Late Night Snacks… But Healthy!
Bonji Hot Takes: Volume 68
Welcome back to the Bonji Hot Takes! We hope your week has been filled with success and happiness. The weekend is near but we hope to offer some value before this week closes and you are enjoying the time off. To me, late-night snacking has always been a part of my life. Of course, with healthy eating trends, we found out that these later evening snacking habits aren't the best for you. Especially considering that these snacks tend to be on the guilty pleasure side of things, eating close to your bedtime can negatively impact your sleep or raise blood sugar levels. However, if you choose the right food, eating late-night snacks can actually improve your sleep or simply satisfy you in the perfect way.
Best Late-Night Snacks When Trying To Stay Healthy Late-night snacking is a habit that many of us find hard to resist. Whether it’s due to hunger, boredom, or simply craving something sweet or salty, it’s all too easy to reach for unhealthy snacks that are high in calories and low in nutrients. Yet, with a little planning and some creativity, it’s possible to enjoy late night snacks that are both satisfying and healthy. Before you head to sleep for the night, you want to stay away from foods heavy in sugar or spice, while aiming for the ones high in vitamins and minerals.
Our Top “Healthier” Late-Night Snacks:
1. Hummus + Veggies (or a whole grain cracker) Hummus, a healthy party-goers favorite, is a nighttime powerhouse. Yup, you read that correctly. In an unexpected fashion, hummus combines chickpeas with tahini, creating a complete protein that will fill you up just right for a great night's sleep. Additionally, I'm vegetable's biggest fan. Thus, munching on some celery, carrots, or cucumbers while mixing in some hummus puts me in a dream state. Yet, if you aren't huge on your veggies, no worries. Find a healthier, whole-grain, cracker or pita chip and you're all set. 2. Apple Slices/Banana + Peanut Butter/Almond Butter Now for my personal favorite, apples, and peanut butter. In this case, you can switch our apples for bananas or peanut butter for almond butter. Regardless, this is one of the top choices for many people as a midnight snack. The potassium in bananas or fiber in apples mixed with the protein, healthy fats, and magnesium in PB/AB creates a perfect blend for your bedtime routine. While being overall healthy, this is will taste like a delicious treat. Of course, you want to aim for more natural peanut butter to avoid too much sugar and harmful ingredients, but there are plenty of options. Have a little time to prepare? Throw the banana and butter of your choice in the freezer and it's welcome to frozen paradise! 3. Oatmeal Although many associate oatmeals with breakfast, it could be the ideal evening bite. The complex carbs in oatmeal are perfect for a pre-sleep meal. They are slow to break down and control blood sugar spikes. Columbia University even found research suggesting that the carbs connect with your brain to release serotonin which soothes your body and helps boost natural melatonin production. By the way, this could be a warm, cozy bowl of oatmeal, or even your favorite, classier overnight oats recipe. 4. Cooked Edamame Although this may take a bit of preparation, edamame as a nocturnal bite could be as good as it gets. As “Pure Wow” puts it, “Protein plus fiber equals the best night's sleep of your life.” With protein, fiber, and even elements in soy that have been found to increase durations of sleep, edamame is the golden midnight munch. Let's not forget the minerals and vitamins that are also prime for sleep digestion! The preparation could be as simple as boiling up the beans, but you can take a creative spin on them if you are feeling spunky. 5. Sorbet For those of you who are ice cream fanatics, a late-night sorbet could help get your fix, while avoiding dairy, sugars, and other problematic ingredients. A fruit sorbet, like Bonji's acai, pitaya, or coconut, tastes just as delicious as ice cream while taking out the negatives of ice cream. Although we believe our sorbets are the highest quality, quick sorbets can be made at home too! Some may say that sorbets and fruits are just as sugary as ice cream. Well not only is this natural sugar, but also you can find low-sugar options. When making it yourself, many people call for milk, but we prefer a dairy-free version so you will have no problem digesting as you fall asleep.