You’ve just wrestled the kids to bed, and have put them back to bed several times after. Your dinner was cut short by a toddler tantrum and work has been stressful. You’re hungry and you don’t care what you eat!
Sound familiar? I get it. The problem is the snack you’re about to choose is probably ruining your chances of ever slimming down.
A sleeve of ritz crackers? 480 Calories. More than a McDonalds Cheeseburger.
A handful of chips and one of the kids’ ice cream sandwiches?
I’m not saying you don’t deserve it, but there is a better way. With a little shopping and preparation, you can add nutritious snacks to your bedtime binge. Here are a few healthy snack alternatives that won’t sabotage your progress.
First, grab a drink of water, and wait a few minutes before snacking. Are you actually hungry or just being driven by habit. Nothings wrong with a bedtime snack, but you want to make sure you disassociate relaxing or boredom with snacking.
Apples with Peanut Butter
Portions
- One Medium Apple, Sliced
- 2 TBS of Peanut Butter
Macro Nutrients
- Calories: 190,
- Fat: 11g,
- Protein: 7g,
- Carbohydrates: 18g,
- Fiber: 4g
If you’ve got kids, you definitely have no shortage of peanut butter. Combined with apples, this makes a sweet and filling snack packed with fiber and protein.
Greek Yogurt and Berries
Portions
- 1/2 cup of mixed berries
- 1/2 cup of Greek Yogurt
Macro Nutrients
- Calories: 100,
- Fat: 1g,
- Protein: 7g,
- Carbohydrates: 12g,
- Fiber: 2g
Greek Yogurt has much more protein than regular yogurt and mixed berries are full of anti-oxidants. For more protein, mix in some yogurt or protein powder.
Eggs
Macro Nutrients
Calories: 70,
Fat: 5g,
Protein: 6g,
Carbohydrates: 0g,
Fiber: 0g,
Nutritious and delicious egg. Eat them scrambled, over-easy, hard-boiled, or deviled. They’re easy to prepare, high in protein and filling.
Popcorn (Air-Popped)
Portion:
1 Cup
Macro Nutrients
Calories: 30,
Fat: 1g,
Protein: 1g,
Carbohydrates: 6g,
Fiber: 1g
You weren’t expecting this here, were you? Actually, it’s not all that bad for you. And considering the alternatives, it’s pretty healthy.
Air popping is a healthier alternative to traditional microwave popcorn because it doesn’t require any oil. The easiest way to make air-popped popcorn is with an air popper, although there are other ways.
Oatmeal
Portions:
1 Cup
Macro Nutrients
Calories: 300,
Fat: 5g,
Protein: 10g,
Carbohydrates: 54g,
Fiber: 8g
Breakfast for dinner? You bet ya! Oatmeal is packed with fiber, supports weight loss, and keeps you fuller longer. Oatmeal is also high in zinc, magnesium, and iron.
As always, it’s important to listen to your body and eat when you’re truly hungry. And, try to avoid eating too much before bedtime as it can disrupt your sleep. Also, the calorie and macronutrient content may vary depending on the brand and type of products used.