It’s 2a.m. and you’re standing in the kitchen, bathrobe flung wide open, tearing through a carton of Häagen- Dazs, devouring an industrial-size box of Cheez Its, sliding a plate of leftovers in the microwave or (perhaps even and) slathering mustard and mayo on a submarine roll layered with cold cuts and deli cheese. It’s not that you’re hungry per se, but you’ve got nothing better to do. Chances are you’re a chronic late-night snacker, and now we’ve learned the reason why.

According to new research out of Brigham Young University, the brain is to blame for those late night or early morning cravings. The study reveals that the human brain is less sensitive to the rewards that food gives us in those wee hours, thus leading to potential face-stuffing expeditions and brazen overeating when we should be sleeping.

The study, which was published in the journal Brain Imaging and Behavior, used MRIs to measure how people’s brains react to an array of food images at different times throughout the day. The ironic bit? Researchers used only female participants in their study.

15 women viewed 360 images of food, once in the morning and once a day later in the evening, on two separate occasions. Subjects viewed images of low-calorie foods such as fruits, vegetables and fish along with high-calorie foods including fast food and sugary sweets. Results found that all participants displayed greater neural reaction in their MRIs when looking at high-calorie foods, yet the evening scans showed a much lower response to both categories of food images in areas of the brain that measure rewards.

In an email interview with The Huffington Post, Travis Masterson, lead author and researcher at BYU, stated this about the study’s findings: “You might over-consume at night because food is not as rewarding, at least visually, at that time of day. You eat more to try to get satisfied.” It turns out, midnight snackers are falling into the vicious cycle of overeating in an attempt to get that same food high or reward they get when eating during the day. The effect, Masterson said, is much like that of gamblers, drug addicts or alcoholics all looking for a similar high.

Participants were told to avoid eating or drinking for a number of hours before each MRI session. Despite maintaining the same diet on all days of the study, a large portion of the participants stated that they were more preoccupied with thoughts of food in the later hours of the day and believed that they could eat more (that oh-so-familiar “my eyes are bigger than my stomach” situation).

“Being aware that you are being more influenced visually in the morning and perhaps are being less satisfied by food at night may help you to make small but meaningful changes in your eating habits,” Masterson stated.

In the future, if you find yourself awake at midnight and lying in bed drooling at the thought of a gluttonous journey to the kitchen resulting in what can only be characterized as a shameful display of raging female hormones, just repeat this mantra: “Not today, Temptation. Not today.”

The post Late-Night Snacking Is All in Your Head…Kind of. appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

(BPT) – Summer snacking is among the most popular of American traditions – right up there with baseball and apple pie. When the sun is shining and the weather is wonderful, we love to feast on our favorite treats at ballgames, picnics and outdoor activities.

Yet the desire for indulgent taste can often get in the way of making good nutritional choices, especially while out and about. Here are some easy tips for planning flavorful, healthy and satisfying snacks that you and your family can pack for any activity this summer.

Navigate concession stands with ease

Chips. Popcorn. Soft pretzels with cheese sauce. Candy bars. Ice cream. Whether you’re enjoying a day at the beach or the ballpark, the spread offered at concession stands rarely varies. Be smart when you’re navigating the snack line-up with simple tricks such as determining whether you are hungry or just thirsty; opting for the most nutrition-packed foods that are low in fat and high in protein, so that your snack satisfies you longer; skipping the bun; and paying attention to the recommended serving size for your snack-of-choice.

Keep protein-packed snacks on hand

Snacks high in protein will keep you and your family feeling energized throughout the day’s activities. Ever since Native Americans and early settlers sought portable, satiating foods, jerky has been a popular take-along choice. Today’s jerky is conveniently packaged and requires no refrigeration. And, while jerky may be as American as apple pie, it is often a better choice. A slice of apple pie can have nearly 20 grams of fat, more than 400 calories and only 3 grams of protein – whereas a 1.25-ounce serving of Jack Link’s Beef Jerky has 18 grams of protein with only 1 gram of fat and 100 calories. Jerky is so popular that it even has its own holiday, National Jerky Day, celebrated annually June 12.

Create snacking pizzazz with fun pairings

Instead of traditional party-pairing standbys like chips and dip or crackers and cheese, plan a beer and jerky get-together, with a selection of brews paired with a bevy of jerky. Jack Link’s offers more than 100 options made from lean cuts of beef, turkey, chicken or pork, and flavors that range from savory or sweet to spicy. When making your beer selections, try interesting options from local and regional craft or microbreweries, to create the perfect snacking combo.

Stay hydrated

Most summer get-togethers offer a variety of beverages to satisfy every guest, such as wine, beer, spirits, fruit juice or soda. In moderation, these beverages can be a refreshing treat. They can, however, also leave you dehydrated and consuming more calories than you intended. Try pairing your beverage of choice with a healthy glass of water. Recent research shows that drinking two 8-ounce glasses of water before breakfast, lunch and dinner, while also cutting back on portions, can help you meet your weight loss goals. While each person’s hydration needs are different, the Institute of Medicine advises that men and women should try to consume about nine to 13 cups of water a day, including water that can be found in food and other beverages, such as fruit, vegetables or even coffee.

Celebrate summer snacking the smart way this year. Create on-the-go feasts by taking healthier snacking choices with you – wherever you go under the sun.

The post Summer snacking: As American as baseball, apple pie … and jerky appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.