It's futile to pretend that I am a healthy eater once the clock strikes twelve. It’s also futile to fight against the midnight snack. Everybody has their own style to night eating. Some might go for the gold by using pots and pans. Others might enjoy to start breakfast early, as many a cereal advertisement has suggested. Perhaps there are a chosen few who enjoy a healthy reprieve of salad or quinoa in the dark of night.

My philosophy when it comes to a high quality midnight snack is that it must contain dairy and/or carbs. All of these late night delicacies can be eaten with minimal effort.

1. Nachos

They are a classic, put some chips on a plate scatter cheese upon their delighted crunch and expose to heat until the cheese has melted. In a microwave this takes about 25 seconds. To be ~healthy~ add tomatoes or peppers or olives or cucumbers. It’s late at night, so no one has a right to judge you for how you make your midnight nachos.

3. Cereal

Another late night snack for the hall of fame. The crunch of cereal combined with milk can hit the spot better than Muhammad Ali. Bonus to this midnight snack is that it feels like you are getting a head start on the next day, that’s productive.

4. Macaroni & cheese

Ok this is the holy grail of all midnight snacks. Cheese! Pasta! Water! Milk (if you feel like it)! Microwave! That’s it. And that is beautiful. You will be delighted in the straightforward and simple path to macaroni and cheese.

6. Pizza variation

Back at it again with the carb-cheese combo, but this time add tomato sauce or sliced tomato if sauce is too much effort.

7. Toast

This recipe does require a toaster. Step one: acquire bread. Step two: put bread in toaster. Step three: put anything and everything on that toast. Everything and anything includes avocados, butter, nutella, cheese or dill. Again, no judgement if you like your toast plain. That’s not sacrilegious at all.

8. Peaches and blue/straw/rasp/berries

I’m not even joking. Fruit is bomb at night. Slice it, smash it, wash it or don’t. Actually, please wash your fruit. There is a level of class and innocence to a fruity midnight snack.

9. Sandwiches

This is for the brave snacker who knows that what really needs to happen is a meal. Night sandwiches have no rules as anything is a sandwich if you try hard enough. You don’t even need bread. Put the fixins’ in some lettuce and it’s still a sandwich. Good luck on this magical journey.

10. Stale cookies

I mean if you have been saving them for the right time, likely halfway between night and morning is as good a time as any.

11. Ice cream

This is a daring option. I sincerely hope you have ice cream in your fridge if you want it.

12. Pickles...

They are strange enough and will likely give you interesting dreams. They can be paired with anything especially if you don’t let society’s standards close you in. Peanut butter is a personal fave. Don’t be afraid, just let it brine.

13. Bonus Snack: Tea

Non-caffeinated tea can send you off to sleep and that is really the true goal of a midnight snack.

Happy munching and late night food experimentation.