When those late-night hunger pangs strike, reaching for a healthy high-protein snack can help you stay on track with your fitness goal. High-protein snacks are not only healthy but also can help you with sound sleep. And to surprise, Late-night High-protein snacks can boost brain power.
What to do when your stomach won’t stop growling? You could be craving a late-night snack if you are craving sweetness, an emotional need for comfort food, or be it a guilty pleasure. It becomes a necessity for those who work odd shift hours, have late exercise routines, are pregnant, and people with sleep disorders.
Finding the right snack could be difficult as concerns like indigestion, weight management, and blood sugar-related issues pop up with every bad food choice. We have discovered some of the best late-night high-protein snacks for your midnight hunger.
Table of Contents
List of the best High-protein late-night snack
Some foods can help fight your late-night hunger while giving you many health benefits. Here is an excellent list of late-night high-protein snacks that come under the ideal 200 calories and are nutrient-rich.
Greek Yogurt
Greek Yogurt is rich in protein making you fill for a long hour. With a high protein content of 15 gms of protein per serving of half a cup, it is the best choice for those physically active and exercise regularly.
Greek Yogurt is said to have muscle-repairing properties which makes it the healthiest high-protein snack if you are opting for a sound healthy sleep after your snack.
Greek Yogurt contains about 100-150 calories putting it in the ideal calorie range for a snack. You can enjoy Greek Yogurt with some honey and berries like blueberry and strawberry to satisfy your craving taste buds.
Boiled Eggs
Another well-known great source of Protein is boiled egg. With a protein content of 6gm per egg, boiled eggs are a great source for muscle recovery. With around 60-70 calories per egg, boiled eggs can be a great option for a calorie-controlled diet.
Boiled eggs are rich in various vitamins and minerals supporting a stronger immune system. Boiled egg is also known to be an option for high energy to support you with your late-night work routine.
You can enjoy some boiled eggs as per your desired quantity without worrying about overeating. Unlike many other snacks, boiled eggs are mess-free and easy to prepare for a quick solution for your growling stomach.
Protein Shake
Protein shakes can be an ideal late-night high-protein snack for various reasons. Protein shakes are vastly consumed among bodybuilders and athletes for their muscle growth and muscle recovery properties.
Containing about 24-25 gms of protein, protein shakes can be a great alternative for a whole meal and can reduce the likelihood of waking up hungry.
It is the easiest and most convenient high-protein snack to consume as you do not have to cook or prepare any ingredients. You can customize protein shakes by adding some berries, spinach, honey, cocoa powder, or nut butter as per your cravings.
Chickpeas
Chickpeas are one of the tastiest vegan high-protein snacks. When paired with some toppings, veggies, and spices it becomes a hard-to-avoid dish. Roasted chickpeas of half a cup contain about 6 gms of protein with a calorie count of 120.
Chickpeas have a low glycemic index which makes them a slowly digested food supporting steady energy levels and promoting restful sleep.
A few interesting recipes such as roasted chickpeas, chickpea salad, blended chickpea hummus, and mashed chickpeas can be tried for a late-night high-protein snack.
Tuna Salad
Tuna is an excellent source of protein promoting muscle growth and repair. A single serving of Tuna has about 25-30 gms of protein making it one of the best high-protein snacks. Due to its low-calorie content of about 130, it can be an ideal late-night snack.
Tuna is rich in Omega-3 and fatty acids promoting brain function and reducing inflammation, Tuna contains Tryptophan, an amino acid that helps produce melatonin and serotonin, important to regulate sleep. You can read more simple steps to enhance healthy sleep habits.
Tuna salad is easy to prepare requiring very minimal ingredients. You can make it a part of your diet when considering high protein intake and a good sleep afterward.
Peanut Butter
Peanut butter can be a great late-night high-protein snack. It can also be kept under 200 calories if portioned correctly. 2 Tablespoons of Peanut butter has about 6-7 gms of protein and approximately 190-200 calories.
Peanut butter can be a great solution for your sweet cravings. It can reduce late-night hunger with taste added when paired with a banana, apple, or whole-grain toast.
Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds can make for a nutritious and protein-rich snack. About 30 gm of pumpkin seeds contain about 7-9 gm of protein. With a calorie content of 150-180, it becomes an ideal snack for your munchi cravings.
Besides being rich in protein, pumpkin seeds are high in vitamins, minerals, fibers, and antioxidants. Pumpkin seeds can be enjoyed raw or roasted making it the easiest high-protein snack to eat.
Oat Meal
Oat Meal can be a great late-night healthy snack. It might not contain the highest amount of protein but due to its other vitamin and fibre content, it can be opted for a quick late-night snack.
A half cup of serving oats contains about 150 calories and about 5 gm of protein. To increase the protein content, you can add fruits and berries, nuts, greek yogurt, or milk.
Popcorn
Popcorn can be a great low-calorie snack. Easy to make and fun to enjoy. A cup of Popcorn has only about 30 calories and 1 gm of protein.
To increase the protein content, it can be paired with cottage cheese (11gm protein) to make it a protein-rich snack. Nuts, seeds, and hard-boiled eggs can be a great accompaniment while enjoying popcorn.
Fruits
Protein-rich fruits such as Avocado and Guava can be a great late-night high-protein snack. A medium-sized avocado has a protein content of about 3gm. Half an Avocado can be considered for a late-night snack when calories are in focus. It can be enjoyed over a toast or salad.
Guava is the best fruit for a late-night high-protein snack and contains about 3 gm of protein with just 68 calories.
Kiwi can be another low-calorie snack you can opt for. With about 1.1 gm of protein, it has only a calorie content of 61 making it the healthiest fruit for a late-night protein-rich snack.
Wrapping Up
There could be a lot of reasons you need a late-night snack. A late-night snack is not necessarily a bad choice when consumed with the right serving while also considering the calorie content. The above protein-rich snacks can be your go-to for a balanced and healthy diet. You can also try Meal-prepping to prepare your snacks beforehand without having to prepare them during a midnight craving.
In case you are a vegan and want to explore more vegan options, explore the best plant-based protein sources. It is advised to eat in control and make wise food choices when you find yourself reaching for a little snack in the middle of the night. To avoid snacking for a more strict diet routine, try breaking down your heavy meals into multiple small meals to keep your body fueled and energized throughout the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I gain weight if I eat late at night?
It is ok to eat late at night. A properly observed low-calorie and high-nutrition diet can help with weight management and reduce the chances of gaining unwanted weight.
Can I eat fruits as a late-night snack?
Yes, fruits are healthy snacks and can be consumed in limited servings. Fruits such as Apples, bananas, guava, and avocado can be both healthy and protein-rich for a snack.
What food is best to eat at night?
Foods that contain lean protein (Tofu, fish, chicken breast), Healthy fats (Nuts, seeds, olive oil), Fruits, vegetables and herbal tea are best to consume at night.
Can late-night snacks help with muscle recovery?
Snacks such as Eggs, Yogurt, and Protein shakes are an ideal option for muscle recovery due to their lean protein and healthy nutrient contents.
Are there any vegan options for high-protein snacks?
There are plenty of vegan options for late-night snacks, starting from fruits and vegetables to seeds and nuts the options are wide. You can find more such food recommendations in Best Plant-Based Protein Sources.