Going to bed hungry? Not a healthy choice! Due to the fear of ruining diet plans, people have been known to ignore a rumbling tummy. However, it is important to point out that going to bed hungry can be harmful. You’re more likely to wake up starving the next morning, craving comfort foods, and ultimately making bad health choices.
But don’t fret. There are a certain food items that can get you out of this conundrum. The following foods will help you lose weight and go to bed with a satisfied stomach.
1. Chocolate Milk
Chocolate milk can help you feel full when going to sleep without disrupting your weight loss goals. How? Firstly, the calcium present in milk is known to help in melting the belly fat [1] (according to researchers in Nebraska). Moreover the slow digesting high protein content in chocolate milk can help in muscle development overnight.
Milk also contains an amino acid called tryptophan which can help us sleep better. More sleep means less cravings, better metabolism and hence, weight loss.
2. High Fiber Cereals
When it comes to cereals, we aren’t talking about fruity loops. We’re referring to the whole grain complex carb cereals, like oats and cornflakes. Giving you over 200 calories per bowl, the carbs are good for sleep. While the fiber is known to be filling and helps burn excess fat. Hence, cereals are also an ideal food choice before sleeping, if you want to lose weight.
3. Apple and Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is very high in protein. This protein can fill you up and consume energy while digesting; hence, increasing your metabolism. Furthermore, apple butter has extensive fiber that can help you burn excess fat. Thus, this sweet and sour food makes for a perfect snack before bed!
4. Bananas
Like milk, bananas also contain the amino acid, tryptophan. This helps us sleep better at night and hence, avoid unhealthy cravings. Other than this, bananas are also rich in fiber. If you want, you can freeze a banana and then mash it to make it taste better. Or else you could also go for a banana milkshake.
5. Cheese
Since cheese is a milk product, it is full of tryptophan. However, when it comes to cheese, you need to be conscious in selecting the right one. Most cheese varieties are high in fat and therefore, not suitable for pre-bedtime snack. A few low-fat varieties include: low-fat mozzarella, non-fat cottage cheese and Swiss cheese.
These snacks make for good weight-control bedtime nibbles. Just remember not to consume too much of anything.
[1] http://blog.yes4all.com/8-bedtime-foods-weight-loss/