The revenge of the very hungry caterpillar
June 10, 2017 8:51 PM Subscribe
I've started having midnight food cravings and need a really fast food I can gobble down and return to sleep in a short amount of time. Requirements below...
Last night I woke up starving and ate a granola bar. But that wasn't enough. So then I had cereal. That wasn't enough. So then I had an apple. I was ok after the apple. But then I'd been up for about 40 minutes, and all the crunching and looking for and putting together the food woke me up so I couldn't go back to sleep.
I need a better midnight snack that fills the following criteria:
* No preparation
* Both very filling and fills you up quickly
* Quick to consume (under 5 minutes would be ideal)
* Healthy
* Ideal if it is something I could keep next to my bed to gobble up and return to sleep without even getting up in the night.
* Preference for not crunchy (crunching will wake me up too much) - I recognize that might be hard, so willing to let this one go.
Granola bars are easy, but not healthy. Apples are easy and healthy, but they aren't quick to consume. Cereal is not filling (to me).
Normal pregnant lady food restrictions apply. Suggestions?
Last night I woke up starving and ate a granola bar. But that wasn't enough. So then I had cereal. That wasn't enough. So then I had an apple. I was ok after the apple. But then I'd been up for about 40 minutes, and all the crunching and looking for and putting together the food woke me up so I couldn't go back to sleep.
I need a better midnight snack that fills the following criteria:
* No preparation
* Both very filling and fills you up quickly
* Quick to consume (under 5 minutes would be ideal)
* Healthy
* Ideal if it is something I could keep next to my bed to gobble up and return to sleep without even getting up in the night.
* Preference for not crunchy (crunching will wake me up too much) - I recognize that might be hard, so willing to let this one go.
Granola bars are easy, but not healthy. Apples are easy and healthy, but they aren't quick to consume. Cereal is not filling (to me).
Normal pregnant lady food restrictions apply. Suggestions?
Best answer: Banana. Filling and satisfying.
posted by bongo_x at 8:59 PM on June 10, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by bongo_x at 8:59 PM on June 10, 2017 [6 favorites]
A cheese stick and a few apple slices, prepared before bed and set on the nightstand.
Or dried fruit, a few nuts and a cheese stick.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 9:01 PM on June 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
Or dried fruit, a few nuts and a cheese stick.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 9:01 PM on June 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
A small handful of seeds, nuts, or peanuts will fill you up surprisingly quickly, since they have so much fat. Since it doesn't have the sugar of fruit or granola bars, it will be kinder to your teeth also. A small amount of water to rinse it down (you can swish it around before swallowing to help clean your teeth too) will complete the snack.
posted by amtho at 9:14 PM on June 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by amtho at 9:14 PM on June 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I eat a spoonful of peanut butter when I'm having trouble going to sleep because I feel a little hungry.
posted by ktkt at 9:29 PM on June 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by ktkt at 9:29 PM on June 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
The IKEA near me sells these 60-gram almond packs. About 300 calories, most of which is protein/fat, so perhaps rather filling.
posted by mdonley at 9:30 PM on June 10, 2017
posted by mdonley at 9:30 PM on June 10, 2017
Best answer: Came to recommend a banana. Bananas help promote sleep because they contain the natural muscle-relaxants magnesium and potassium. They’re also carbs which will help make you sleepy.
Might as well take advantage of the sugar crash. While protein & fat will keep you filled it can wake you up more digesting it. My hubby can't eat protein if it's 2 hours or less until bed time or he's tossing & turning. .
posted by wwax at 9:31 PM on June 10, 2017 [6 favorites]
Might as well take advantage of the sugar crash. While protein & fat will keep you filled it can wake you up more digesting it. My hubby can't eat protein if it's 2 hours or less until bed time or he's tossing & turning. .
posted by wwax at 9:31 PM on June 10, 2017 [6 favorites]
Best answer: I'd go with cashews over almonds since they are a bit less crunchy and super fatty to fill you up quickly. For the love of god, don't eat dried fruit in the middle of the night! Your poor teeth!
posted by potrzebie at 9:45 PM on June 10, 2017
posted by potrzebie at 9:45 PM on June 10, 2017
Best answer: Hard boiled eggs. I'd advise against anything sweet, even fruit, or stuff that can stick between your teeth.
Just keep in mind that eating in the middle of the night like this without flossing and brushing can do serious damage to your teeth and gums. The harmful bacteria in your mouth are at their most destructive when you sleep because your mouth is closed for a long period of time and drier. Saliva helps keep that bacteria in check and helps prevent plaque buildup. If you're too tired to brush and floss before going back to sleep, at least swish with water and try to rinse off as much food as possible before going back to bed, then as soon as you wake up in the morning, brush right away.
