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We’ve all been there…
To some of us when we can’t sleep or feel nervous, those late-night snacks can act as a late-night companion or as a way to curb our nighttime woes to fill the void…
Did you know that it takes roughly three hours (or even longer) for our food to digest our food because our digestive system has to break everything down?
Not only that, getting into the habit of eating late can lead to interrupted sleep, digestive issues, bloating, heartburn, and weight gain.
Luckily, there are a few easy yet useful tips that will save you from weight gain and make you forget about those late-night snacks once and for all!
Stop the cravings, for those late-night snacks, are not doing you any good …
Here are some smart ways to reduce nighttime food cravings the next time your craving kicks in.
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6 Clever ways to stop Snacking late at night
1. Drink lots of water
One of the reasons why you might be heading to the kitchen all the time is that you may think that you’re hungry when in all actuality you’re just really thirsty.
Dehydration can cause night cravings so to stop you from going to the kitchen… make sure that you always have a glass of water by your bed. What to do: Try drinking your water first before doing anything else. If water doesn’t help? The next tip may just do the trick!
2. Sip on peppermint tea
If you find yourself craving a huge piece of chocolate pie before bed?
Brew yourself a cup of peppermint mint tea instead!
Sipping peppermint tea reduces cravings for sugars and fatty foods and a study done by Wheeling University showed that just inhaling the scent of peppermint every two hours can cause people to eat fewer calories.
Other benefits of peppermint tea include faster digestion, gets rid of some questionable breath and if you’re irritated at times, the mint can soothe those jagged nerves away.
3. Stop buying sugary late-night snacks
If you’re up late at night and can’t sleep and you happen to have something yummy in your pantry?
Your yummy snacks will only tempt you to get out of bed to eat them.
Having unhealthy snacks in the kitchen is just a way to sabotage yourself, so don’t have any chips or candy bars tucked away in your kitchen that’ll lead you straight to the kitchen before bed!
4. Eat loads of protein throughout the day
Protein helps curb your appetite and keep your nighttime cravings under control.
Protein also stimulates gut hormones and those hormones help you feel full for longer.
What to do: Make sure to include plant-based kinds of milk (they work just the same), yogurt, and oatmeal in your daily food intake.
Nuts, beans, whole grains, and low-fat poultry and fish should help you in those later hours as well.
5. Remind yourself that you’re not actually hungry
Did you know that we all have enough energy sources on our bodies to get us through those food cravings at night?
Hunger is not an emergency to eat the first thing that you see (unless it really is!).
Know that getting into the habit of training your body that you’re not hungry will be a little uncomfortable at first and that your body and mind will eventually adapt.
What to do: Start by changing your focus when those nighttime cravings hit you… Call a friend, call your parents or do something productive to kick the cravings to the curb.
6. Brush your teeth after dinner
By brushing your teeth (straight after eating), you are essentially tricking your brain into thinking that you are getting ready for sleep.
Also, most kinds of toothpaste come in minty flavors and these flavors make most foods taste really really bad. Plus once you have clean teeth, so it’ll be really hard to dirty it all up again.
It is never a good idea to eat before bed, no matter what you consume …
It will only lead to weight gain and sleep issues which will trigger a vicious cycle which will be difficult to get out of.
So try these tips if you feel the cravings for food kicking in at night.
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Author: Rebecca
Hi, my name is Rebecca and I am the face behind Everything Abode! I am a lifestyle and wellness writer based out of Vancouver Island. When I’m not writing or exploring mountains and beaches with my furry rescue, I love spending time learning creative ways to manifest a healthy home. Thanks for stopping by!
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