Late night snacking is something that almost everyone does at some point. It could be stress eating, real hunger or just hankering for something to much, late night snacking is just inevitable. Snacking late at night may be inevitable, but if you do try to avoid these kinds of foods, which is the worst type of foods to eat late at night.
High carb or high sugar foods
Eating a very small piece of chocolate may be okay and will sate your need to munch on something but eating a large portion of a sugary or high carbohydrate food item will increase your blood sugar levels and this sudden rise and then dip in your blood sugar can disrupt your sleep. Do not eat cakes or other desserts, white bread or crackers as a midnight snack. If you want something sweet, eat a piece of fruit.
Meat proteins
Fatty food or heavy meat proteins like beef and pork are heavy types of food that will sit in your stomach for a long time as it is being digested, making it hard for you to sleep. A large portion of chicken will also have the same effect. You can still eat protein as a late night snack but opt for lean and small portions like some turkey.
Spicy dishes
Spicy food is not recommended as a midnight snack because it could cause some problems with your digestion like hyperacidity. Spicy food can also wake you up so it’s not really a good idea to eat this kind of food as a midnight snack.
Huge food portions
It’s called a midnight ‘snack’ for a reason – it should only be a nibble or small portion. Don’t turn it into a late night meal or second dinner by eating a huge portion. Try to limit your late night snack to something that is only 200 calories so you won’t have a problem trying to sleep.