It used to be thought that eating late at night made you gain more weight, but such myths have recently been disproven. Experts say that it is not when you eat, but rather what you eat. Every calorie counts the same no matter when you consume it. The problem for BC students is, every night at 8:30pm all types of yummy fried food are put on display, making it very difficult to resist the late night temptation. If you are up studying, it is so tempting to grab a cookie (or five) or some mozzie sticks to keep you motivated. Instead, grab some cereal, a pre-made salad or a yogurt parfait for some healthier fuel.
Going to late night after a night out is a whole different story. As I am sure you are all aware, Lower is quite the party around one or two o’clock on a weekend night. However, eating while drunk is not the healthiest choice for a variety of reasons. First of all, alcohol inhibits your self-control, so you are more likely to choose something unhealthy to eat, and eat more of it than you normally would. Also, studies have shown that it takes longer to feel full when intoxicated because calories from alcohol lack the nutrients to fill you up. Other studies have concluded that alcohol may also enhance the taste of salt and fat, making you crave the foods that are the least healthy options. There are numerous other hypotheses out there still being tested about why alcohol, eating and weight gain are so closely linked, but the bottom line is that they are linked.
Nutrition Facts for Popular Late Night Options:
Buff Chick Sub
Calories: 847
Total Fat: 42.4g
Sodium: 4453.6mg
Chicken Tenders
Calories: 975
Total Fat: 60.1g
Sodium: 2265.6mg
Buffalo Chicken Wings
Calories: 1271
Total Fat: 94g
Sodium: 3416.3mg
Mozzarella Sticks
Calories: 415
Total Fat: 15.2g
Sodium: 1695.1mg
Steak & Cheese
Calories: 367
Total Fat: 19.8g
Sodium: 1290.2mg
French Fries
Calories: 233
Total Fat: 9.2g
Sodium: 210.6mg
Mini Cheese Pizza
Calories: 420
Total Fat: 14g
Sodium: 989.4mg
*More detailed nutrition facts along with lists of ingredients can be found at http://www.bc.edu/offices/dini…
*Keep in mind that the nutrition information often includes sauces, such as ketchup, bleu cheese, and marinara sauce, when calculating totals
It is important to remember that it isn’t all about calories, fat and weight gain. You also need to pay attention to the nutrients you are consuming (which in the case of BC’s late night options are very few). If you are opting for late night instead of dinner, then it is very likely that you are missing out on much-needed vitamins and minerals for your body. If you are getting food after a night out, try getting cereal and milk, fruit, or salad instead. I know it is very rare that these would seem appetizing at your Lower late night after-party, but it is important to think twice about the extra damage you could be doing to your body. If you can’t resist a late night snack, then consider splitting your snack with a friend. And remember – there is no harm in treating yourself every once in a while. Sometimes my favorite part of going out is the mini pizza I know I will get at the end of the night!
Sources:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/17/health/17really.html?_r=0
http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2012/12/what-you-should-be-binge-eating-while-drunk.html