The body also has its own clock. As the sun goes down, all the metabolic systems prepare for rest and slow down every function. This also affects the body's capacity to digest food.
There are a number of reasons why eating late at night is not preferable. During this time, the metabolism of the body gets reduced to a larger extent, and because of this, food never gets digested properly. In addition to this, eating late at night can disrupt the body's natural circadian rhythms, which has a direct effect on the sleep-wake cycle.
Moreover, late-night consumption of food can lead to spiked levels of blood sugar, hormonal disturbances, weight gain and gastrointestinal issues as well. Despite this, the busy lifestyle won’t approve of regular early eating habits, making eating on time difficult.
If you can relate to this problem and are looking for a solution, here are six foods you can have for late-night dinner. These options are healthy and help you regulate your sleep pattern, too.
Try These Digestible Recipes For Late-Night Dinner
1) Low-Calorie Vegetable Skillet
Low-calorie vegetables like edamame, broccoli, tomatoes and cucumbers provide nutritional fulfilment to the body and are easy to digest. This vegetable skillet is made with cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, carrots, zucchini, onions and mushrooms. The veggies are coated with oil, salt and pepper and roasted in the oven for 30 minutes. Following that, veggies are broiled for 2 minutes before taking out and tossed in the sauce of choice. It can be served with tortilla or rice.
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2) Whole Grain Caesar Pasta Salad With Chicken
Whole-grain pasta provides an excellent source of carbohydrates and is considered healthier than refined flour pasta. This pasta salad recipe gives a nutrition-packed repast that satisfies hunger and is also easy to prepare. Cooked chicken adds a protein boost, and its succulent pieces give a heavenly bite. First, the chicken pieces are sauteed in oil until crispy from the outside and mixed with cooked fusilli pasta, bread croutons, lettuce, cheese and salad dressings.
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3) Rajma Chawal
Rajma or kidney beans are known for improving digestive health. This recipe is filled with carbohydrates and fibre that aids digestive function and promotes good sleep. The recipe starts off by boiling rajma beans until they are soft and mushy. Then, the sauce is prepared with a base of grated onion and blended tomatoes sauteed in oil, cumin, bay leaves, chopped chillies and spices. Then rajma beans are added to this curry and cooked until well combined.
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4) Butter Chickpea Curry
This recipe is a vegetarian twist to the delectable butter chicken. Chickpeas are known for their high fibre and high protein content, which breaks down easily and improves bowel movement. Converting the goodness of chickpeas into this buttery delicacy makes up for a hearty late-night dinner feast. All you have to do is add boiled chickpeas to the buttery curry made with creamy tomato puree base, including coconut milk, blended cashews, seasonings and some coriander leaves.
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5) Simple Savoury Quinoa
Quinoa is one of the best sources of plant-based protein and just like chickpeas, it is high in dietary fibre, which breaks down easily and promotes digestion. A savoury quinoa recipe is better and way more nutritious than sweet quinoa porridge, as the goodness of different veggies makes it much more satisfying. Vegetables like onion, celery, carrot and parsley give it a wonderful taste and texture. For flavour, you can also add herbs like basil, thyme, and other spices.
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6) Whole Grain Veggie Stuffed Buns
This recipe is an easy grab-and-go meal that you can prepare in advance and heat up when you want to eat. The goodness of the whole grain bun packed with the nutrition of veggies makes this bun a comfortable snack for late-night cravings. The veggie filling is made with stir-fried cabbage, carrot, beans and onions, mashed potatoes, chopped chillies and spices. The balls of wheat dough are filled up, brushed with butter and baked until the crust becomes golden.
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These recipes are a healthy satisfaction you can savour guilt-free during late hours. These recipes can be made easily and serve as a wholesome treat to fill the gut. The plus point of these recipes is that you can prepare them in advance and heat them at night when you're not feeling like cooking.