Is there any way you can adjust your waking eating patterns and diet to make you feel fuller before bed so that you can sleep through the night?
posted by LuckySeven~ at 9:53 PM on June 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
Just keep in mind that eating in the middle of the night like this without flossing and brushing can do serious damage to your teeth and gums. The harmful bacteria in your mouth are at their most destructive when you sleep because your mouth is closed for a long period of time and drier. Saliva helps keep that bacteria in check and helps prevent plaque buildup. If you're too tired to brush and floss before going back to sleep, at least swish with water and try to rinse off as much food as possible before going back to bed, then as soon as you wake up in the morning, brush right away.
Is there any way you can adjust your waking eating patterns and diet to make you feel fuller before bed so that you can sleep through the night?
posted by LuckySeven~ at 9:53 PM on June 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
String cheese sticks are my go-to for this. A spoonful of peanut butter chased with milk also works in a pinch. For me, it absolutely has to be protein or I won't fall back to sleep.
In a previous pregnancy, I kept trail mix or Larabars in my nightstand.
posted by anderjen at 10:02 PM on June 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
In a previous pregnancy, I kept trail mix or Larabars in my nightstand.
posted by anderjen at 10:02 PM on June 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
Granola bars are easy, but not healthy
I'm a big fan of Kind bars, particularly the Fruit and Nut Delight version. I think they're healthier than a lot of other granola bars since they really are just nuts and some fruit to hold it all together. I find them quite filling, and they're quick to eat. This is my go to when I'm short on time but need something healthy and filling.
Another option would be Greek Yogurt, although that may not be quick/easy enough for a midnight snack.
posted by litera scripta manet at 10:29 PM on June 10, 2017
I'm a big fan of Kind bars, particularly the Fruit and Nut Delight version. I think they're healthier than a lot of other granola bars since they really are just nuts and some fruit to hold it all together. I find them quite filling, and they're quick to eat. This is my go to when I'm short on time but need something healthy and filling.
Another option would be Greek Yogurt, although that may not be quick/easy enough for a midnight snack.
posted by litera scripta manet at 10:29 PM on June 10, 2017
Not a pregnant lady; but develop late night hunger when exercising more regulary:
- oranges (esp. satsuma and other mandarins are great); easy, simple sugars + dietary fibre
- eggs; microwave egg cooker - a shake of lyophylized basil before and a tsp of sweet chili sauce after is great
- frozen homemade english muffins w/ sausage + egg; 2 minutes in the microwave = nom nom
- tinned potted meat (turkey, chicken, ham, tuna; stockpile when on sale)
posted by porpoise at 12:17 AM on June 11, 2017
- oranges (esp. satsuma and other mandarins are great); easy, simple sugars + dietary fibre
- eggs; microwave egg cooker - a shake of lyophylized basil before and a tsp of sweet chili sauce after is great
- frozen homemade english muffins w/ sausage + egg; 2 minutes in the microwave = nom nom
- tinned potted meat (turkey, chicken, ham, tuna; stockpile when on sale)
posted by porpoise at 12:17 AM on June 11, 2017
Fat is the best choice to make you feel full. Protein is good too. Nthing a spoonful of peanut butter or a glass of milk.
posted by bendy at 1:50 AM on June 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by bendy at 1:50 AM on June 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
Also came to suggest a banana. It fills me up enough to get back to sleep and is quick and easy to eat in the middle of the night.
posted by newsomz at 3:34 AM on June 11, 2017
posted by newsomz at 3:34 AM on June 11, 2017
This violates the "no preparation" rule, but South Asian markets near me carry Deep brand (with the little yellow oil lamp logo) frozen hand-made naan that are exactly the right size so that I can break them in half and put them in my toaster, and in about 90 seconds get warm soft Indian bread deliciousness, perhaps to be made even more delicious with some butter.
Most Western breads (besides bagels?) degrade in texture and flavor if frozen, but Indian breads do not seem to suffer from that effect as long as you choose a package that doesn't show ice or freezer burn inside.
At a second glance, I see that you're also requesting healthy food, so this may not have enough fiber and whole grain; (though I think there might be whole grain naan I haven't tried) in which case, my recommendation would be refrigerator oatmeal.
posted by XMLicious at 3:54 AM on June 11, 2017
Most Western breads (besides bagels?) degrade in texture and flavor if frozen, but Indian breads do not seem to suffer from that effect as long as you choose a package that doesn't show ice or freezer burn inside.
