We all know the feeling: you’re nestled up in bed, but your stomach is growling. Until you feed it, there’s no sleep in your future! Fortunately, several snacks will actually aid your body’s natural ability to sleep via their link to sleep-aiding chemical melatonin.
Go Nuts! Then Go to Bed.
Nuts are one of the best snacks all around — for any time of day. They’re packed with protein and healthy fats to keep you feeling full and your brain running smoothly.
But did you know that nuts also have some of the highest concentrations of melatonin — the chemical that tells your brain it’s time for sleep?
Just one ounce (about a handful) of shelled pistachios contains just 160 calories and about 6.5 mg of melatonin. That’s more than the average dosage of melatonin supplements (which contain anywhere from 0.5 to 5 mg of melatonin).
Get to cracking and then get right back to napping!
Alternatively, Go Bananas
For a really decadent treat, add some bananas to your nuts. Bananas are one of the few fruits known to be rich in serotonin, a precursor to melatonin. Studies have shown that those who consumed bananas before bed saw up to a four-fold increase in melatonin.
Try dipping some bananas into your favorite nut butters for a sweet, nutty treat that’ll leave you catching some zzz’s.
Moo’s and Snooze
A glass of warm milk has long been a folk remedy for those trying to fall asleep, but did you ever wonder why?
Tryptophan is a chemical compound that converts to melatonin via a process called serotonin synthesis. A-lactalbumin, a protein found in milk, has some of the highest tryptophan content among commonly-consumed foods, making milk a secret melatonin powerhouse.
This is why a glass of milk before bed, especially when combined with an overall healthy diet and exercise, can make you sleepy — and why it has long remained a popular method for getting back to bed.
Yogurt or cheese can also be a great way to get your dose of tryptophan, especially when combined with fruits like tart cherries (which also contain a significant dose of melatonin).
Healthy Evening Snacks for Burning the Midnight Oil
Maybe sleep isn’t your goal — perhaps you’d rather just have a snack so you can finish a few more chapters of your book or the thrilling finale of your favorite show.
Veg With Veggies
If you’re feeling lazy, veggie sticks always make a great option. Add some nut butters for extra substance. If you know that you’re prone to midnight snacking, try roasting some veggies during the day in anticipation of your midnight munchies.
Taro, jicama, beets, kale, and brussel sprouts are all fantastic roasted and salted. You can buy them pre-made, of course, but it’s not to difficult to make them yourself.
Wash your vegetables and then cut them into thick slices (they’ll shrink when you cook them). Pat them to remove as much moisture as possible and then toss them in olive oil and a little salt. Place your veggies on a greased cookie sheet and bake at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.
Once they’ve finished baking, lay your veggie chips on a wire rack to cool and crisp up. Once cooled, toss them in your favorite seasoning of choice. Try some wasabi powder for a unique flavor with a little kick.
Pig Out — Healthily
Pigless Pork Rinds from Outstanding Foods are a great evening snack that delivers all of the flavor and none of the guilt. These delicious treats are plant-based, packed with protein, and have 75% less saturated fat than “traditional” pork rinds, so you can rest assured you’re still snacking healthy.
Best of all, they require zero prep on your part — and they’re there at whatever wee hours of the dawn your munchies may require.
Order yourself a bag of Pig Out Pigless Pork Rinds from Outstanding Foods today and remove the guilt from your next midnight snack!
