Don’t eat anything past 9 p.m. or else you will bloat and hold onto all those calories while you sleep…

Yeah, yeah I’ve heard that Dieting “Fact” before, too. But today I decided I’d had enough with this “don’t eat at night” rubbish. Today I decided that if it’s a snack I want at midnight, then it’s a snack I shall have!

Join me in the fight against the fight against midnight snacking, and check out some of these completely acceptable midnight munchie options.

1. Precious protein. A bit of protein late at night will satiate your hunger without weighing down your mattress. Try some slices of lean turkey – rolled up with a splash of mustard or layered atop a whole wheat English muffin. A nibble of protein and a mouthful of fiber will quickly lay to rest your late-night hunger.

2. Satiating sweets. If it’s sweets that you crave at night, grab a gobble of natural sweetness, a snack also known as dried fruit. Or just opt for one or two pieces of dark chocolate. Kiss off the Hershey kisses. A couple squares of Cacao Reserve by Hershey are rich in antioxidants! Yeah, that’s right. You CAN have some chocolate in the middle of the night. So take that, MOM!

3. Pop in some popcorn. Popcorn is a good snack no matter what the time of day or night, but it’s definitely a fun snack to munch on late night. Make sure your popped corn of choice is lightly buttered and lightly oiled, and you won’t even end up with any grease on your sheets!

4. Unsweetened applesauce. Many applesauces are high in sugar, but unsweetened applesauce is our pick for a tasty fiber boost. Add a dash of cinnamon to your small bowl of sauce for a splendid nocturnal nibble.

5. A dry handful. Eating something heavy or with a lot of dairy or salt isn’t going to help you sleep OR help you to feel good in the morning. Sometimes you just need a handful of something dry, light and filling to satiate you till sunup. Try a handful of nuts or almonds, or a cup of dry Raisin Bran.

Sip On This: The hunger you feel might just be dehydration. Try draining your hunger by downing a glass or two of water before you head for the fridge or pantry. Eating a balanced diet throughout the day will also dramatically cut back on the nighttime munchies you’re feeling.

But if you’re still trying to perfect the healthy lifestyle and you get a pang of hunger late at night, don’t deprive yourself. Just reach for one of these healthy options to help see you through till breakfast.

Sweet dreams!

If you have any comments or suggestions about today’s podcast or any fun health diet or fitness tip, please feel free to email me at ladydietpodcast@diet.com.

Stay cool, stay fit and stay focused with Diet.com... this is Lady Diet signing off!