At a second glance, I see that you're also requesting healthy food, so this may not have enough fiber and whole grain; (though I think there might be whole grain naan I haven't tried) in which case, my recommendation would be refrigerator oatmeal.
posted by XMLicious at 3:54 AM on June 11, 2017
Popcorn. Drizzle it with peanut butter if you want something even more fulling.
posted by BusyBusyBusy at 5:45 AM on June 11, 2017
posted by BusyBusyBusy at 5:45 AM on June 11, 2017
Best answer: Cottage cheese? I like that when wake up in the same situation. I will put it in smaller serving size containers in my fridge so all I have to do is grab and eat. Lots of protein and I have the 2% kind so there is some fat there.
posted by googlebombed at 6:35 AM on June 11, 2017
posted by googlebombed at 6:35 AM on June 11, 2017
Plain, unsweetened, full fat yoghurt. I'm eating a little cup of it right now, before bed.
posted by glitter at 6:52 AM on June 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by glitter at 6:52 AM on June 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
I just suggested R Bars recently for another question and they might be applicable for this one as well - if you are okay with date-based bars these are pretty delicious, quick, and filling. Their peanut butter and jelly bar is just dates, peanuts, and raisins. Cranberry cashew is dates, cranberries, and cashews. They aren't messy and they taste pretty good! Suggesting these specifically because they have the ease of a granola bar without the cereal-type fillers and junky sugar, plus the proportion of nuts makes them more filling and satisfying.
posted by belau at 7:23 AM on June 11, 2017
posted by belau at 7:23 AM on June 11, 2017
Nuts. Pregnant ladies need nuts. If you don't have a Costco membership already you might as well get one if there's one nearby, since you'll want it for diapers and formula; and Costco has by far the best and cheapest nuts.
Also bananas as mentioned above. And hard boiled eggs; eggs are great for pregnant ladies if you can handle the smell.
Keep water by the bed too as all this stuff is very thirstifying.
I wouldn't eat dried fruit at night unless you can also brush your teeth which kinda defeats the quick+easy purpose.
posted by fingersandtoes at 7:57 AM on June 11, 2017
Also bananas as mentioned above. And hard boiled eggs; eggs are great for pregnant ladies if you can handle the smell.
Keep water by the bed too as all this stuff is very thirstifying.
I wouldn't eat dried fruit at night unless you can also brush your teeth which kinda defeats the quick+easy purpose.
posted by fingersandtoes at 7:57 AM on June 11, 2017
Agreeing with nuts and hard boiled eggs. High in protein and healthy fats, they also take time to digest and don't have any sugar which would keep you from falling back to sleep.
posted by coberh at 8:41 AM on June 11, 2017
posted by coberh at 8:41 AM on June 11, 2017
Yogurt, a glass of milk, cheese, a slice of bread, a slice of turkey if you eat meat, bananas, all supposedly contain things like tryptophan which specifically can cause drowsiness. I have had particular success with bananas and with warm milk when it comes to nighttime sleeplessness.
I would not eat fruit as a midnight snack, because the sugars can actually stimulate and cause wakefulness. Don't cite me, just passing on my own experience and random reading from here and there.
posted by Crystal Fox at 8:46 AM on June 11, 2017
I would not eat fruit as a midnight snack, because the sugars can actually stimulate and cause wakefulness. Don't cite me, just passing on my own experience and random reading from here and there.
posted by Crystal Fox at 8:46 AM on June 11, 2017
Fruits other than bananas, I meant to say...
posted by Crystal Fox at 8:48 AM on June 11, 2017
posted by Crystal Fox at 8:48 AM on June 11, 2017
I found a very tasty snack in Walgreen's the other day when I had skipped breakfast and found myself starving while out running errands. It was a Sargento branded snack pack with Gouda cheese, some nuts, and dried cranberries. It wasn't the best cheese in the world, mind you, but still reasonably flavored and most importantly it was quite filling.
posted by wierdo at 12:01 PM on June 11, 2017
posted by wierdo at 12:01 PM on June 11, 2017
2 string cheese sticks, bitten, not stringed. 160 calories and can be consumed in approximately 30 seconds when famished (ask me how I know).
posted by raspberrE at 5:10 PM on June 11, 2017
posted by raspberrE at 5:10 PM on June 11, 2017
Luna bars. Full of protein.
posted by ChristineSings at 6:54 PM on June 11, 2017
posted by ChristineSings at 6:54 PM on June 11, 2017
A big glass of V8 will do the trick. Dash of salt on top.
posted by Scram at 2:13 AM on June 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Scram at 2:13 AM on June 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
Argh I hated that part of pregnancy. Almonds and a glass of milk did it for me - side benefit was that almonds help with acid reflux! Chew the almonds really well.
posted by john_snow at 7:50 AM on June 12, 2017
posted by john_snow at 7:50 AM on June 12, 2017
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Young Kullervo at 8:52 PM on June 10, 2017