Bed Time Snacks That Will Not Spike Blood Sugar

 Bed Time Snacks That Will Not Spike Blood Sugar:

Night, night, sleep tight.

Snacks are delicious. They help hold you over between meals and give you extra energy to get you through the day, but what happens when you finish dinner and still need a little something something before bed? Whether you're on the hunt for a treat that will help you sleep or a healthy late-night goodie for those trying to lose weight, there are refreshments on this list based on your dietary and lifestyle needs.

Scroll on and you'll see that there are common things to consider when choosing a snack before bedtime. These options also won't spike your blood sugar making them solid go-tos before catching some rest. "It is always preferable to have at least an hour's gap before bed," certified nutritional therapist and health coach at Vee Vital Vanessa O'Brien tells Redbook. "Choose foods that are low on the Glycemic index and keep portions small so that the digestive system does not have to work overtime whilst you sleep."

1

Avocado with Cottage Cheese

First up is avocado with cottage cheese. O'Brien confirms that this combination provides a nice balance of fat and protein proving it's an excellent before-bed choice.

2

Almonds

According to Women’s Health, you should always have almonds on hand. Not only do almonds (and almond butter) contain fat, fiber, and protein that can help stabilize blood sugar levels, but they also have magnesium and tryptophan, which help to naturally lower the stress hormone and cortisol. That said, lower cortisol levels allow you to drift off to sleep faster.

3

Cherry Tomatoes and Mozzarella Cheese

"Cherry tomatoes have low amounts of carbohydrates, plus [they] provide minerals and vitamins," adds O’Brien.

Slices of mozzarella also bring in protein preventing blood sugar spikes and crashes while you sleep

4

Chia Pudding

Chia pudding is a fabulous way to get extra protein and healthy omega-three fats. "You can sweeten it with some vanilla essence and a small amount of berries for taste," O'Brien shares.

5

Cottage Cheese and Carrot Sticks

Cottage cheese is high in protein, while carrot sticks have fiber and extra nutrients without spiking blood glucose.

6

Eggs

Eggs are filled with B6, melatonin, and tryptophan as well as blood-sugar balancing protein, Women’s Health reports. Combined, they all work together to support a healthy snooze.

7

Greek Yogurt with Berries

Greek yogurt is a yummy, protein-filled bedtime snack and fresh berries can add the sweetness you crave. "Berries are one of the lowest Glycemic Index fruits (meaning they will not spike your blood sugar high)," according to O'Brien.

8

Hummus with Vegetable Sticks

Hummus is a tasty source of protein and fiber and pairs well with all kinds of vegetables such as carrot sticks, cucumber slices, celery, and more.

9

Oatmeal

If you love breakfast, oatmeal is the way to go. It'll certainly keep your blood sugar in check and the oats are rich in calcium and magnesium which promote quality sleep.

10

Whole Wheat Toast with Peanut Butter

Do you have a loaf of whole wheat bread lying around the kitchen? Add healthy fats like avocado, hummus, or peanut butter to it. In fact, peanut butter has high serotonin levels, a hormone known to help people relax and fall asleep.

SUMMER DRINKS

 

6 SUMMER DRINKS

If you are looking for fresh, corlourful, fruity drinks which are refreshing and perfect for the summer, look no further! Today I am sharing my 6 favourite go-to summer drinks which are super easy to make at home and perfect for this scorching weather. All of these drinks are non-alcoholic so they can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike. Perfect for large parties with friends or special gatherings with family, these 6 summer drinks have such varied flavour pairings yet are simple to make with regular ingredients found at home! Let the summer drink season begin!

6 SUMMER DRINKS FLAVOURS

MANGO LASSI

Everyone’s favourite and a crowd pleaser, mango lassi is the perfect combination of sweetness of mangoes and tartness of yogurt. When paired with a bit of cardamom powder, this thick, creamy and refreshing drink becomes irresistible. You can also flavour your mango lassi with a bit of saffron or rose water. To make this beautiful drink all you need are 4 ingredients- homemade or store bought dahi, fresh sweet mango, some sugar and ½ a teaspoon of cardamom powder. Blend all of these with a few ice cubes and you are good to go! It’s the most loved summer drink at my home and I am sure you are going to love it too!

COLD COFFEE

One thing that I consume everyday is coffee. I can’t spend a day without it quite literally. This cold coffee is one of my favourites and all you need is some milk, coffee powder, a scoop of vanilla icecream and few ice cubes. Blend it all and pour it in a glass with swirls of chocolate syrup for that extra deliciousness. This summer drink is forthy, satisfying, delicious and probably the easiest drink you can put together in just a few minutes.

LEMON ICED TEA

It’s that time of the year again! Time to enjoy a tall glass of this fruity, refreshing summer drink laying on the side of a pool and enjoying the summer. I may not be fond of tea in general but when paired with lemon and served cold, nothing like it hits the right spot. To make this lemon iced tea, you need to start with some water in a saucepan and cook it with some tea leaves and sugar for a couple of minutes. Cook until the tea has left all of it’s beautiful aroma and flavour in the water. Strain this mixture and set it aside to cool down. To assemble your summer drink, in the glass start with some ice, strained tea mixture, fresh lemon juice, few mint leaves and a few slices of lemon for that extra kick and you are good to go!

WATERMELON MOJITO

If you love fizzy drinks as much as I do, you are going to love this summer drink. This watermelon mojito is refreshing and delicious! Made with fresh watermelon juice, a couple of muddled and fresh mint leaves, fresh lemon juice and lemon slices, a bit of sugar, topped with a few ice cubes and soda water, this summer drink is perfect for parties, cookouts or lazy summer days by the pool or in your backyard.

