9 Foods You Can Safely Eat, Even Right Before You Sleep At Night

Nov 02, 2018

Who doesn’t enjoy a snack before heading off to bed for the night? Going to bed on an empty stomach can make it difficult to fall asleep for some people. Unfortunately, many other people have bad experiences with their dreams or even difficulty sleeping if they indulge before bed.

However, it’s worth noting that if you substitute the junk foods you enjoy eating before bed with healthy alternatives, you can snack before bedtime with no problem!

The following list of snack foods makes for an excellent treat at night. If you’re unwilling to try any of these alternatives, it’s also worth noting that you can prevent your sleeping troubles by simply cutting a few things out. Keep reading to find out how you can enjoy a treat before bed without the hassle!

Harvard Medical School has been warning the public about the harm that overeating before bedtime causes. It can be just as troublesome as trying to go to bed hungry! They recommend a light snack before it’s time for lights out rather than a hearty meal. One of their most recommended snacks for bedtime is some cheese slices! Eating this snack will satisfy your taste buds without giving you problems with digestion or falling asleep.

Experts in the science of nutrition believe that snacking on yogurt before bed is an excellent decision. Greek yogurt isn’t made up of tons of fat but contains healthy protein instead. The protein gives your body the feeling of fullness but also helps aid in burning calories.

Crackers that are made of whole wheat are a snack you can indulge in before bedtime without encountering too any issues. Whole wheat crackers are made up of slow carbohydrates that can keep your body feeling full throughout the entire night, leaving you satisfied and ready to fall asleep.

Erika Kannall, an expert in the field of nutrition, recommends unsalted popcorn as a late night snack for those who like to have a treat before bed. By having a bowl of unsalted popcorn before bed, you’re likely to keep your figure and not risk gaining weight. For a better tasting snack, add some garlic or black pepper to the popcorn!

Boiled eggs are an amazing late night snack because they are low in calories. With only 75 kcal per egg, you’ll be able to indulge without cheating on your diet or gaining weight. Expert nutritionist Kannall also believes that eggs are filling enough to keep you feeling satisfied until the morning while also keeping you slim and trim in the process.

If choosing one particular food is too strict for your bedtime snack, you can pick a variety of vegetables to indulge in before bed. If you already know you’re going to want a snack, take a few minutes out of your day to prepare a healthy dish to consume before you go to sleep. A vegetable salad is a great snack for bedtime because it will fill you up while remaining low in calories. Try to keep your salad full of mostly green vegetables in order to maintain that feeling of fullness.

Karen Borsari, an expert in the field of eating healthy foods, believes that cinnamon applesauce can be a great treat for those who are craving sweet foods before bedtime. For an extra kick, you can also add some raisins to the mixture. Instead of indulging in sweets like cake or donuts, try applesauce with cinnamons to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Try to stick to cherry juice without any added sugars. Drinking a glass of cherry juice before bed can improve the quality of your sleep, making you feel more rested when you wake up in the morning.

Although bananas are fast to digest in the body, you’re unlikely to wake up hungry after having a banana before bed. Bananas are loaded full of magnesium as well as potassium which can help you feel more relaxed. Bananas also contain melatonin, which is proven to improve the overall quality of rest.

- Simple carbs: Sweets and baked goods should be avoided just before bedtime. They will also cause you to gain weight.

- Alcohol: Alcohol will cause you to become extremely dehydrated, can cause nighttime fevers and will make you wake up during your slumber for bathroom trips.

- Spicy or salty foods: Eating these types of foods before bed will make you thirsty, interrupting your night with trips to the kitchen for water.

What’s your favorite bedtime snack? Although you may like to indulge before bedtime, it doesn't have to interrupt your good night's rest. Put down the sugary donuts and sweet treats and consider opting for something more healthy like cheese or popcorn. You’ll feel just as satisfied, and might even stay asleep longer!

You can also indulge in these foods before bed without worrying that you’ll gain weight or ruin your diet. Are you considering swapping your favorite snack out for one of these healthy alternatives proven to give you a good nights sleep? You might notice a huge improvement in your rest if you do!

Do you have special tips for bedtime food? Tell us in the comments. Pass this on to your friends and family to help them get a better night's sleep!

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation by your doctor. Your health is important to us!