Bedtime snacks!
Who else loves to end the day with a bedtime snack? What's your idea of the perfect bedtime snack?
I've just discovered that oatmeal makes the most sublimely perfect bedtime snack ever. Warm and wholesome and soothing, not too rich and not too bland, filling but not heavy...oatmeal makes my tummy purr.
My other favourite bedtime snack is a tall glass of soymilk or almond milk, or a mug of extra-strong hot cocoa made with whatever non-dairy milk I have on hand mixed with a couple heaping tablespoons of the darkest cocoa powder I can find. My favourite is cocoa made with coconut milk (the non-dairy beverage kind, not the coconut cream you cook with). I often add a little cayenne pepper, cinnamon and ginger, as well. The spices give a nice little endorphin boost, and they make the cocoa so warm and comforting. Spiced cocoa is like a cozy fire in a mug.
I used to have a big cup of hot milk (plain or with honey and cinnamon) or thick hot chocolate with chili pepper before bed. Now I just have a cup of decaffeinated tea, because it helps me with anxiety a bit and it's pretty much calorie-free (I drink it plain).
As for actual foods... Nah. I don't like eating right before sleep.
I like having sleepy time tea with milk and honey and cinnamon. I also like having a bowl of popcorn with butter on it, but only on special occasions.
- Hot bowl of oatmeal with stuff added to it (e.g. mashed bananas, sunflower seeds, mashed tofu, raisins, applesauce, etc.) I get very creative with oatmeal.
- Bowl of rice porridge, prepared by cooking on the stovetop with brown or white rice, whole milk, raisins, chopped apples, cinnamon, and a little brown sugar
- Toast with all-natural pb or almond butter
- Baked sweet potato or baked butternut squash
- Hot bowl of soup
cream of wheat with sf chocolate pudding cup
weetabix heated with yogurt or pudding
frozen fruit like sliced peaches/mango/blueberries
fresh fruit/veggies
hot chocolate with a little almond milk
cereal and yogurt
hot chocolate
Ahhh I love a late night snack too. Wish it was more diet-healthy.
Greek yogurt or cottage cheese usually.
Though anyone NOT gaining ever have a bedtime snack? Yeah, thought so.
Blended cottage cheese with cocoa powder and stevia, and an apple with nut butter. Yum. :)
I just had my bedtime snack, and it was delicious! I had 1/3c Dark Chocolate Covered Crystallized Gingers (These would be hard to find, as my local health store makes them), and a glass of Yo-J. :)
I also love making a bowl of oatmeal or oat bran with soy milk (or coconut milk, or whole milk) and stirring peanut-butter in.
Having warm, creamy, sweet, or chocolatey things are my favorites. Ice-cream, Dark Chocolates, Cookies with Milk, or whatever. :)
Haha ain't that the truth.
Hi, I'm not gaining and I eat bedtime snacks. Calories are calories, it doesn't matter what time you eat them - though it's my impression that your metabolism functions better when you keep it crackling merrily away with a constant fuel supply rather than let it burn everything off only to dump a huge load of fuel on it all at once. Let's not scare people into thinking that bedtime snacks = inevitable weight gain, because that's really not how it works.
After a super stressful day of school and research and frantic essay-writing and too much instant coffee, the pre-bed bowl of plain oatmeal with a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg I just had was probably the most delicious and soothing thing I've ever eaten in my whole life. Calmed my poor nerves right down.
And ditto on the chocolatey bedtime snacks, muchlinski - there's something so soothing about chocolate! Although my poor stomach was only up to plain oats tonight, I've pretty much concluded that oatmeal + chocolate = ultimate bedtime snack. I often make some kind of oatmeal-cocoa concoction before bed. Lately I've been loving a combo of oatmeal, cocoa, shredded coconut and coconut milk. I also really love a black, decaf espresso or Americano with a few squares of Lindt 85%. That one's more flavour than substance - great for late-night study sessions, or a light treat when you've had a big dinner.
Are you saying that people maintaing or losing cannot eat night snacks? That is so far from the truth. I actually maintained my weight the entire summer and was still eating a 400cal night snack everyday. My father who maintains his weight eats many snacks at night, as well as my brother. My mom who is losing weight even has a little something before bed. It's normal, it's healthy, and it gives your body fuel for the night. We think sleeping burns no calories, but it really does, and our bodies do the best job repairing themselves through the night with energy from a snack. :)
Original Post by muchlinski:
Are you saying that people maintaing or losing cannot eat night snacks? That is so far from the truth. I actually maintained my weight the entire summer and was still eating a 400cal night snack everyday. My father who maintains his weight eats many snacks at night, as well as my brother. My mom who is losing weight even has a little something before bed. It's normal, it's healthy, and it gives your body fuel for the night. We think sleeping burns no calories, but it really does, and our bodies do the best job repairing themselves through the night with energy from a snack. :)
Not at all. I must've read it wrong. I just know that since I started gaining weight a couple years back, I haven't had a single night where a bedtime snack wasn't a part of my routine haha. :)
alyanoro, don't worry! I understood just what you meant. Bedtime snacks are definitely my favorite gaining ritual!
I love:
animal crackers with hot cocoa
any kind of cereal in milk
Cookies and milk
Chocolate anything
