A 'Midnight Snack' Might Be The Answer To A Bad Relationship Day

Midnight snacking isn't known to be the healthiest habit for our eating rhythms or digestion cycles. But when it comes to nurturing our relationships with some quiet TLC, it's hard to beat an intimate moment shared over a bag of popcorn or pint of Ben & Jerry's. One TikTok boyfriend loves ham as his late-night snack, and other couples have posted their silly midnight snacking rituals. Restocking their partners' favorite snacks is an act of love for some folks on TikTok, as either you or a partner might be the one with a predictable nocturnal appetite.

Midnight snacking together isn't necessarily one of the things a couple should do every day to stay happy, but working some sweet late-night sessions into your relationship contract could be a fun way to facilitate some intentional at-home bonding. Sometimes, doing what we're not "supposed" to do is the perfect break from a day of paying bills, finding legal parking, and sending emails. Fruit or cheese cut up on a plate, or anything you can eat with your hands, may help you feel grounded and get back in touch with your inner child. And going rogue with your partner can help you feel like you share a sweet secret, silly as it may be. 

One couple told Buzzfeed that a midnight snack is key to keeping their relationship in its best shape. "When we've had a bad day or have fought a lot, no matter how angry we are at each other, we force ourselves to sit down together for a midnight snack," they said. While one partner preps the snacks, the other takes a breather. Finally, they come together to talk things through. "We eat, drink, discuss why we argued, and find a solution," they explained. "It's hard to stay angry when you're sharing homemade chocolate pudding and a vanilla latte." Though you may be averse to ingesting late-night caffeine the way this couple does, there's something to be said for a hot drink to usher some much-needed warm-and-fuzzies between you and your partner.

Of course, some midnight snacks are a better recipe for success than others. Super fibrous veggies may not be great midnight snacks since they can make you extra gassy, to the misfortune of your bedmate. Since super sugary diets have been linked to poor sleep, if neither of you has a sweet tooth, there are plenty of great snacks out there that can make you feel better when life is getting too chaotic.

As dietician Leah Silberman, MS, RD, told Cosmopolitan, "For those of us with a sweet tooth, an apple with cinnamon can do the late-night trick!" She continued, "Aside from being delicious, sprinkling cinnamon is also a great way to add a boost of antioxidants."

To help us understand what we want from our snacks, Sleep.com shouts out key players in good sleep: tryptophan, an amino acid that aids in the production of the sleep hormone melatonin, as well as serotonin, a feel-good hormone that also helps the body produce melatonin. PureWow's expert nutritionist Dr. Daryl Gioffre, celebrity nutritionist, author of Get Off Your Sugar and Get Off Your Acid, recommends snacking on nuts at night, sharing that almonds, pistachios, and macadamia nuts are "nutritional powerhouses that can help regulate blood sugar level, fight inflammation, decrease hunger urges, help weight loss and lower your risk of cardiovascular disease."

A cheese plate is high in calcium and protein, both of which are good for sleep, while whole grain crackers add helpful carbs to the equation. Proteins plus carbs are a winning combination for better sleep, so other good snacks include a PB&J or a turkey sandwich that contains loads of tryptophan. Almond and pumpkin seeds are also rich in magnesium — a calming hormone that helps the body make melatonin.

If you or your partner aren't hungry one night, you might choose to replace the ritual. But whether it's a wind-down activity like collaging or doing meal-prep together, there are plenty of ways to reconnect at night when we're feeling unsettled in our relationship or unable to sleep just yet.