MOHABBAT KA SHARBAT

Popular from the streets of old delhi, this summer drink is as refreshing as it sounds. Made with milk, rose syrup, a bit of sugar and freshly cut watermelon cubes, this summer drink is delicious pairing of fruit and flower flavours. It’s refreshing and beautiful for summer days.

PAAN MILKSHAKE

As unusual as it sounds but as refreshing and delicious as it can be, this summer drink has become quite popular among gatherings and parties. Made with a combination of milk, betel leaves and gulkand or an easier way is to put whole paan with a bit of fennel seeds and desiccated coconut and vanilla ice cream, this drink will surely win the hearts. It’s super refreshing, cool on the stomach and super delicious all in one.

Each of these 6 summer drinks have beautiful refreshing contrast of fruity flavours that I absolutely love and so does my family. If you try these recipe and like it, do try other summer drinks recipes from the blog. I am sure you are going to love them too!

MUKBANGING: A New Trend

 Mukbanging and ASMR's😋

Do you know what a mukbang is? If you’ve only heard about the food-based video trend now, especially if it’s through your kids, you probably have a lot of questions. What is mukbang? Why do people enjoy watching mukbang videos? Where did the trend start? Let’s find out what makes millions of people around the world tune in to mukbang videos, and why the trend shows no signs of slowing.

What is mukbang?

Mukbang, in simple terms, is a live-streamed video where viewers watch the host eat. Mukbang is characterized by the copious amount of food consumed during the streaming – think banquet-size portions, where viewers sit and watch the one-person eating contest unfold.

Mukbangers, or BJs (yes, we’ll get to that) might first film themselves preparing food, or order large amounts of takeout food, then eat it in front of the camera, all for the pleasure of their live audience.

What is ASMR mukbang?

Since the mukbang trend has been going in South Korea since the early 2010s, there are now all kinds of eating “shows” online, including ASMR mukbang (autonomous sensory meridian response), which taps into the trend of streamers recording noises and sounds that make us “feel” something as we watch – think slurps, loud chewing, crunching, and all those sounds that come hand-in-hand with enjoying a good meal.

Other popular kinds of mukbang include: 

• Storytime mukbang, where the streamer introduces a completely separate topic as they eat, telling an engaging story, from real life events to YouTube gossip, and even (controversially) true crime.
• Interviews and collaboration mukbangs, where the streamer or YouTuber invites a guest onto their channel to join in on the mukbang. Even rapper Megan Thee Stallion recorded her own mukbang for YouTube, using the trend as promo for her new hot sauce. 

Why is mukbang popular?

Watching others eat is hardly anything new – but mukbang is a little different to the average show you’d catch on the Food Network. In South Korea, the trend’s host country, eating out and socializing with others is a big deal, so some speculate that one of the reasons mukbang gained popularity was through viewers tuning in to help recreate the social aspect of dining. 

Korean BJs usually stream live at regular mealtimes, so their fans can watch or eat alongside them. This is different to mukbangers from the international community, such as those based in the USA, who tend to pre-record their mukbang videos and talk as they’re eating. 

Another large draw lies in the large quantities of food that the BJs consume. The average person will never wolf down a 20,000 calorie meal, but through mukbang, they can easily watch someone else do so – just like watching a classic hot dog eating contest. Mukbang videos could, on some level, also serve to satisfy food cravings. Other viewers may enjoy the sensations of food they get through the noisier, ASMR aspect of the videos. 

Is mukbang dangerous?

Taking mukbang at face value there’s nothing obviously dangerous, per se. After all, eating and watching others do the same is part of daily life. However, there’s more to the trend than meets the eye.

Behind the scenes of mukbang, there are real life personalities suffering the consequences of consuming more calories in just one meal than they should in a day. In 2019, American YouTuber Nicholas Perry, otherwise known as Nikocado Avocado, reported that binge eating for mukbang videos had negatively affected his health, and in 2021, Italian mukbanger Omar Palermo died of a heart attack. 

Research has also connected mukbang to disordered eating habits among its fans. While not the case for everyone, vulnerable viewers may feel triggered by watching the content. Watching others consume large amounts of food on a regular basis could also give viewers the wrong impression of how much they should be eating. A 2020 study which analyzed YouTube comments and Reddit forums concluded:

“For some, mukbang appears to be a constructive tool in increasing food intake, preventing binge eating, or reducing loneliness. For others, it is clearly a destructive force that may motivate restrictive eating or trigger a relapse into loss-of-control eating.”

– Strand M, Gustafsson SA. Mukbang and Disordered Eating: A Netnographic Analysis of Online Eating Broadcasts.

Salads: Healthier Than Anything

 Greek Salad Recipes

Green Salad Recipes

Green salads don’t have to be boring, and these recipes are here to prove it! I often make these salad recipes for a healthy lunch, but they’re great cookout and dinner side dishes too.

Simple Green Salad

Crunchy roasted almonds and creamy avocado add amazing textural contrast to this simple salad. My zippy lemon vinaigrette ties it all together.

Italian Chopped Salad

This chopped salad is so flavorful that even salad skeptics will pile their plates with seconds! The key ingredients? A punchy dressing, pepperoncini, and TWO types of cheese.

Arugula Salad with lemon Vinaigrette

Juicy roasted grapes, toasted almonds, and shaved Parm give this simple salad an elevated twist.

Homemade Caesar Salad

Everything you love about the classic salad—crunchy croutons! crisp romaine! lots of Parmesan cheese!—but with an easier homemade Caesar dressing. Greek yogurt creates its creamy, tangy base.