The 18 Best Snacks for Late-Night Cravings

Everyone can relate to getting those late-night cravings for snacks, but we’re always told it’s not healthy to eat late at night. That isn’t strictly true, as there are plenty of light foods that you can eat before bed without too much guilt. For your late-night cravings, here are the few with the most benefits.

Cottage Cheese with Pineapple

Depending on whether you’re a fan of the combination of cheese and pineapple, this late-night snack might be controversial to you. However, it’s actually really tasty and refreshing; the cottage cheese serves as a far healthier alternative to standard cheddar, and the vitamin C in pineapple will freshen up the flavor nicely.

Banana

There are few better midnight snacks than the humble banana. The potassium in bananas will always be good for replenishing your body after a long day, and it will fill you up just enough to get you back to sleep without any further hunger pangs. However, it’s best to stop after eating one because more than that could be a bit too heavy.

Whole Grain Crackers with Hummus

While regular crackers aren’t exactly the healthiest snack, the whole-grain alternative isn’t too bad at all. It’s going to be a bit bland on its own, but instead of reaching for cheese or a processed spread, stick to hummus, which will pair perfectly with it. Hummus is high in protein, healthy fats, iron, and other nutrients, so it will stop your stomach from rumbling without being particularly unhealthy.

Greek Yogurt with Honey

While it might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a late-night snack, creamy Greek yogurt drizzled with honey offers a protein-rich snack. As Eating Well points out, the probiotics in the yogurt will keep your guy healthy, while the honey provides a natural energy boost. It’s also light on your stomach, so it won’t stop you from getting to sleep.

Dark Chocolate

Few people realize how healthy dark chocolate actually is. Unlike milk chocolate, which contains a lot of added sugar, dark chocolate is made predominantly from cocoa, which has all sorts of health benefits. The best thing about this late-night snack is that it feels indulgent when, in reality, it’s not, so it will satisfy your cravings with no trouble at all.

Sliced Apple with Peanut Butter

Another healthy and light food option is an apple paired with a dollop of peanut butter. This might sound a little unusual, but the crunchy and creamy combination is actually pretty good. The fiber from the apple and the protein from the peanut butter make for a filling and balanced snack, but one that won’t weigh you down when you get into bed.

Fruit Smoothie

If you want to make sure you wake up feeling energized and ready for a long day, consider having a fruit smoothie before you head to bed. The best thing about this is that it’s completely customizable; you could add any fruit of your choosing, as well as vegetables, for an added vitamin boost. However, don’t overdo it; just a small glass will see you through the night just fine.

Carrot Sticks with Guacamole

If hummus and crackers are too high-calorie for your liking, carrot sticks dipped in creamy guacamole could be a good alternative. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene and fiber, while guacamole offers healthy fats and flavor, but not as much as houmous. The end result is a tasty combination of crunch and creamy, perfect for a midnight snack.

Rice Cakes

Another excellent late-night snack that won’t keep you up all night is rice cakes, which will fill the void in your stomach with carbs but without being excessive. They’re famously very light, so you won’t feel bloated when you try to get back to sleep, and they’re very versatile, so consider experimenting with combining them with avocado, houmous, honey, or any other healthy spread.

Popcorn

While it’s not wise to start snacking on store-bought popcorn, which often comes with tons of added sugars, salts, and additives, regular air-popped popcorn is fairly light and healthy. It works well as a late-night snack, but we’d recommend keeping it simple, unsalted, and unsweetened. If you really fancy sweetening the deal, honey or a small amount of melted dark chocolate could work.

Oatmeal

Everyone seems to treat oatmeal as a breakfast exclusive, but there’s no reason why this should be the case. A warm bowl of oatmeal topped will fill you up and send you right to sleep, thanks to its comforting taste and texture. Save the big bowls for breakfast, though–you don’t want to go to sleep feeling overly full.

Edamame with Salt

A particularly healthy choice for settling late-night cravings is steamed edamame sprinkled with a touch of salt. This will deliver a protein-packed snack with plenty of fiber, too, and it will be surprisingly filling. Don’t go overboard with the salt, though, as this could dehydrate you and keep you up all night gasping for water.

Celery Sticks with Cream Cheese

Another excellent combination if you’re craving something crunchy with a touch of creamy is celery sticks spread with cream cheese. Celery is one of the lowest-calorie snacks out there, so as long as you take it easy on the cream cheese and stick to something low-calorie, it’s a really satisfying late-night snack.

Frozen Grapes

Unless you’ve tried them already, frozen grapes might sound strange, but they actually make for a sweet and refreshing snack that’s low in calories. The freezing process enhances their natural sweetness, providing a satisfying and guilt-free treat. However, if it sounds a bit strange to you, regular grapes will do just fine.

Turkey and Cheese Roll-Ups

Perhaps the tastiest of all snacks on this list is turkey and cheese roll-ups. Just like a fruit roll-up, this consists of slices of turkey rolled up with cheese, creating a protein-rich snack. You can’t really go wrong with the turkey, but with the cheese, try not to go overboard. It would also be best to stick to natural cheddar rather than processed cheese slices.

Chia Pudding

If you’ve never tried chia pudding, you absolutely have to give it a go for your next late-night snack. Made with chia seeds, almond milk, and a touch of sweetener, it’s a nutritious and filling snack packed with fiber, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids. It will set you up for the night, and the following morning, that’s for sure.

Hard-Boiled Eggs

Believe it or not, having a hard-boiled egg is enjoyed by many people as a late-night snack. It’s full of protein, and you can manage the portion easily by just sticking to boiling a couple of eggs. If you’re finding it a bit bland on its own, you could spice things up with a touch of salt, but don’t go too crazy with it.

Baked Sweet Potato Chips

Most people are aware that eating potato chips before bed is a bad idea, as your stomach would struggle to process the fat, keeping you up all night. However, baked sweet potato chips are actually just fine; they provide a crunchy and slightly sweet snack, and the fact that they’re baked will prevent you from having any digestive issues throughout the night.