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If we weren't meant to eat late at night, why is there a light inside the refrigerator?
The trick is to be prepared. Because the main problem with nighttime nibbles has less to do with when you're eating than with what you tend to eat after hours. Instead of buying a pint of mint-chocolate-chip or frozen pizza, stock up on the following -- there's something here for every midnight muncher.
*If you're burning the midnight oil . . .
You could mainline coffee to get your PowerPoint project done overnight, but that will probably leave you with a case of jitters the next morning. A better bet, believe it or not: a salad of dark greens and chopped veggies. The complex carbs in the veggies will give you energy, and they're full of folate, which new research suggests helps your brain work faster.
The brain also likes fats, so snack on some raw almonds.
*If you’re just plain hungry . . .
Give that rumbling tummy a little protein, such as some lean turkey, or even an egg-white omelet. Getting about one-third of your daily calories from lean protein keeps you feeling full, and there's new evidence that it may also help you burn a few extra calories while you sleep.
*If you're stressed . . .
Rich, sugary comfort foods actually do short-circuit stress, but they also contribute to belly fat. So try to resist the chocolate chip cookies and grab a handful of unsalted almonds instead. The satisfying crunch will help you work off your anxiety, while the B vitamins and magnesium help your brain make relaxing serotonin. And at only 160 calories for about 22 almonds, you won't add weight worries to your woes.
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