Late Night Studies & Snacks

While the dreaded Freshman 15 might not be strictly accurate, it is true that most students will experience a slight weight gain during their first year of college. There are several reasons for this, but one aspect is that all-nights and all-nighter snacks aren’t exactly good for your brain or your waistline.

Late night study sessions make it tempting to order unhealthy food options like pizza or fast food. Then, on the day after an intense late-nighter or even all-nighter, the unhealthy culinary temptations often continue. Your body is exhausted from staying up all night and so your body will naturally crave the carbohydrates that will help you sleep. Avoid this negative domino effect with the following late night studying and eating tips:

Late Night Study & Snack Tips

• Keep temptation at bay. What type of junk food can you not resist? For some, it’s chips and dip while others have a sweet tooth for which ice cream binges are the go-to de-stresser. Whatever junk food you crave late at night, the best method of staying healthy is to avoid keeping any junk food in your apartment. Change your kitchen environment and you change how and what you eat. If you can’t skip the junk food completely, make it as healthy as possible with baked chips, hummus or salsa.
• Bring in smart snacks. In addition to not bringing home junk food, make sure to stock your pantry with smart snacks. Snacks high in healthy fats and low in carbohydrates are particularly helpful for satisfying your appetite with less calories and without making you overly sleepy. We keep protein bars in our cabinets for those marathon sessions. Pick bars with low levels of sugar and a lot of protein. We also keep bags of chopped veggies on hand with hummus. It’s a healthy way to fill up without a lot of effort!
• Drink a lot of water. This is especially important in Texas’s hot and dry spring and summer climates. Staying hydrated helps improve your concentration and can help reduce your appetite. As a side benefit, drinking a lot of water will prompt increased bathroom breaks which is a good excuse to get some movement in during long studying sessions. Avoid drinking sodas, high-sugar juices, and caffeine late in the evening. We love La Croix not just because we’re basic, but also because it satisfies that fizzy drink craving without any sugar.
• Take active breaks and avoid sedentary time. It takes both a good diet and active lifestyle to prevent weight gain. Additionally, staying active and keeping away from food commercials and big restaurant outings further cements positive habits. Take a walk down to our clubhouse, or around the complex. Take a quick dip in the pool, or a short walk on the treadmills. Anything to get your blood pumping!

Send Us Your Healthy Tips for Late Night Snacks & Studies

The above is really just the beginning, a good place to start for those wanting to transition to a better snacking and late night studying future. But maybe you already have your own tried and true tips for healthy habits for increased studying efficiency? If you do, we’d love to hear them in the comments or via social media!