24 Healthy Late-Night Snacks That’ll Curb Cravings
Updated: Mar. 15, 2024
Post-dinner hunger pangs? Curb cravings and upgrade your nutrition with these healthy late-night snacks
Rainbow Toast
Ditch the boring buttered bread and treat yourself to an after-dinner feast of rainbow toast. A slice of whole-wheat toast with reduced-fat cream cheese has 172 calories, 10 grams of fat and 13 grams of carbs. Add your favorite toppings like sliced strawberries and basil leaves or creamy avocado and sliced cherry tomatoes. This bright toast is just one of our favorite healthy snacks for kids. For another breakfast option that supports healthy sleep, try out this Sweet Dreams cereal.
Cranberry Dark Chocolate Trail Mix
When a late-night sweet tooth strikes, try antioxidant-rich dark chocolate trail mix. Eating nuts at night can help you feel full and may even help you fall asleep faster. According to the National Sleep Foundation, almonds and walnuts have been found to promote melatonin in our bodies. Stick with one-quarter cup for 176 calories and 11 grams of fat.
Rice Cakes with Natural Almond Butter
If you usually find yourself scrounging around the pantry at 9 p.m., keep a few snacking staples like rice cakes and almond butter on hand. You can even try making some delicious peanut butter cup rice cakes. They’re easy, healthy and satisfying. And at 35 calories per rice cake, go ahead and load up your plate. Add a tablespoon of natural almond butter for 101 calories and 9.5 grams of healthy fat. Want healthy snacks without the work? Check out our list of the best healthy snack boxes you can get delivered to your door.
Edamame
When you’re craving a salty snack, skip the greasy chips and opt for craveable edamame instead. One-half cup of lightly salted edamame has just 100 calories, 7 grams of carbs and 9 grams of protein. Just be sure to go easy on the salt because the sodium count can add up quickly. For an extra kick, check out our recipe for Spicy Edamame.
Fresh Veggie Pocket
Craving a hearty fourth meal? Skip the sweets and satisfy your hunger with a fresh veggie pocket. The fiber from the pita and protein from the cream cheese will fill you up without keeping you up too late. And you can never have too many veggies, so go ahead and stuff it full! Each half sandwich has just 217 calories and 7 grams of lean protein.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Larabar
It doesn’t much more decadent than snacking on chocolate chip cookie dough after dinner, and if that cookie dough happens to be vegan, even better! LARA bars are made from real ingredients like nuts and dates and contain about 210 calories and 28 grams of carbs per bar. Snag yourself a 10-count box of Larabars ($10) for late-night or on-the-go snacking.
Chia Seed Protein Balls
During this week’s meal prep session, mix up some chia seed protein balls to keep in the fridge for late-night snacking. They’re rich in fiber and healthy protein and are sweet enough to feel like a dessert. One ball has 72 calories, 4 grams of fat and 9 grams of carbs. Don’t miss these healthy snacks you can buy on Amazon.
Power Berry Smoothie Bowl
Trying to break your late-night ice cream craving? Keep all the icy, creamy goodness for a fraction of the calories and fat with a power berry smoothie bowl. This treat is loaded with healthy nutrients and vitamins from pomegranate juice, frozen berries and fresh spinach. One serving contains 172 calories, 3 grams of fat and 5 grams of protein. Get more tips for how to stop late-night cravings.
Beet and Sweet Potato Fries
If you’re missing your late-night drive-thru runs of years past, make your own fast food with beet and sweet potato fries. Serve these lightly salted fries with a peppercorn mayo dip for 226 calories, 14 grams of fat and 3 grams of protein. Read up on more savory snack recipes you’ll want to make ASAP.
Bada Bean Bada Boom Crunchy Broad Beans
For those nights when crunchy Cheetos are calling your name, slash your craving with these crunchy roasted broad beans. They contain finger-licking flavor and are packed with protein and fiber. One bag contains 100 calories, 3 grams of fat and 7 grams of protein. Try fun flavors like Sweet Cinnamon and Garlic & Onion. Find a 24-count snack pack ($23) the whole family can snack on.
Lemon Chia Seed Parfait
For a sweet treat that won’t keep you up, whip up a lemon chia seed parfait. The lean protein from the Greek yogurt and chia seeds is rich in sleepy tryptophan, and the berries add fiber to fill you up. One parfait has about 214 calories, 4 grams of fat, 33 grams of carbs and 13 grams of protein. Find more benefits of greek yogurt for your body.
