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When you're hungry late at night, the mind can't help but think about those highly processed and deep-fried foods. But still, the conscience knows these foods can cause uninvited consequences and may lead to chronic health problems. Foods that are high in carbs, fats and calories are the worst enemy of sleep. These foods can result in obesity and overweight issues. Additionally, these foods are hard to digest and can disrupt sleep.
For this reason, low-calorie snacks are considered healthy. These snacks are light on the gut, satisfy the cravings and also don't mess with the sleep cycle. You can eat them when you're bored and can't stop thinking about food. More than that, they have potential health benefits linked to them which help you fuel your health while curbing the cravings.
Snacks like popcorn, kale chips and so on are also low in sodium, which does not lead to fluid retention. Try these amazing low-calorie snacks for the night and say goodbye to unpleasant hunger.
Try These 8 Low-Calorie Snacks When Cravings Call
1) Popcorn
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Popcorn is famously known for being a low-calorie snack. In addition to this, popcorn is filled with fibre that induces a feeling of satisfaction and pleasure. On the plus side, popcorns get cooked in just a blink of an eye and can be made on a pan, in an oven and with an air fryer too.
2) Kale Chips
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Kale is the champion craving buster and health booster as it's packed with numerous vitamins, minerals and nutrients, and is also surprisingly low in calories. Each leaf of kale contains high amounts of vitamins A, B6, C, K, folate, fibre, manganese and carotenoids. And one cup of kale counts to approximately 20 calories in total. In addition to being extremely healthy, kale is also delicious and turns out to be the crispiest chips in the oven.
3) Dhokla
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The visions of fluffy Dhokla can make even the most picky eaters crave its delicious taste. While being exceptionally tasty, dhokla is also a low-calorie snack packed with nutrients. Each cube of dhokla is filled with various vitamins and minerals that contribute to health. Also, as it's made with the fermentation process, it's packed with probiotics that improve gut health.
4) Greek Yoghurt Parfait
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Greek Yogurt differs from regular yoghurt by a large margin. Regular yoghurt is often liquid and has some water left, thus it retains the lactose, is high in potassium and calcium, and also contains more calories. On the other hand, Greek Yogurt is strained for a long time which removes the liquid substances, lactose and whey, so they have a low-calorie content and are filled with probiotics and protein. One way to enjoy Greek yoghurt is by making the delicious parfait. Just stack up layers of yoghurt and granola and flavour it with honey, and your parfait is ready.
5) Paneer Snacks
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Paneer or cottage cheese is also made by a straining method that separates curds from whey, resulting in a low-calorie and protein-rich food. Additionally, paneer is filled with fibres that make it extreme;y satisfying. You can add paneer to your weight-loss meal and also eat it without guilt as a late-night snack. Try these oil-free paneer snack ideas.
6) Roasted Chickpeas
Chickpeas are considered a great source of plant-based proteins and have high fibre content. Also, it is high in Vitamin B6 and tryptophan. Studies have shown that these properties of chickpeas make them a perfect contributor to sound sleep and satisfy the cravings completely. There are many ways to eat chickpeas as snacks, but the best one is making roasted chickpeas.
7) Makhana
Makhana is also a good low-calorie option to eat for late-night hunger. In addition to being low-calorie, makhana is also low in sodium, cholesterol and fats. Makhana contains several vitamins and is high in protein and antioxidants which gives a satisfactory feeling to the body and it's extremely crunchy which also pleases the mind. The antioxidants in makhana also help in alleviating digestive issues which eases the body.
8) Goji Berries
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Goji berries are used in Chinese herbal medicine and are rich in antioxidants that aid sleep. You can eat goji berries right away after washing, just like raisins, or you can add them to your herbal teas to infuse their hydrating flavours into the tea.
If your cravings won't let you sleep, indulge in these six healthy and low-calorie snacks and get rid of the cravings right away. While you munch on these treats, you also fuel your health and also improve your sleep cycle.
