It’s 2 A.M., you’re slaving over a 10-page paper, and you’re hungry. This all-too-familiar scene is what often gets college students into trouble. Eating late at night is unhealthy in itself because your metabolism slows down later in the evening. On nights like these, however, eating late seems inevitable. When you can’t stop the craving for a grilled cheese sandwich (sorry for the tease in the photo above), just try making healthier choices. These healthier alternatives are easy to find at CVS and Whole Foods and are the perfect size to store in your dorm-room fridge:
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NUTS: A small cup of almonds has just 163 calories and also gives you 6 grams of protein. According to Self magazine, nuts are the perfect late night snack because they satisfy your need for something crunchy but wont leave you feeling overly full at night or bloated in the morning. The natural fat in nuts promotes a feeling of satiety and should quell your hunger for the night. In addition, nuts make great finger food that you can eat mindlessly as you sit hunched over your computer or textbook. Just try not to finish the whole tin in one sitting.
Photo by Maggie Gorman
POPCORN: What college student doesn’t have countless bags of popcorn stashed away? It’s a typical movie-night snack, but with three cups of popcorn totaling just 100 calories (if you skip the butter), popcorn is also a great late night study snack. Popcorn is light and airy, but the fiber in it will leave you feeling satisfied. Also, popcorn contains serotonin, a complex carbohydrate that helps your body relax. Perfect for those stressful paper-writing nights, right?
Photo by Maggie Gorman
BOWL OF CEREAL: It’s simple – all you need is some skim milk and a non-sugary cereal, and this late night snack will leave you feeling full and healthy. A bowl of Cheerios with skim milk gives you just 103 calories and adds 3 grams of protein as well as Vitamins A and C. Some people take vitamin supplements in the morning, but with a bowl of Cheerios at 2 A.M., you can kill two birds with one stone!
Photo by Maggie Gorman
APPLES AND PEANUT BUTTER: Not a fan of cereal but still want your daily Vitamin C? Try a sliced apple with a tablespoon of peanut butter. Apples contain Vitamin C and also provide 3 grams of healthy dietary fiber. Peanut butter provides iron to your late night diet that gives you energy to continue studying, and it won’t make you feel overly full before bedtime. There’s also no denying that the crunchy taste of the apples with the nutty taste of peanut butter covers just about any type of late night craving you might have.