Cottage Cheese with Fruit
Skip the midnight ice cream treat and get your sweet fix from protein-rich cottage cheese with berries. Lean proteins are high in tryptophan, that amino acid that makes you fall asleep after Thanksgiving dinner. Scoop yourself one-half cup of 2 percent cottage cheese for about 92 calories, 2.6 grams of fat and 5.4 grams of carbs. Add a cup of raspberries for just 63 calories and a whopping 8 grams of fiber. Follow our simple recipe for Pear Cottage Cheese Salad for a crunchy alternative.
Pear Slices with Walnuts
Fix yourself a mini charcuterie plate tonight with slices of fresh pear, crunchy walnuts and a drizzle of honey. It feels fun and decadent without blowing your healthy eating plan. A whole pear has just 96 calories. Add a handful of walnuts and a drizzle of honey for about 250 additional calories. Next, try these easy no-bake protein balls recipes.
Whole Wheat Chips with Avocado
If you’re craving chips and queso tonight, upgrade your snacking with a few healthy tweaks. Whole grain chips are just as tasty without the white flour to keep you up at night; ten chips have about 120 calories. One-half of an avocado with a bit of garlic salt has just 114 calories and is rich in healthy fats and fiber.
Blue Diamond Cocoa Dusted Almonds
If you’ve fallen into the habit of digging through your kids’ Halloween candy each night (don’t worry, we won’t tell), stock up on some individual bags of cocoa-dusted almonds. ($12) They’re sweet and crunchy with only 100 calories per bag.
Bell Peppers and Hummus
Give your immune system a boost with a healthy late-night snack of bell peppers with hummus. A cup of red bell pepper slices contains 38 calories and a whopping 283 milligrams of vitamin C to ward off this year’s cold germs. Two tablespoons of hummus adds 60 calories, 3.5 grams of fat and 2 grams of protein. Get our best hummus recipes for more healthy late-night snacking ideas.
Breakfast Cookies
If you tend to turn into a cookie monster once 9 pm rolls around, make a batch of healthy “breakfast” cookies. The rolled oats and almond butter will keep you full without disrupting sleep. One cookie contains about 150 calories and can be served with fresh fruit or Greek yogurt.
Cheesy Cauliflower Breadsticks
Craving those late-night pizza parties from college? Fool your taste buds with crispy and cheesy cauliflower breadsticks. Each breadstick is grain-free and contains just 66 calories and 4 grams of fat. The cheese may also help you fall asleep faster because dairy is rich in tryptophan.
Cinnamon Granola Bars
Keeping a tin of fresh cinnamon granola bars in your pantry can help cut down on unhealthy snacking. They’re moist and sweet without the extra fat and sugar of cookies. The rolled oats provide healthy whole grains to help you fall asleep faster. One bar has about 231 calories, 6 grams of fat and 4 grams of protein.
Turkey Jerky
Curb late-night salt cravings with a bag of smoky turkey jerky ($31 for 12-pack) in your pantry. This protein-rich snack is free of nitrates and nitrites and is made from turkey with no hormones or antibiotics. An entire pack is 70 calories and contains 11 grams of lean protein.
Apple and Peanut Butter Stackers
When a handful of nuts just isn’t going to cut it, indulge in a healthy treat like apple and peanut butter stackers. They make a fun sleepover snack for kids and grownups alike. Try rolling your apples and chunky peanut butter in dark chocolate chips or cinnamon granola. Each stacker contains about 210 calories. Learn more about the health benefits of peanut butter.
Tex-Mex Popcorn
To crush nighttime cravings fast, look for whole grains like oatmeal or popcorn. White flour snacks like crackers can disrupt your body’s serotonin levels and make it harder to fall asleep. This Tex-Mex popcorn is crunchy and light with just the right amount of spice. A cup of the tasty treat has just 44 calories, 3 grams of fat and 5 grams of carbs. Uncover more health benefits of popcorn.
Apple Chips
Upgrade your chip snacking habit with crunchy dried apple chips. They’re baked, contain no artificial ingredients and come in convenient, individual bags. Each bag contains 110 calories and 4 grams of fiber. Grab a variety pack ($17) and kiss those chip cravings goodbye.
Pita Chips with Fruit Salsa
If you have guests staying with you this month, mix up a bowl of fruit salsa for a fun after-dinner surprise. Fruit salsa is loaded with vitamins and antioxidants and contains 134 calories and 2 grams of fiber per serving. An individual bag of pita chips is easy to grab and has about 200 calories per serving.
Originally Published: December 16, 2019
