You've just stumbled in the door after a night of fairly hard partying, and the clock reads 2:00am. As your stomache cries out in pain, you realize you haven't eaten in seven, make that eight hours. Throwing open your cupboard, your semi articulate mind grapples at the complexities of it all. You need something quick, easy, and filling. And most of all, you need it now. Your weakened mind turns to the chocolates at the back of the cupboard, stowed safely away to avoid temptation, but there are much healthier ways to deal with the late night hunger pains. And those pimples aren't getting any smaller.
Ofcourse, there are strategies you can draw upon to help fend off the night cravings, to cook a healthy meal in as little time as possible. Firstly, you should ensure your cupboard is stocked full of the five food staples.
Remember when you were in primary school, and the teacher was hammering home the importance of a healthy balanced diet, by way of the 'food pyramid'? Well, apart from your ability to aquire food off your parents free of charge on a daily basis, noting much has changed. Rice, pasta and bread are the healthiest and so you should stock yourself with as much of them as possible, fruit and vegetables are next on the list, whilst eggs, meat, poultry, beans and nuts are next on the list. Sauces and dressings can certainly be handy as they add flavour, but be careful not to overdo it, or them. Buying cook books, or at least downloading some recipes and placing them in an accessible vantage point from the oven could also help stave off moments of panic.It is also smart to ensure your kitchen table is cleared off mess, and your cupboard and fridge is reasonably organized so that you don't have to go hunting for ingredients you purchased hours ago.
Whilst keeping a tight reign on how much junkier food you consume can be easier said then done, it is important to keep a balance. Just because a pizza is vegetarian does not neccessarily mean it is healthy. People are more likely to lose their inhibitions late at night, gorging themselves on not so healthy foods and snacks just because, well, they're easy and provide a quick sugary fatty hit. . The increased urgency, and impatience, can also also mean they are not prepared to spend a long time cooking a decent time, instead going for an easy alternative. It is also important to remember that the longer you wait between meals, the hungrier you will be, which is another reason you have to be ever aware of the health quotient of your meals. The fact that you may have been snacking in the interval should mean your hunger is reduced, but this is not ncessarily the case, especially given that some snacks can be addictive, whilst never be truly filling. However, there are healthy alternatives.
Pasta dishes such as Penne with roasted tomatoes can be prepared and cooked within a half hour, whilst stir fry is another alternative which is easy to make but comes in practically limitless permutations. Whilst the clique is beef, or chicken, beans, pineapple you can do basically anything with a stir fry. Salads are also an easy option, however you may desire something more substantial. A Beef and Sweet Chilli also has a half hour preparation time, so it need not take a long time to cook something substantial. A cheesy baked ham roll, or even the more traditional baked cheese sandwhich, is another easy but tasty option. Pork sausages with balsamic options takes half an hour to prepare, and is a healthy option what with the onion, pumpkin and potato ingredients. Its also a great way to impress your partner with your sensitivity during a late night home movie, the onion practically guaranteed to make you cry.
Late night eating is something that should be done in moderation. The later you eat, the more you'll want to eat, or you might just not eat dinner at all, leaving you exhausted and half starved for work the next morning. Not a good look in any case, especially if you forget to shave. If you do need a late night meal though, there are numerous options to prepare a healthy meals in a short period of time. For further information, browse the web, buy a cookbook, or talk to friends about their habits.
