Healthy Ways to Curb Your Midnight Cravings
It is 3 AM, and you feel your stomach rumbling in the middle of watching an episode of your favourite TV show. You get up, find a BBQ flavoured chanachur and munch on it, not realising that you have finished a whole packet by yourself. The aftermath of this indulgence hits you after you wake up, when it feels like a tornado tearing up your insides as you sit on the toilet.
Many young people tend to be night owls, sitting in front of the computer screen till sunrise, either studying, reading, watching YouTube videos or wasting their time in general. Midnight is a cherished time for most, as it is easy to escape the noise of everyday life and enjoy some sweet solitude. However, the things one consumes at midnight can severely affect their health. With that in mind, here is a list of healthy midnight snacking options which are kind to your body and are extremely delicious as well!
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Fruits are like a healthy substitute for candy. They are small, sweet, delicious AND contain useful vitamins. A bowl of berries, bananas, or any other fruit really, is a great way to alleviate your cravings.
Nuts
Nuts are packed with proteins, antioxidants and fibres. They are very good for health and are tasty as well. You can opt for toasted/salted nuts, which can be a great substitute for other crunchy snacks. Almonds, cashew nuts, walnuts, pecans, and many other types of nuts can be eaten without any fear of upsetting the stomach or soul.
Popcorn
You cannot ever really enjoy a midnight movie marathon without some popcorn, and as it turns out, popcorn is actually a healthy meal! It is low in calories and provides some fibres for your body. Adding butter to your popcorn during midnight is totally optional, especially if you want to keep your calorie count in check. Sprinkle a little spice (suggestion: chotpoti mix!) and you have got yourself a perfectly healthy snack.
Whole wheat bread with peanut butter
Peanut butter contains an amino acid called tryptophan that is converted to melatonin in the brain to induce relaxation and sleep. Bread provides fibres and additionally, it provides the body with carbohydrates, which are essential for the brain's access to the tryptophan. Hence, a peanut butter sandwich is actually good as a midnight meal as it provides you with nutrition and promotes good sleep as well.
Milk and cereal
Adding some corn flakes to a bowl of milk is usually a meal that people have for breakfast, but it can also be a great meal during the middle of the night. Low-sugar milk with some cereal provides the body with carbohydrates, and the calcium in the milk raises the production of melatonin.
While it feels good to munch on some sugary treats and salty crackers, these small moments of happiness can eventually create a lot of issues for your stomach, teeth and overall well-being. You can totally have some midnight snacks to your heart's content while making sure that your body is not getting inconvenienced.
Durdana Kamal likes to do things which mostly have no purpose whatsoever. Contact: kamal.durdana@gmail.com
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