10 Healthy Midnight Snacks

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Summer holidays are here and children are awake till late. Dinner is digested and since they are young; their metabolism is rocking. Hunger pangs need to be satisfied and having a pantry loaded with healthy snacks is ideal.

Scene 2
Students usually stay up late to cope up with their curriculum and their assignments. Studying needs focus and attention and being a growing age; they need good fodder to help them attain their goals.

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Youth of today love to stay up late either texting/chatting with each other or watching the latest flicks. Any activity that escorts the time to midnight causes the hunger pangs.

When the clock strikes 12am. The juices in the stomach start their secretion since; dinner is digested and that makes the youth wander in the kitchen or pantry area to help them satisfy the pangs of hunger.

Age plays a big factor in deciding what to ingest. Unfortunately, Youth is not responsible in what they eat thus; adults have to stock up their pantries with some healthy choices for them to indulge in.

Below is a list of top 10 healthy midnight snacks

Fruits
Fruits contain vitamins, minerals and fiber and are cholesterol free. Fresh fruits such as Apples, Bananas, Pears, Plum, Peach, grapes and Cherries once washed can be easily bit into and do not need to be chopped.
Apples contain lots of fiber, Vitamins A, C, E and help with weight loss.
Bananas are a good source of fiber, potassium, vitamins A, C, B6, E and folate.
Pears contain kalium and riboflavin and are good for skin and contain lots of fiber.
Plums are high in carbohydrates. They are low in fat and are an excellent source of vitamin A, C and calcium.
Peach has an acidic tang and is loaded with vitamins. Grapes are loaded with fiber and antioxidants. Cherries are good in antioxidants and help reduce pain and inflammation.

Raw Vegetables and Dip
Raw Vegetables are extremely rich in minerals, vitamins, and natural sugars. They help all of our body functions to operate well. Some of the best raw vegetables that can be consumed are Carrots, Cucumber, Celery, Tomatoes, and Broccoli.

A Dip can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator.

1 cup reduced fat plain yogurt
2 tsp. sugar

Mix well. This is a sweet dip, which goes well with raw vegetables.

Another alternative:

1 cup mayonnaise
1 ½ tsp. lemon juice
½ cup sour cream
Sprinkle some herbs and salt according to taste. Mix the above together and serve this dip with raw vegetables.

Below link takes to you many recipes, which are just a grind away and can be used as a dip.

Low Fat Yogurt/Frozen desserts
Yogurt is a wonderful and quick yet nutritious snack that is low fat and contains dairy product that is a dietary staple for humans.
Frozen desserts are a healthy alternative to beat the heat in the summers.
Indulge in Fat free sorbets, popsicles, flavored yogurts; these can be stored in the freezer/refrigerator ahead of time.

Nuts
Nuts are the best plant source of protein and are rich in fiber, and antioxidants such as Vitamin E and selenium. They mostly contain monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which have been shown to lower the LDL cholesterol. Consummation in moderation is the key to good health.
Indulge in almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, pecans, walnuts, pine nuts and pistachios.

Seeds
Seeds offer heart some good health benefits; antioxidants and they should be consumed in moderation. Indulge in flax seeds, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds.

Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate is known to lower blood pressure and is rich in antioxidants that help the heart. However, eating in moderation is recommended.

Milk
Milk is the best source of vitamins and calcium and is also known as a good source for losing weight. Flavored milk can be consumed, which could be cold or hot depending on the weather.

Green Tea
Green tea is a dip and sips method and comes with its high health benefits. It is low in caffeine but high in antioxidants, which help in fighting cancer. It helps speed up one’s metabolism and it results in burning more calories.

Whole grain crackers
Such crackers are loaded with fiber and help in lowering cholesterol by the usage of whole wheat, millet, and rice flours. They are low in fat and give a good flavor and texture when used with certain toppings such as cheese, salsa or dips.

Baked Chips
Fries is everybody’s weakness but, it’s the unhealthiest choice ‘cause of frying the potatoes. Using baked products can help us satisfy the craving of potatoes and also save us from consuming the saturated fats.
Indulge in Baked chips and try to satisfy the momentary pangs of hunger. The chips could also be dipped in dips or used with salsa.

A word of Caution
Everything should be consumed in moderation. Excess of any kind of food is not good for the body. We are responsible humans so, let’s be accountable for what we eat.