Eating late..

[kellybethx3]

What are your thoughts about eating later in the night? I know that its not that good because when you sleep your body is resting and shouldn't have food to digest and put all the energy into that. But I was wondering what everyone else thinks about it.

[Revvell]

Eat when you're hungry; sleep when you're tired; move when you feel to.

[Stina]

I gave up fighting myself........

It's not unusual for me to cut up an apple or banana and make a dessert out of it with sesame tahini, agave and cinnamon around nine at night. I still feel absolutely great. The more I gave myself permission to eat at night, as long as its raw, the less I do it. But my end goal isn't necessarily to totally quit. Maybe my body needs that to lull off to sleep.

[green goddess]

I often get home from work at 2am, and have a pre-made smoothie at this time. I think it's healthier to have a more natural bio-rhythm, with sleeping when it's dark and getting up with the sun, so unfortunately my own rhythm is shifted. I try not to eat too much just before getting to sleep, but it helps if I keep the food simple, no complex dehydrated crackers or pates or anything like that. A smoothie of a couple of bananas and kale seems to be ok.

I've tried simply going to bed hungry, not wanting to trouble my body with digesting anything so close to hitting the hay, but hunger is quite distracting when trying to sleep! So I'd rather have a banana or two right before going to bed than nothing at all and having a hungry tum.

[kellybethx3]

I usually end up hungry before bed some nights and I didn't know if I should but I figured my body was telling me I was hungry for a reason so I would eat something small. Thanks for all your advice! :)

[changeisgood]

I have something like a kiwi or apple. I do it for my blood sugar. Perhaps in near future my hypoglycemia will be totally gone. I am slim and have not gained weight. It's better then waking up at 3AM craving oj.

:throwhearts:

[kellybethx3]

hah very true!

[NYC Elerunner]

Thanks for starting this thread - I didn't realize that others have the same problem of getting hungry before bedtime. I think it makes sense that if I eat dinner around 6:30 (and don't usually eat too much at one time) then I will be hungry around 10:00.

And I agree its better to eat before bed then have trouble sleeping or waking up at 2am famished and eating whatever I can find that is accessible. Also, I've noticed that when I eat before bed, I usually wake up feeling fine; however if I eat in the middle of the night I wake up all bloated and feel really gross. I also haven't noticed any weight gain due to eating before bed.

That being said, I do understand that our digestive system needs to rest while we are sleeping so that our bodies can clean themselves out and do repair work so it's probably better to not eat before bed. I think having GS (or small fruit) at night is a great idea - yesterday was the first day that I had an evening GS and it was such a treat!

[kellybethx3]

I totally agree with you. You could also try eating a bit more for dinner so you're full for longer and can go to bed without eating, I really believe we shouldn't eat before bed but sometimes you will get hungry so I think its okay. I do think it could be a problem to do it every night though. So eat more throughout the day to avoid it, but sometimes its unavoidable and it happens! :)

[Mrs. Papaya]

In general it's bad because people tend to eat as entertainment at night. I know I do. Like you're watching TV and just naturally want to eat so you do even if you don't need that extra food. I make a big effort to not eat after dinner. I'm usually tempted to eat not because I'm truly hungry but because it is something fun to do while hanging out with people or just relaxing.

The key is to eat enough during the day so you don't start starving later at night. I find that if I go to bed after a good 3 hours without eating, I feel a lot better the next day.

[kellybethx3]

I agree. I used to do the same thing but I've been better. If I'm actually hungry after dinner if its not 3 hours before I'm going to sleep I'll have a small healthy dessert. Every once in a while I will eat just because I'm watching tv, like you said, and I just want to eat so I do, not often though.

[Seductive Arts]

hi everyone,,,
Yeah,you are right.Many of us believe that eating late in the night is an unhealthy habit.In my view it has both good and bad effects.Those people who want to increase fat contents and there goal is to gain weight,eating late at night is good for them.Except that for all other people eating late at night is not good at all.

I disagree with this. Europeans eat dinner at 8, 9 or 10 at night. Many are skinny. This is especially true in France and Italy.

This not eating late at night is for Americans since many Americans eat dinner between 6 to 8 pm and then snack on salty, fatty foods way uptil they go to bed between 10 to midnight.

The problem isn't really eating late at night, but what you eat and Americans have an addiction to snacking and not having any portion control all during the evening, especially this bad if you are not exercising which many Americans don't do.

In most parts of Europe food is much healthier and snack consist of real fruit, not cakes, pies, cookies and ice cream and potato chips and Doritos. That is the main reason why the no eating past 8 was implemented in America.

[kellybethx3]

That is true, i never thought of it that way!

[NYC Elerunner]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I am more concerned with waking up starving in the middle of the night rather than eating before bedtime - but you are all right that I probably need to eat more throughout the day and have a bigger dinner. I've noticed that when I eat a real dinner (as opposed to just picking) I am not hungry late at night. I should probably eat lunch earlier so that I am hungry at dinnertime. Writing down what I eat as part of the 30 day raw challenge really helps detect patterns. I am definitely going to start working on this!

