We hear a lot about the effect of the time of a meal on our metabolism and weight. On the other hand, many of us, while we can stick to healthy eating tips until noon, come home in the afternoon and cannot contain our appetite.
But is there a limit to the time we should eat in the evening? Is eating the most calories late in the day worse?
Recent research has shown that our bodies metabolize food at different times of the day in a similar way. Sure the metabolic rate is a little slower at night, but our bodies don't tend to store more fat from calorically equal meals depending on when we ate it. It's the total amount of energy we consume through food (and drinks!) during the day and exercise during the day that ultimately affects our weight.
But does "night eating" have a different effect on the scale reading?
On the other, many people tend to overeat and choose high-calorie foods as snacks at night, unaware of the amount that will cause weight gain. This does not happen so much because of hunger, but out of habit or boredom or stress. In addition, these snacks are often calorie-dense and unhealthy (chips with chips, cookies, chocolate, pizza and ice cream), since these are much more attractive options compared to preparing e.g. a salad when we are tired and just want to relax in front of the TV.
How can I manage late-night binge eating?
- Starting the day with breakfast quickly kick-starts the metabolism and can help us make better food choices throughout the day since we don't feel hungry.
- A dinner rich in protein and fibre can fill us up better.
- Avoid snacking while busy with other tasks or distracted by the TV or computer.
- Before you eat a late-night snack, think about how much you've eaten and exercised that day and think about whether you need it.