Even at midnight, Atlanta dietitians serve as nutrition role models. Here's how four of them answered the question, "What do you eat for a midnight snack?"
A registered dietitian in Buckhead who provides nutritional counseling and specializes in thyroid nutrition and weight management, Nicole German Morgan confessed she is rarely even awake at midnight.
"I'm an early-to-bed, early-to-rise kind of person," she said. "If I happen to be up late, I usually grab some natural or organic popcorn for the salty crunch."
The owner of Balance Fitness and Nutrition in Alpharetta, Jenny Askew uses food to help patients manage a variety of medical conditions, including celiac disease, high cholesterol and diabetes.
She said all snacks, including those eaten at midnight, should consist of selections from at at least two food groups, including a carbohydrate and a protein to help you feel full.
"If you are physically hungry, a well-balanced snack will do," she said. "If a well-balanced snack isn't what you want, you may be getting an emotional hunger cue. It's important to be able to differentiate and respond appropriately."
If it's late and you are craving something sweet, but aren't super physically hungry, Askew suggested a small square or two of a high-quality dark chocolate. "If chocolate isn't your thing, opt for a quarter cup of dried fruit," she said.
Rahaf Al Bochi provides nutrition counseling on a variety of topics including diabetes, cholesterol, vegetarian eating and family nutrition. She said she doesn't eat midnight snacks because she's usually asleep then.
"Your body won't crave a midnight snack if you have three well balanced meals during the day that combine protein, carbohydrates and fats," she said. "I do this, so I don't need to compensate during the night for missed meals."
For people who do wake up in the middle of the night hungry, Al Bochi advocated asking yourself, "Is it true hunger? Or do I feel bored, anxious or stressed?"
Many people tend to eat because of an emotional state, not hunger. "If you do find yourself in that place, try to do something else calming like taking a warm bath, reading a book or journaling about your feelings," she said. "You will more than likely forget the hunger. If you are still hungry, eat something small that has some protein such as some nuts or cheese. And remember, we are not likely to burn calories from food we eat during the night the way we burn calories from food during the day because our body is in resting mode and doesn't require as much energy."
"What I would eat for a midnight snack? Nothing!" Rachel Brandeis said. "I drink something instead of eating because fluids digest faster than solids and won't disrupt sleep. Nothing is worse than trying to fall asleep on a full stomach. Also, late night eating can pack on the pounds."
Brandeis' preferred strategy if she's starving at midnight is to try going to sleep and looking forward to a great breakfast when she wakes up.
