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Dinnertime and late night food cravings pop up more than most of us would like to admit, and something about eating before bed makes it seem like it's ok to indulge in a few bites of Ben & Jerry's or a handful of microwave popcorn. But, eating later at night can be a dangerous game since your body doesn't have as much time to digest the food before you go to sleep. However, if you are hungry before bed, don't starve yourself. According to Eat This, Not That!, a growling, empty stomach can keep you up at night, and lack of sleep can actually lead to weight gain. So, when the night rolls on and you feel a grumble in your tummy, what are the foods you should avoid eating for weight loss after 5 p.m.?
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Cheesy, gooey 'za always seems like the perfect evening meal (or breakfast leftover), but greasy and cheesy foods should be avoided at all costs the later into the night you get. According to Shape, foods like pizza put an extra strain on your stomach to digest them, and they can make you feel out of it the next morning. If you can't imagine life without pizza, which is valid, try to eat it earlier in the day so your body has more time to digest it.
Heavy, red meats should also be avoided in the evening. According to Food Network, burgers take a while to digest, so eating them at night can mess up your sleep schedule while your body works its magic. And, it's also no secret that hamburgers aren't exactly the key to weight loss.
Frozen meals like Lean Cuisine or Healthy Choice might seem like easy low-cal dinners you can make in minutes, but they're actually too good to be true. According to Prevention, frozen dinners are loaded with sodium. Some are also meant for two or more people to share, so you're loading up on a ton of extra calories by eating it all in one sitting.
A PB&J sandwich is another crowd favorite in terms of easy meals, but steer clear of eating this for dinner. According to Prevention, "you end up with a 600-calorie meal that delivers little in the way of real nutrition." White bread and jelly load this beloved meal up with sugar, and adding spoonfuls of peanut butter adds up calories. If you're in a time crunch and have your heart set on PB&J, chose whole weat bread and and almond butter instead of peanut butter.
Eating spicy food for dinner or a late-night snack can also hinder your weight loss goals. According to Cooking Light, spicy Thai and Mexican foods tend to have high amounts of calories and fat, and eating a lot of spice before bed can actually make it harder for you to fall asleep. Spicy foods can boost your metabolism, according to Eat This, Not That!, but save your favorite spicy curry for earlier in the day.
