You’ve just finished with the penultimate episode of the TV series that you’re binge watching. You’re almost ready for the nail-biting season finale, after which you promise yourself you will hit the sack, a good half an hour after midnight. Suddenly you feel something is missing, and mindlessly you walk to the kitchen and fill out a bowl of munchies to add to the excitement. Or, replace the TV series with a recent page-turner. You want that snack! Sounds familiar?

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Midnight snacking is generally discouraged, but you know you’re going to give in to the temptation in any case. Perhaps you cannot avoid the late-night hunger pangs due to your lifestyle. So how about preempting your cravings and stocking up on stuff that is actually good for you!

Crackers and fruit

You can’t go wrong with whole grain crackers. Use a fruit spread, or dip it in peanut butter, but better still combine it with a fruit. Bananas or strawberries work well. Crackers are easy to digest, and the nut better will provide the right amount of creaminess. Also, it will sustain you until the morning, so you don’t wake up with a hunger pang in the middle of the night. A light snack will not over work your stomach when you finally fall asleep. The crunch in the crackers will be a good alternative to all the fried and salted foods. If you are feeling particularly naughty, throw in a little dark chocolate. Tip: A similar combination will work with toast or whole wheat khakra as well.

Popcorn

Yes, it seems unhealthy, but it is the perfect alternative for those who crave savoury foods. Replace chips with popcorn as a midnight snack. It is low in calories if you roast it at home, and skip the additional butter. Add any herb or spice powder of your choice to up the savouriness. In addition, popcorn provides a good amount of fibre to the body.

Pistachios

If you like nuts, the best option for a late night snack is pistachios. Compared to other nuts, these are lower in calories per gram. Choose the ones that have the shells on, since they don’t catch on too much of the salt, and they take longer to shell and eat so you’ll go easy on them. You can combine it with a small fruit like pear or apple, in case you don’t feel full after a few pistachios. So, right off the bat, if you are looking to try and control your weight a little more, pistachios seem like a good choice.

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