We all get late-night cravings. Maybe you’re hungry, or maybe you’re just bored and wandering into the kitchen out of habit. Either way, not all snacks are a great idea before bed. Some might seem harmless, but they can affect your sleep, digestion or overall health. Here are five of the worst late-night snack choices to watch out for:
1. Pizza
Sure, pizza is delicious with melty cheese, spicy toppings, and that saucy, crusty combo; it’s hard to resist. But if you’re thinking of grabbing a slice right before sleep, maybe think twice. The cheese and oily toppings can sit heavy in your belly. It doesn’t always play nice at bedtime. You might just end up tossing and turning with a burning chest. Plus, the refined carbs in the crust can affect your blood sugar level. Maybe eat it for lunch or an early dinner instead.
2. High-sugar cereals
Grabbing a bowl of cereal late at night feels easy and cosy, right? It’s quick and comforting. But if it’s one of those sweet, colourful kinds loaded with sugar, it’s probably doing more harm than good. High sugar right before bed can spike your blood sugar and disrupt your sleep, leaving you waking up hungry. If you must have cereal, go for one with more fibre and less sugar.
3. Chips
Chips are one of those snacks that are hard to stop eating once you start. But they don’t give you much, mostly just salt, oil, and empty carbs. No protein, no fibre. They don’t keep you full and eating them late at night isn’t great for digestion either. If you’re after something crunchy, go for air-popped popcorn or some whole-grain crackers instead.
4. Candy
Sugar cravings after dinner are super common. But candy? But candy is basically pure sugar with no nutrients. Eating it right before bed gives you a quick energy hit but that’s about it. If you’re craving something sweet after dinner, go for fruit or even a tiny bit of dark chocolate. It hits the sweet spot without loading you up with pure sugar. Unlike candy, at least it has a few things your body can use. Plus, it just feels a bit more satisfying than grabbing random sweets.
5. Spicy food
Food like jhalmuri, shingara, or last night’s biryani can be hard to resist late at night. But
honestly, it’s not the best idea before bed. All that spice might leave you feeling too warm or
bloated and lying down with that heat in your belly is not fun. If you want spicy food, it’s better to have it earlier so that your system gets time to settle it.