Midnight meals
Midnight menu
The night is a long time to get by
without the familiar growl in the stomach. At home, you might dig into
the refrigerator for the clandestine midnight snack but what about
the workplace? With more people working night shifts, nocturnal
nutrition is fast becoming an issue. Maintaining a healthy diet
schedule can be challenging when your natural body cycle is turned
upside down, working odd hours and rotating shifts.
To maintain stamina, workers eat between meals but depending on the
tidbits, snacking outside one's structured meal schedules can prove to
be healthy or harmful. According to a recent study conducted by a
snack-manufacturing company, 85 per cent of the Indian working
population consumes at least one snack a day. So how does one ensure
healthy snacking, especially at midnight? "Snacks if packed with
nutrients can supply our bodies with energy." Also "during odd hours,
they can fill your nutritional gaps if you make the right choice.
"According to doctors, eating after 9 p.m. can be harmful to the body
as the metabolism interferes with the body's circadian rhythms and
results in gastric problems. But there's little choice for those
working the graveyard shift. Only, instead of random snacking, a snack
schedule needs to be worked out for late hours.The plan should include
what one will eat, how much and the portion as well. A very important
thing people tend to forget is that snacks should supplement structured
meals, not replace them. Besides, snacks need to be timed between food
and with each other sothey don't interfere with the structured meals.
"Snacks consumed during odd hours should be the ones that contribute to
one's calorie count and nutritional needs and add variety to one's
diet, "The most important factor is to choose the right kind of
midnight snack because the human bodycan only take certain ingredients
and fibre at night. Nutritionist Rupali Dutta says what might help is a
larder of sorts at office so that the munching between meals is more
organised.
Here are some choices you need to make
Bhelpuri, NOT samosa, patty
Dhokla, Khakhra (available in all supermarkets in different sizes and flavours), NOT burgers
Toasted namkeen, diet mixtures, NOT pakoras
Veg bean salads and pastas, NOT spring rolls, potato chips
Chopped fruits, NOT egg bhurji, cheese bhurji
Low-fat frozen dessert, NOT ice cream
Fat-free biscuits, fruit bars, NOT cakes
Lime water, bottled coconut water, hot lemon tea, NOT tea or coffee
Fruit juice, NOT soft drinks
Fruit smoothies, NOT milk shakes
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