12 Healthy Snacks that are OK to Eat After 7PM

When it comes to achieving optimal health, even in the wee hours, there are a few basic principles that apply to almost everyone. The most basic universal principle is that we all need to eat more plants and less junk that can increase unwanted weight gain and improve circadian rhythms. Dark, nutrient-rich leafy greens, vegetables and fruits of all colors, shapes, and sizes – these natural foods hold the key to health and longevity for us all.

But late night snacking has gotten a bad rap. Are they allowed? Should you feel guilty when your tummy is growling? I can tell you from experience, when we don’t eat a little something when our tummy is talking, our sleep is a thing of the past. The beauty about these twelve tips is they’re healthy and they won’t spike blood sugar levels off the chart!

The 12 Healthiest Late-Night Snacks

1st Circumstance:

You Stayed Out Late, Didn’t Really Eat Dinner and Now It’s Time for Bed

You can make a small fresh smoothie using organic kale, grapes, banana and unsweetened organic coconut water smoothie. When you realize all the health benefits of drinking green smoothies, you won’t be able to sleep without them. Greens are the foods with the most nutrients in the purest form.

2nd Circumstance:

You’re Sick, Moody and You Haven’t Had Much to Eat That Day

It may be time for some homemade gluten-free oat groat cereal, with a little avocado, a small amount of unsweetened coconut milk and a few walnuts on top to feed the brain.

3rd Circumstance:

You Worked Out Most of The Day

First, you planted a new garden along the side of the house and then went to the gym. Your body is tired, joints ache and you didn’t stop to replenish all your hydration and dietary needs. Nutrient deficiencies can cause insomnia. You can rebuild with some fresh ginger-root tea, tryptophan-rich hummus, half of folate-rich avocado and a handful of pantothenic acid-rich organic celery stalks. Listen to how your body responds.

4th Circumstance:

You Have a Sweet Tooth When Watching Late Night Television

You say to yourself, ‘I deserve it, Gimme!’ Fermented foods would be the snack of choice. Use a cup of fresh organic spinach with a half-cup of Kimchi or fermented raw organic sauerkraut on top. The key to moving through any craving is to understand it and see it for what it is. Just because you can’t stop thinking about ice cream (late at night) doesn’t necessarily mean that your body needs it.” ^{^[1]}

5th Circumstance:

Your Detox Involved Homemade Juicing and Drinking Water Most of the Day and You Crave Crunch

At this point, you can choose organic Bok Choy and a handful of organic slightly blanched asparagus, or a cup of fresh organic broccoli dipped into one tablespoon of organic crunchy almond butter or organic tahini.

6th Circumstance:

You’re Insulin Resistant or Pre-Diabetic

You can prepare this soup in advance in order to make smart food choices if you’re a habitually late night snacker. Ingredients include 2 cups fresh organic shiitake mushrooms, one small garlic clove, one small teaspoon of Celtic sea salt, one-half organic chopped cucumber, four cups fresh chopped organic kale, one-half organic avocado and three or four cups of pure filtered warm water (make it as thick or thin as you like). Blend all ingredients in your Vitamix on high. Portion size is about one cup. Keeps for 4 days in the refrigerator. This may help fight insulin surges, balance dopamine levels and allow you to leave the cookies on the store shelf!

7th Circumstance:

You’re Passionate, Playful with Your Late Night Snacks

To me, this means your partner and you may enjoy foods rich in Melatonin and Tyrosine. My choices include a handful of organic tart cherries, or a juicy fresh organic peach, or a few fresh organic figs, or carob covered organic strawberries. Carob contains no caffeine and is high in magnesium and folate.

8th Circumstance:

You’re a Student and You’re Studying Late at Night.

Two cups of organic grapes can help in a pinch, or you can make a homemade slushy. Ingredients include a cup of ice, a slice of fresh watermelon (rhine removed) a few fresh organic grapes and one-half of fresh lemon in your blender. These can improve brain function with a very little spike in sugar.

9th Circumstance:

You Need Just a Little Something to Help You Doze Off

Surprisingly enough, you can sip on a simple glass of homemade grapefruit juice. Grapefruit juice suppresses hunger and is high not only in potassium but also tryptophan.

10th Circumstance:

You Get Leg Cramps When It’s Time For Bed

You need some relief. You reach for a magnesium rich snack. A few organic raw walnuts or almonds are loaded with magnesium and can do the trick.

11th Circumstance:

You’re So Tired You’re Wired

You need a snack to help you relax. If your first choice is a beer and cheeseburger, think again. These can keep you awake when your liver decides to detox at 2am. As a Health Coach I’ve found that making a tea of fresh organic turmeric, ginger and warm unsweetened coconut milk with a dash of cinnamon in your blender can help you unwind.

12th Circumstance:

You Want Your Late Night Snack to Include Salt

Skip the unhealthy microwave popcorn and choose 1/2 cup raw organic pumpkin seeds and 1/2 cup raw organic sunflower seeds, mixed with just a tiny bit of Celtic sea salt and enjoy.

Conclusion

When we decide to have a late night snack for whatever reason, there are far too many sneaky sugars and trans-fats that that can keep us wired, bloated and lacking libido, when it’s time for bed. These include donuts, candy, fried shrimp, french fries, yogurt, cereals, bread, chips, burgers, and pizza. If you are just bored, find out what makes you happy, besides food, and go do it. It’s so much healthier when we eat to live, and not live to eat.