[Revvell]

This is true. Not so much a matter of when you eat as what you eat.



I disagree with this. Europeans eat dinner at 8, 9 or 10 at night. Many are skinny. This is especially true in France and Italy.

This not eating late at night is for Americans since many Americans eat dinner between 6 to 8 pm and then snack on salty, fatty foods way uptil they go to bed between 10 to midnight.

The problem isn't really eating late at night, but what you eat and Americans have an addiction to snacking and not having any portion control all during the evening, especially this bad if you are not exercising which many Americans don't do.

In most parts of Europe food is much healthier and snack consist of real fruit, not cakes, pies, cookies and ice cream and potato chips and Doritos. That is the main reason why the no eating past 8 was implemented in America.

[RawHealthyBeauty]

If anybody here has read up on Tonya Zavosta's thoughts on eating late, then ... She looks so youthful, great, and beautiful!!

From her perspective, it keep you and the body young!!

From what I understand, it aged the body faster when we eat late.

[Raw Angel Mom]

I think it is important not to make excuse to eat late. If you want to do it, do it but from a responsible place and in time, you might not want to eat late.

If you are hungry before you go to bed, it is likely that you didn't eat enough through the day.

If you read quantum eating, she discovered that it is best to stop eating as early as possible. You age more if you don't.

During the begining of doing raw food, it is important most of all to find a comfortable pace and to convince your mind that this is easy. If eating late, help you, then so be it.

Without question, if you don't eat late, your body will maximise the healing and cleansing process during the night. On top of helping you to rejuvenate.

When i had my child, i would eat when i could and started to eat before i go to bed, i ended up with sleeping disorder caused also by the hormone and the habbit of getting up in the middle of the night to make milk for my child.

Now, i find that i sleep far better not eating late and i have more energy.

[kellybethx3]

Yeah that would be a good idea and should help you out a lot!!

[kellybethx3]

Thanks for the info Raw Angel Mom

[Revvell]

If anybody here has read up on Tonya Zavosta's thoughts on eating late, then ... She looks so youthful, great, and beautiful!!

From her perspective, it keep you and the body young!!

From what I understand, it aged the body faster when we eat late.

Well, she's just one person. Have you met her in person?

[RawHealthyBeauty]

True, she is just one person. And I haven't met her. Have you?

[Revvell]

True, she is just one person. And I haven't met her. Have you?

Yes, I have at one of the Raw Spirit Festivals.

[RawHealthyBeauty]

I'm gonna give it a try to see if it's true over a period of time.

I have noticed that I do look and feel better in the morning when I don't eat late the evening before, which is why I'm open to what she has to say about it in quantum eating.

Doesn't hurt to try as the way I see it.....it's only not eating after certain hour of the day...if it's the secret to the fountain of youth with raw food on top of that.....I don't see why not.

[Seductive Arts]

I think it is important not to make excuse to eat late. If you want to do it, do it but from a responsible place and in time, you might not want to eat late.

If you are hungry before you go to bed, it is likely that you didn't eat enough through the day.

If you read quantum eating, she discovered that it is best to stop eating as early as possible. You age more if you don't.

During the begining of doing raw food, it is important most of all to find a comfortable pace and to convince your mind that this is easy. If eating late, help you, then so be it.

Without question, if you don't eat late, your body will maximise the healing and cleansing process during the night. On top of helping you to rejuvenate.

When i had my child, i would eat when i could and started to eat before i go to bed, i ended up with sleeping disorder caused also by the hormone and the habbit of getting up in the middle of the night to make milk for my child.

Now, i find that i sleep far better not eating late and i have more energy.


Or sometimes, you have gotten enough to eat, but not enough sleep. People tend to snack as well when they are tired and sleepy and are trying to stay awake at late hours. The body is really saying "Take me to bed." But you refuse to go to bed at 9, 10, or 11pm, because you rather watch tv, goof off on the internet, or do whatever.

I notice that I snack and eat unnecessarily to fight sleepiness. I am trying to get to bed at 11pm.

[Stina]

I've read from different sources that stressed adrenal glands like to be nourished with frequent healthy snacks. My experience validates that.

[Raw Angel Mom]

Or sometimes, you have gotten enough to eat, but not enough sleep. People tend to snack as well when they are tired and sleepy and are trying to stay awake at late hours. The body is really saying "Take me to bed." But you refuse to go to bed at 9, 10, or 11pm, because you rather watch tv, goof off on the internet, or do whatever.

I notice that I snack and eat unnecessarily to fight sleepiness. I am trying to get to bed at 11pm.

Actually, you are spot on, eating raise your metabolism and make you less sleepy except if you eat those traditional heavy meal of thanksgiving, lol....

It is true that i lack of sleep, i won't denied this but i do sleep so much better when i don't eat late. I have been used for years not to eat past 5-6pm but when i got my child, i typically did manage to care for me and i would eat when i could, even though it would be late, i would eat to make sure that i produce milk. I kept this habbit of eating late and when i went back of not eating past 5, i noticed that my night sleep were better. If i wouldn't have a child, i probaby would stop eating by 2pm, lol.....