Healthy late-night snacks

Due to the fast-paced and hectic modern-day life, it has become very common for us to stay up till late at night. It might be because of a pending office presentation, exam preparations, insomnia, or even because of the habit of binge-watching. In all the cases, it is very common for us to feel hungry at some point in time. As a result, we eat snacks, the most common of them being chips, biscuits, and other high-calorie items.

Though this habit might not show any instant results but causes many health problems over a course of time. Thus, it is very important to keep a check on what we eat while working late at night. Here is a look at some healthy late-night snacks.

One small banana dipped in a tablespoon of unsweetened almond butter is a tasty snack that may even help you sleep. Bananas are one of the few fruits known to be relatively rich in the nerve messenger serotonin, some of which your body converts to melatonin-which helps you sleep.

Kiwis are a light, satisfying snack that are rich in vitamin C. Two peeled kiwis pack only 93 calories. They are also a natural source of serotonin, which promotes relaxation and helps curb appetite.

As long as it is not drenched in butter or super salty, popcorn is a pretty good choice for a late-night snack. It is a whole grain and it has fibre, so it will be more satisfying than chips and keep you full for longer.

This can be a good replacement for a cookie, as long as you check the nutrition label. Make sure your bar has some protein and fibre and not too much sugar. Or consume half a banana and a handful of almonds along with it. Both are good sources of magnesium.

Yoghurt is an excellent source of calcium. Known for keeping your bones strong, this mineral has more recently also been linked to better sleep. If you are opting yoghurt as your snack, go for plain one and flavour it with unsweetened fruits, such as berries or peaches.

Hot, whole-grain cereals like oatmeal are good sources of fibre. Plus, they are generally a healthier choice than cold, more refined products. You can also turn cooked barley or whole-grain rice into hot cereal with the addition of milk and toppings like cinnamon, nuts or dried fruit.

Snacks that offer a balance of carbs and protein like whole-grain crackers and cheese support consistent blood sugar levels. From a sleep perspective, combining a carb-rich food like crackers with a good tryptophan source like cheese helps aid sleep.

Consuming a protein-rich snack before bed could support muscle repair and help slow down age-related muscle loss, particularly if you exercise routinely. Smoothies are an easy and tasty way to sneak in protein-rich milk before bed.