For many, late-night snacking is the true enemy of the weight loss journey. Chips, popcorn, sweets, and alcoholic beverages can derail progress made by making healthy choices during the day.
According to scientists, however, going to bed hungry isn’t the answer either, as that could cause you to get poor sleep and overeat at breakfast the next day.
The key, rather, is to eat foods that will help satisfy your craving and allow you to get a restful night sleep. Centers Choice Home Care has a look at five of the foods that will do just that.
- Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt (plain, not flavored) is low in sugar and high in protein. The protein will help you feel full and also works when you sleep by repairing and growing muscle. Lean protein also helps your body burn fat.
- Cherries
Tart cherries provide that sweetness you crave and is also packed with antioxidants that help keep inflammation down in your body and can also lead to weight loss. Another positive benefit or eating cherries at night is that they are a natural source of melatonin, which is the hormone that the body releases at bedtime to help regulate your sleeping patterns.
- Turkey
You probably know that the tryptophan in turkey makes you sleepy, which is why the post-Thanksgiving dinner nap is a thing! If you have some slices of turkey before bed (on crackers or whole wheat bread), the tryptophan will help you into a restful sleep, and much like the Greek yogurt, the protein from the turkey will go to work while you sleep.
- Peanut Butter
We all know about tryptophan in turkey, but were you aware that peanut butter contains it too? Try some all-natural peanut butter on some whole wheat toast before you hit the hay to get similar benefits from eating turkey before bedtime.
- Bananas
Yes, bananas have tryptophan in them too! They are also sweet enough to satisfy a sweet-tooth craving and contain fiber to help you feel full.
To learn more about Centers Choice Home Care and all the services they offer, visit CentersChoice.com.
