Four Foods To Eat Before Bed

Don’t eat carbs before bed. Don’t eat within 3 hours of going to sleep. Don’t have fat before bed. Drink a protein shake before you sleep…

The list really goes on and on about what you should and shouldn’t eat before you go to bed. The truth is, this is a topic that has been debated for years, and is one that will be debated for years to come.

Everyone has their own opinion on the topic, and what you will read below is my own opinion. I will say however, that I have tested and tried many different methods for what to eat before going to bed, and what I will share with you has worked best.

From the stand point of sleeping better, feeling more energized when waking up, and getting leaner as you sleep, below is what works for me.

Back in college, every single night right before going to bed I would down 50 grams of protein. Now at the time I was trying to gain muscle, so this was definitely needed. Now that I am past that phase, things have changed dramatically. My focus is now to feel better, sleep better, and look better from my pre-bed time meal or snack.

After lots of testing and research, the three step method I use below works incredibly well. Take a look:

1. Don’t eat within 2 hours of bed time.

When I started doing this, I almost immediately started to sleep better. I found that when I ate right before bed, I had a harder time falling asleep and staying asleep. Not to mention, many times I would wake up in the morning more groggy, less energized, and my stomach would be gurgling.

Not eating within two hours of sleeping allows your body the preparation it needs for a good nights sleep. It will also allow your blood sugar levels to fall which will in turn facilitate growth hormones release. (water is OK to drink during this 2-hour window before bed).

2. Focus on having a high fat and high protein meal.

When you eat a high carb meal before bed, it wreaks havoc on your blood sugar and insulin levels. This can also translate into stopping your body from burning fat as you sleep.

A high protein and fat meal however will have very little effect on your blood sugar levels, will allow you to stay fuller longer, and it will help you burn fat more easily (remember, good fat burns fat!).

3. Walk after dinner.

First off, the more you walk the better. The more time you spend moving, the less time you spend sitting (which is always a good thing). That said, a 30-45 minute walk after your last meal or snack will help improve digestion, can improve sleep quality, and will help reduce blood sugar.

Now that you have read through the three rules I follow when eating at night, let’s now take a look at four foods I will enjoy if I get hungry after dinner:

White Meat Protein:

Protein such as chicken, fish, or turkey is a great option for a pre-bed snack. This has a very low response on insulin levels and will digest slowly. I like throwing on some grass fed butter as everything is better with butter (grass fed butter that is).

Vegetables with melted butter:

While vegetables aren’t considered a protein, they are great to have as a snack before bed. Many times what you will find is a large bowl of veggies will satisfy a craving you may have had. Once again, throw some grass fed butter on there for even more benefits!

Almonds, pecans, macadamias:

One of my favorites. Many times all it takes is a handful of macadamias or roasted almonds to satisfy a sweet tooth (yes a sweet tooth!). Plus, these high fat foods have a high amount of minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants.

Whey Protein Shake:

Wait didn’t I just say that I don’t drink protein shakes before bed anymore? I did say that but that doesn’t mean they cannot be utilized properly to help you burn away fat while you sleep.

I always choose to have whey protein isolate as this is the easiest on my stomach and digestion. 25-40 grams always does the trick.

There you have it, the three bed time rules I follow and the four foods that help me get leaner as I sleep.

What foods do you find yourself eating before bed?

I would love to hear. Drop a comment below and let me know!