Midnight Snacks...

...posted at midnight !!

Let me start by saying :: the "don't eat past _____pm" myth, is just that. A MYTH.
For those who work 9-5 sitting down all day: You more likely have a slower metabolism; or may have issues with bingeing post-dinner. In these specific conditions, this plan may be a good way to break bad habits.
However, for the other, who have varied schedules: This is CRAZY!  If you work 3-11p How are you going to keep awake if you don't eat after 6p? Where is your caloric intake? And if you sleep through the day before your shift, when do you eat?
Or for my fitness posse: Imagine coming out the gym at 9/10p post late cardio, or heading to the gym at 8p to lift & you weren't "allowed" to eat since 6pm... FOH!!!

If you're laid up in bed, or messing about on the internet, and you get the "cravings", FIRST drink 8-12oz of cool water. 60% of the time you feel "hungry" (outside of your normal schedule) it's your body trying to trick you into hydrating. If you're still hungry 3-4minutes after drinking, then by all means grab a snack!

Here are some of my fave "go-to's" if I simply MUST eat, later at night:
1/2c plain (greek / fat free) yogurt and 1/2c chopped fruit - I like pineapple, berries, peach
1 small fruit + 1TBsp almond/peanut butter - keep the nut butters to ONE TBsp (*thats 100cals!)
1/2 sweet potato + plain yogurt & cayenne - spicy, cool, starchy & a little sweet; full of fibre/vitamins
1/2c pumpkin seeds - try my spicy pumpkin seed recipe!
1/4c unsalted nuts - I like to buy raw (or in-shell) and dry-pan toast them
1/2c Oats + 1TBsp nut butter
1 egg - hard boiled, or scrambled (*I use coconut oil in a spray bottle to minimize oils/fat)
1/4c low-sodium tuna + 1tsp dijon mustard, in lettuce leaves
2 pcs Turkey / Ostrich / Low-sodium Beef jerky

These snacks range from 100-250cals, and more importantly, they're clean. In general, stick to whole foods, that are naturally lower in fat/sugars, or have omega3,6 rich fats, and try to avoid animal-based fats.

However, if you haven't eaten in over 3hours (*e.g. since work) & you will be staying up longer than 2 hours, by all means YOU CAN EAT "REAL FOOD". I have had a FULL DINNER (no dessert) at 10pm but I had just come in from 90mins cardio & I had to be awake until 3am!

Hope this helps!
Mia