6 Snacks to eat before bed:
Inexperienced dieters commonly believe anything consumed in the hours
right before bed goes directly to body fat stores. Sounds like a
nightmare for your physique! The real nightmare is that they end up
going to bed hungry, wake up with minimal energy, and wonder why they
feel like crap despite being disciplined.
Wake up! Your metabolism
never fully shuts down, even overnight. Eating too many calories or bad
foods before bed adds fat to your frame, but not all nocturnal noshing
begets extra body fat.
The trick is to be smart before sleep time.
If you snack late, make room for the extra calories earlier in the day
to obey your target calorie limit. Choose foods which fuel muscles, keep
hunger levels low, and promote stable blood glucose levels … so your
brain doesn't wake up your body.
These six snacks provide quality
nutrition that supports fat loss and muscle building, helping you forge
the body of your dreams:
1 COTTAGE CHEESE WITH NATURAL PEANUT BUTTER
Considered a classic night-time nosh by many health enthusiasts,
cottage cheese with natural peanut butter is a snacking no-brainer.
Cottage cheese is ideal before bed because it includes lots of casein
protein, which releases slowly into the body. This ensures a steady
supply of amino acids through the night.
Adding natural peanut butter to this snack increases digestion time, enhancing the snack's ability to control hunger.
Keep the peanut butter to a tablespoon or less to avoid heavy calories!
2 SALMON SALMON
Salmon is a perfect pre-bed food source because it's high in protein
content and contains healthy omega fats. Many people fall short in omega
fat content. This goes a long way to supporting your overall health!
Add salmon with salad to add bulk and fiber for the perfect low-carb option before turning in.
3 GREEK YOGURT WITH FLAXSEEDS
Like cottage cheese, Greek yogurt is high in protein and packs a
calcium punch. Boost the healthy fat content of this low-fat snack with
some flaxseeds.
Together, these deliver a steady dose of fiber, protein and omega fats!
4 LOW-FAT CHEESE WITH RAW VEGGIES
If you crave cheese, this is your pre-bed meal. Regular cheese is high
in saturated fat, so opt for a reduced-fat variety with a healthy dose
of protein.
Cheese is carb-free, making the fat/protein combination
just what you're looking for! Include raw green veggies (cucumbers,
celery or broccoli) for some negligible calories.
5 CANNED TUNA WITH OLIVE OIL
Tuna is a great option for people wanting minimal prep work. Canned
tuna packed in water is fat free, so it's important to add healthy fats
to boost the staying power overnight.
Drizzle one tablespoon of
olive oil over the tuna and serve with a bed of spinach for an
iron-packed snack that prepares you for the day to come.
6 A CASEIN PROTEIN SHAKE WITH COCONUT OIL
If solid food isn't your forte before bed, consider a casein protein
shake. We discussed the benefits casein provides in cottage cheese
earlier. But you can also get it in protein powder!
Most casein
shakes are low in fat. To overcome this, add fats by stirring in a
tablespoon of coconut oil, which provides heart-healthy medium-chain
triglycerides.
This snack contains approximately 200 calories and helps repair muscle overnight.
