We’ve all been there: it’s late at night and you should be in bed but instead you’re prowling your refrigerator in search of a snack that will help you settle down. Midnight munchies happen to everyone but if this becomes a common occurrence that goes unchecked, the end results will be anything but satisfying. The good news, however, is that it is possible to find healthy versions of late night snacks that won’t leave you feeling guilty when you wake up the next morning.

Although the habit of eating late at night is not going to single-handedly destroy your weight loss efforts, the extra calories that you get from your late night snacking won’t help, either. When you eat past your bedtime, the food items provide your body with excess calories - much more than you actually need. In fact, if you’ve been eating properly and maintain a healthy diet during the day, you should not be snacking at all late at night. Of course, we are only human, so unless you have a great sense of self control, chances are you’ll fall victim to late night snacking at one time or another. It’s how you go about it and the food choices you make that will determine whether your late night snacking will become a hindrance to your eating regimen.

The easy answer to what makes for healthy late night snacks is to choose food items that are low in calories and low in fat. Need a more detailed answer? The next time you begin rummaging through your refrigerator for a late night snack, make it a habit to reach for fresh fruit. This snack food is not only good for you, it tastes great. Load up your grocery cart with your favorite fruits and train yourself to turn to this healthier alternative late at night instead of cookies, chips, ice cream or other tempting - yet unhealthy - late night snacks. If you feel you may have a midnight munchies craving, prepare your fresh fruit after dinnertime and place it front and center in your fridge so that you’ll see it right away when you get the urge to snack. Whether it is a bowl of cherries, apple slices or small chunks of pineapple, this snack will leave you feeling full and satisfied.

Another idea for a healthy late night snack is a small bowl of your favorite cereal with skim or low fat milk. If you’re a fan of low-fat yogurt, having a cup late at night won’t hurt your eating regimen or you can indulge in a handful of popcorn (light on the butter of course!).

The best way to avoid having midnight munchies in the first place is to make sure that you are eating 5-7 small meals a day. When your metabolism is in top shape and you feel full, you’ll be less likely to head to the fridge at night.

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