We all have seen and experienced. We are late into the night and suddenly feel hungry. We know damn well that Hunger won’t allow us to catch sleep and eating anything heavy will hamper our shape. As learned reader, we are also conscious of our weight and need to watch the calories.

Why Hunger pangs hit us at night?

If you have recently started exercises, the metabolism improves and whatever you consumed is digested quickly. This is completely normal for our body and it asks for some extra food. Now it is up to you to eat anything heavy which takes time to digest or something light which satiates our body, that we have filled again and allows you to sleep.

The best option would be to select healthy snacks.

But ever wonder why it happens at night? Hunger is one real reason but there may be others too, like:

1. Dehydration
2. Low glucose levels
3. Boredom,

 and until it is sure that it is really hunger, we should think twice before feeding heavy food.

Further, instead of drooling about what to eat, we should choose from the healthiest options. Junk foods are big no as they might look appetizing but not healthy from any angle. Moreover, junk foods being heavy prevent you from catching the sleep early and also from having sound sleep.

List of suggested healthy late night snacks to beat hunger

1. Cottage Cheese

It is an excellent choice for a nighttime snack because it is high in Protein but low in carbohydrates. Also this protein is digested slowly hence it won’t overload your digestive system. The presence of fat helps you feel fuller and cut off cravings to a large extent.

2. Pomegranate with thick Greek Yoghurt (Dahi)

The Greek Yoghurt (Dahi) provides with complex carbohydrates that gives us the “full” feeling and also has ample proteins. The Pomegranate seeds invigorating red colour, not only please your eyes, it also gives you a stimulating tart flavor from its most powerful antioxidants. The slight fructose content energizes you whereas the complex carbohydrates ensure there is no insulin spike.

3. An Apple with Almond/Peanut Butter

Apples have lots of soluble and insoluble fiber and a satisfying crunch. The juice you get while nibbling apples is so aromatic and sweet, it fills your mouth with pleasantries. The protein in the peanut or almond butter also fills you up without feeling heavy in your stomach and the nutty taste is very enjoyable too.

4. A Banana

Bananas are definitely loaded with satiating fiber and the ever relaxing tryptophan, but they’re the perfect late-night snack for almost everyone. The flesh behaves as something really mouthful and sends signal to brain that we had something sizeable. But remember; only one is enough.

5. Dark Chocolate

Get your hands on the darker variety which has less sugar but up to 70-75 % more cocoa and more antioxidants than any on the market. It also lowers blood sugar level and satisfies your sweet craving too, however do not go overboard and restrict yourself to 3-4 cubes at the most.

6. Delectable Strawberry Smoothie

Athletes and bodybuilders are familiar with smoothies. Trying it out for your late night munchies is not a bad option either. Mix a few strawberries with a bowl of Greek yoghurt, a teaspoon of honey and blend together. For a good texture, add a few ice cubes into the blender and keep sipping and keep the late night hunger away.

7. Popcorn

It works everywhere, even when watching TV in the afternoon. This is best option to tell your brain that you are eating some long-lasting product and it will provide energy for all body related tasks. Carefully prepared popcorn from 95% fat –free variant then this very popcorn contains only 90-100 calories.

8. Protein Bars

Protein bars are relatively attractive and totally different from other available options. You need to remove their outer wrapping and this interests our brain. They are chewy and have hefty protein content which keeps you feel full for long. The name protein bars show they are low in carbohydrates, which all athletes look forward to.

Conclusion
For late night hunger pangs, it is better to make a list of products that we can munch without any guilt and without giving much of a thought. These 8 best options will do the job efficiently, and also help in our weight management plan.

The post Top 8 Healthy Late Night Snacks to Control Hunger appeared first on Fitnesstack.