The challenge is figuring out what you can eat that's quick, tasty and won't cause you to pack on the pounds.
After all, there's growing scientific evidence that eating too late at night could make weight control harder.
Fortunately, if you're truly hungry, a small, nutrient rich snack under 200 calories is generally fine at night.
Some snacks even contain compounds that may help you sleep better.
Here are 15 excellent and healthy late night snack ideas.
1. Tart Cherries
Consider adding tart cherries or their juice to your late night snack options.
A few, small studies suggest that they may help you sleep better.
What's more, they have anti inflammatory benefits and may offer protection against inflammation related conditions like arthritis and heart disease.
In a recent study, a small group of older women with insomnia drank 8 ounces (240 ml) of 100% tart cherry juice or a placebo drink at breakfast and 1 - 2 hours before bedtime.
Tart cherries contain the sleep promoting hormone melatonin, but only a relatively small amount.
However, they also contain the phytochemical procyanidin B 2, thought to protect the amino acid tryptophan in your blood, which can be used to make melatonin.
An 8 ounce (240-ml) glass of 100% tart cherry juice or one third cup (40 grams) of dried tart cherries have around 140 calories.
2. Pistachios
Pistachios stand out among other nuts for their high levels of sleep promoting melatonin.
Though all plant foods are thought to naturally contain this substance, few have as much as pistachios.
One ounce (28 grams) of shelled pistachios, which is about a handful, has 160 calories and about 6.5 mg of melatonin.
For comparison, the amount of melatonin typically recommended to aid sleep is 0.5–5 mg.
3. Protein Smoothie
Smoothies are an easy and tasty way to sneak in protein rich milk before bed.
For example, blend 8 ounces (240 ml) of low-fat milk with 2/3 cups (110 grams) of frozen pineapple for a tropical treat with only around 160 calories.
What's more, milk is rich in tryptophan.
Your body uses this amino acid to make both serotonin and melatonin, which aid sleep.
Pineapple has been found to boost melatonin levels as well.
4. Crackers and Cheese
Snacks that offer a balance of carbs and protein like whole grain crackers and cheese support consistent blood sugar levels.
From a sleep perspective, combining a carb rich food like crackers with a good tryptophan source like cheese helps make tryptophan more available to your brain.
This means that the compound can be used to make serotonin and melatonin, which aid sleep.
A serving of 4 wholewheat crackers (16 grams) and one stick of reduced fat cheddar cheese (28 grams) is around 150 calories.
The combo of protein from cheese and carbs from crackers supports steady blood sugar levels and the production of sleep supportive brain chemicals.
What's more, 4 crackers and 1 stick (28 grams) of reduced fat cheese pack only 150 calories.
5. Yogurt
Yogurt is an excellent source of calcium.
Long known for keeping your bones strong, this mineral has more recently also been linked to better sleep.
Yogurt, especially Greek yogurt, is also rich in protein, particularly casein.
Preliminary studies suggest that consuming casein protein at night may help reduce hunger the next morning.
If yogurt is your snack of choice, opt for plain and flavor it with unsweetened fruit, such as berries or peaches.
A 6 ounce (170-gram) container of plain, nonfat yogurt has 94 calories.
Mixing in a half cup (74 grams) of blueberries adds 42 calories.
Yogurt is a good source of protein, which helps curb hunger.
It's also rich in calcium, which has been linked to better sleep.
A 6-ounce (170-gram) container of plain, nonfat yogurt has only 94 calories.
6. Whole-Grain Wrap
Tortillas can be filled in any number of ways to satisfy late night hunger.
For a simple snack, warm one whole-grain tortilla, top it with hummus, unsweetened nut butter or sundried tomato spread, roll it up and enjoy.
A 6 inch (30gram) tortilla averages 94 calories.
