Eating a large bowl of ice cream or a greasy cheeseburger every night before bed will probably result in undesired weight gain. But nighttime eating isn't always bad, and a sensible nighttime snack can even be benefit your health and improve the quality of your sleep. Eating a healthy and sensible snack -- such as whole grain cereal -- can actually help regulate blood sugar levels while you sleep.
Benefits
Eating whole grain cereal -- whether morning, noon or night -- has a variety of health and nutrition benefits. It is often high in fiber, antioxidants and many essential vitamins and minerals. Regularly eating whole grains can reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer, help regulate blood sugar levels and ensure healthy digestive functioning. But when you eat whole grains at night, they have a particularly important benefit. Since whole grain cereal is high in fiber, it will actually keep you feeling full throughout the night. And since whole grains help regulate blood sugar, it should keep your blood sugar levels from becoming too high or too low while you sleep.
Check the Label
While many cereals claim to be "made with whole grains," not all cereals are actually derived from whole grain versions of wheat or rice. In fact, cereals only need a dusting of whole grain powder to use the whole grain label. Always check the nutrition label of your whole grain cereal before using it as nighttime nourishment. In the ingredient list, a whole grain ingredient -- such as whole wheat, oats or brown rice -- should be listed as one of the first few ingredients. Also check the label for other nutritional facts. Ideally, the cereal should be high in fiber and low in fat, sodium and sugar.
Portion Control
Although whole grain cereal serves as a healthy late-night snack option, you'll still want to avoid eating too much. Eating too much food at night -- whether whole grain cereal or another type of treat -- can reduce the length and quality of your sleep. As a result, you might feel rather fatigued and lacking in energy the following day. Start with a one-cup serving of cereal and wait at least 15 minutes after finishing your bowl. If you are still hungry, have another half cup.
Other Nighttime Foods
If you don't have any whole grain cereal on hand, there are a variety of other foods that can satisfy your nighttime cravings without interrupting your sleep schedule. Foods that contain tryptophan are often suggested to help regulate sleep cycles. Tryptophan-containing foods include yogurt, milk, soy products, whole grains, eggs, nuts, seeds and most types of meat. Along with cereal, other nighttime snack ideas include low-fat pudding or yogurt, fresh fruit, granola bars, popcorn, a handful of nuts or half of a turkey sandwich.
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