Late night snacking... it happens to all of us. The hard part is finding a healthy option that won't pack on the late night pounds!
Often associated with weight gain, late night snacking is frequently frowned upon. That being said, if you are hungry, YOU SHOULD EAT! Nothing is worse than not feeding your body what it needs and is asking for! Did you know that when your body is hungry, and you don't feed it, it begins to not trust you. This means, that it will store fat because it's not sure when its going to get food next! Moral of the story, eat if you are hungry.
Now, eating a big bowl of ice cream at night is not the route to take (even though that's what we want to do). Eating healthy, low calorie snacks is a great way to feed your body with nutrients while still curbing your hunger and satisfying that sweet tooth. There are so many fun, healthy options out there that are easy to make. STAY AWAY from the chips, candy and other sweets for that is where the pounds are. If you are serious about results, you MUST include the fitness aspect. Join our monthly challenge now to start working out.
Whether you like savory or sweet, keep reading for four yummy, simple recipes you can try for healthy late night snacks!
Frozen Blueberry Yogurt Bites
If you have a sweet tooth, this is the perfect snack for you. Blueberries are both sweet and nutritious. High in fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K and antioxidants! You've heard about antioxidants a lot, but what do they do? They protect your body from unstable molecules that can damage your cells. That's important!
Ingredients:
- 1 pint container blueberries
- 1 cup vanilla, nonfat Greek yogurt
- 1 scoop of Rebecca’s Vanilla Healthy Meal Mix
Directions:
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick mat, and set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the yogurt and Healthy Meal Mix.
- Working in 2 batches, gently fold in the blueberries to coat in the yogurt.
- Scoop them up with a fork and tap the excess yogurt off.
- Place the blueberries on the baking sheet, being careful not to have them touch.
- Freeze the baking sheet until the blueberries are completely frozen, about 1 hour.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the freezer.
Baked Zucchini Fries
I'm about to drop some straight facts on you. Widely regarded as a vegetable, zucchini is technically a fruit! I bet you didn't know that. It contains vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Zucchini has a high fiber content which helps with your digestion. If you are looking for a flavorful snack, this is a great recipe to try out.
Ingredients:
Fries
- 2 medium zucchini
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian spice
Lemon Greek yogurt dip
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tbsp, finely chopped parsley
- salt and pepper, to taste
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 425 F and line two baking trays with parchment paper.
- Slice the zucchini in half, then half again, then into quarters.
- You should have 16 slices per zucchini.
- Add the olive oil and spices to a separate bowl or container and stir to combine.
- Dip a slice of zucchini in the olive oil mixture and transfer to the baking tray.
- Repeat this process until all zucchini are coated.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through on the cut side.
- Serve immediately.
If you are a snacker no matter what, check out my blog on how to control cravings to learn more about what you can eat to satisfy your sweet tooth!
Tuna Salad Cucumber Bites
Tuna salad is healthy, as long as you don't go overboard with the mix-ins. That is why I love this recipe! It includes Greek yogurt instead of mayo. Tuna has omega 3 fatty acids which are great for reducing bad cholesterol. Omega 3's are also know to aid in eye health.
Ingredients:
- ⅓ cup of Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ⅓ cup of thinly chopped red onions
- 1 can of wild albacore tuna
- 1 cucumber sliced
- sea salt, to taste
- fresh ground black pepper, to taste
Directions:
- Mix together Greek yogurt, red onions, tuna, sea salt, lemon juice and black pepper in a bowl set aside.
- Slice cucumbers.
- Add one small scoop approx. 1 tbsp to each cucumber.
Pumpkin Spiced Chickpeas
Chickpeas pack a high protein punch and are great for those who are vegan or vegetarian. Chickpeas contain many nutrients, will keep you fuller for longer, help manage your blood sugar levels & help your digestion. SAY WHAT?!?! They are basically gold is what I am telling you!
Ingredients:
- 1 can or 1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas
- 1/3 cup pumpkin
- 2-3 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp cloves
- 1/4 tsp ginger
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- Salt to taste
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Place the chickpeas in a large bowl .
- In a small bowl , mix together the pumpkin, maple syrup, spices and salt. Stir well.
- Pour the pumpkin mixture over the chickpeas and mix until everything is well coated.
- Spread the chickpeas onto a lined baking sheet .
- Bake for about 60 minutes, stopping every 15 minutes to shake the chickpeas around.
Late night snacking isn't always a bad thing, it really depends on what you are eating. Always try out heathy recipes and prepare for your week. If you are your late night snacker plan out your snacks on the weekend so you don't sneak into the freezer for the ice cream.
For more recipes and snacks, join the BTES App! With access to over 300+ recipes daily, there is no more guessing what's for dinner!
Let me know your favorite late night snacks in the comments!
Love, Rebecca
