LATE NIGHT MUNCHIES: 5 GUILTY-FREE LATE-NIGHT TREATS

After the sun sets I'm rummaging through cabinets and the refrigerator like an episode of Hell’s Kitchen, looking for something to satisfy my “sweet tooth”. After being up for so long I love a good crunch as I’m scrolling, enjoying my laughs from social media before calling it a night. Chips, pickles—anything salty or sweet often keeps me satisfied until I realize I’ve eaten enough snacks for two and suddenly feel like the whale of the house. Instead of torturing myself with the ideas from social media to quit snacking after hours, I swapped my guilty pleasures for something that’ll make my gut happy—literally. 

HOMEMADE PARFAIT 

Open your DIY cafe in your kitchen tonight! This nostalgic fun treat tastes better when you do it (and free) because you can add unlimited granola and fruit. Granola is a good source of fiber as granola helps your digestive health and weight management. Starting with a cup or bowl you want to add your granola, greek yogurt on top, and then fruits as your cherry on top (no pun intended). If you want to add more, unsalted peanuts, a sliced apple, and honey are great additives to make your sweet treat even sweeter.

Parfait is made with yogurt, blackberries, strawberries, oats, and honey.

TOMATOES AND FETA CHEESE SALAD 

With either a small or large bowl, this treat will leave you full yet feeling light. 

Tomatoes, red onion, feta cheese, cucumbers, and balsamic vinegar dressing are the basic vegetable and dairy ingredients for this colorful salad. If you aren’t a fan of tomatoes, cucumbers, or feta cheese, this savory treat may change your mind. When the vegetables blend with the dressing and feta cheese, it creates a salty yet sweet delectable taste. Switching or adding carrots, olives, and red and orange bell peppers can diversify your salad to fit each hunger mood.

Cucumbers, red onion, tomatoes, red + orange bell pepper, feta cheese, and black pepper.

DIY AÇAÍ BOWL 

You can make a smoothie or take it to another level by creating your acai bowl. Acai bowls became popular when Smoothie King introduced their infamous acai bowls–your favorite smoothie with fruit toppings. What makes this treat so good are the extra toppings: peanut butter, coconut flakes, honey, and your choice of nuts.

bananas, gold kiwi, strawberries, and nuts on a blueberry smoothie.

AIR FRIED APPLES 

A healthy sweet treat that tastes like a 1000-calorie dessert is my favorite. Air-fried apples taste like pie without the crust. After eating this sweet treat you’re going to wonder, was the treat healthy from the beginning? To answer your question in the future—yes. After slicing your green or red apple you want to set it in the air fryer for 10-15 minutes at 340-350 Fahrenheit. While your apple is frying, put a few tablespoons of cinnamon, honey, or brown sugar (or all three) inside a bowl. When your apple is crisp, mix your slices in your bowl of cinnamon sugar with honey and enjoy. 

apple fried slices with honey and cinnamon.

TEA/KOMBUCHA

You can’t chew it and it doesn’t remind you of a bag of cool ranch Doritos (bummer) but your stomach and waistline may thank you in the morning. Drinking tea and kombucha can help promote fat-burning and a healthy gut. Add a fresh squeeze of lemon to amplify your taste. 

tea leaves and kombucha.

Which healthy snack do you indulge in?