6 foods you shouldn't eat for dinner (2024)

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Shelby Slauer

6 foods you shouldn't eat for dinner (1)

  • If you're trying to eat healthier, then there are certain foods you should stay away from around dinner time.

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6 foods you shouldn't eat for dinner (4)

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  • Eating certain foods could cause heartburn, prevent you from having a good night's sleep, or hinder your weight-loss goals.
  • You should avoid meals with lots of carbs, as well as spicy foods and greasy, fatty foods.

We all know there are certain foods you shouldn't eat in the morning, but many don't think about it as much when it comes to dinner. There are several foods you may be eating for dinner that are keeping you from losing weight or getting a good night's sleep.

INSIDER spoke to several experts to find out which foods are better off avoided for dinner.

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Stay away from starchy foods.

6 foods you shouldn't eat for dinner (5)

Potatoes, pasta, and rice are all examples of starchy foods that are very commonly eaten for dinner, however, Tracee, a health coach and personal trainer for HighEnergyGirl, said that "these foods simply metabolize down to sugar and create elevated blood sugar and insulin. This is not good as it will not be burned for energy and will be stored as fat instead. I tell my clients to eat protein and vegetables instead."

Don't eat spicy foods.

6 foods you shouldn't eat for dinner (6)

Surprisingly, spicy foods aren't good to eat at dinner. Karen Z. Berg, MS, RD, said, "They can cause heartburn, especially if you are going to lay down shortly after consuming them."

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Avoid eating simple carbohydrates.

6 foods you shouldn't eat for dinner (7)

While carbs can be good for you in certain circ*mstances, they're usually not good to eat at night.

Nutrition expert Kieron Foster explained, "These, in general, are foods that are high glycemic index which basically means it gets absorbed into the bloodstream at a fast rate. So, if you are not exercising and burning these sugars as a source of fuel, it will get turned into fat and stored in the body thus putting on weight. These should be avoided at all costs being consumed at night.

"This includes foods such as potatoes, pasta, cakes, pizzas, sodas, raw sugar, syrups, glucose, fructose, fruit juices, breads, and most breakfast cereals should be avoided at all costs at night. These are contradictory to anyone trying to lose weight."

Try not to have any greasy, fatty foods.

6 foods you shouldn't eat for dinner (8)

As satisfying as greasy food is, especially after a long day, you should resist the temptation of having it for dinner. Berg said, "In general these foods should be limited as part of a healthy diet, but more so at night since they are hard to digest and take a toll on your GI [gastrointestinal] tract."

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Skip the alcohol.

6 foods you shouldn't eat for dinner (9)

Most adults drink alcohol with dinner, however, Samantha Morrison, a health and wellness expert for Glacier Wellness, explained, "Drinking alcohol can actually make you hungrier and crave carbohydrates. In turn, this can lead to overeating, which will only make your night worse.

"Alcohol is technically a toxin that impacts the body and mind and may cause stagnation. Although many people turn to alcoholic beverages to cope with their stress and anxiety, they are better off finding a more suitable healthy substitute. In fact, alcohol can trigger the release of cortisol, the notorious stress hormone. Likewise, alcoholic drinks can put you in a vulnerable state which aggravates anxiety and trigger panic attacks.

"Furthermore, while alcohol may help you fall asleep, studies show that it significantly lowers the overall quality of sleep. There's no denying how important a good night's sleep is for maintaining your mental health, so be sure to keep your dinnertime alcohol consumption to a minimum."

Chocolate isn't good to eat around dinner time.

6 foods you shouldn't eat for dinner (10)

As much we all want chocolate for dessert, Berg said that "it has caffeine and can prevent you from falling asleep."

Read the original article on INSIDER. Copyright 2019.

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6 foods you shouldn't eat for dinner (2024)

FAQs

What foods should you not eat for dinner? ›

These should be avoided at all costs being consumed at night. "This includes foods such as potatoes, pasta, cakes, pizzas, sodas, raw sugar, syrups, glucose, fructose, fruit juices, breads, and most breakfast cereals should be avoided at all costs at night.

What are the six foods to avoid? ›

6 Foods You Should Never Eat
  • Trans Fats. ...
  • High Fructose Corn Syrup. ...
  • Preservatives. ...
  • Ultra-processed Food. ...
  • Artificial Sweeteners. ...
  • Foods Made With High Amounts Of Pesticides. ...
  • Conclusion.
Mar 22, 2022

What are 10 foods you should avoid? ›

11 unhealthy foods you should avoid eating
  • Processed meat. Processed meats contain added nitrates and other chemical substances that are bad for your health. ...
  • French fries. ...
  • Chicken nuggets. ...
  • Canned soup. ...
  • Breakfast cereal. ...
  • Doughnuts. ...
  • Margarine. ...
  • Frozen meals.

What foods should you never eat Mark Hyman? ›

Just don't eat processed, ultra processed food. Don't eat high fructose corn syrup. Don't have hydrogen fats. Don't eat things you can't pronounce or ingredients you don't recognize and don't eat things your great-grandmother probably wouldn't eat, and you'll be fine.

What is the unhealthiest dinner? ›

Worst Restaurant Meals
  • Ham and Cheese Omelet. 1/15. The Count: Approximately 512 calories, 37 grams of fat, 1,277 milligrams of sodium. ...
  • Chicken and Waffles. 2/15. ...
  • Bacon Double Cheeseburger. 3/15. ...
  • Baby Back Ribs (Full Rack) 4/15. ...
  • Chicken Alfredo. 5/15. ...
  • Pepperoni Stromboli. 6/15. ...
  • General Tso's Chicken. 7/15. ...
  • Beef Chimichangas. 8/15.
Mar 16, 2024

What foods should not be eaten at night? ›

Here are nine types of food and drinks that you should avoid eating before getting tucked in for the night.
  • Alcohol. ...
  • Heavy Foods. ...
  • Foods with High Water Content. ...
  • Foods with Hidden Caffeine. ...
  • Super Sugary Treats. ...
  • Tyramine-Rich Foods. ...
  • Spicy Foods. ...
  • Acidic Foods.
Jul 17, 2019

What are 6 unhealthy foods? ›

You can start by limiting these 6 foods (and beverages) that you thought were healthy — but really aren't.
  • Sweetened Yogurt. ...
  • Dried Fruit. ...
  • Packaged Deli Meats. ...
  • Granola Bars. ...
  • Low-Fat or Fat-Free Foods. ...
  • Diet Soda.

What are 5 bad foods? ›

Worst Foods to Eat for Your Health
  • Foods with added sugar. Examples: Cookies, cake, ice cream, candy, sugary breakfast cereals, flavored yogurt. ...
  • Foods with added salt. Examples: Chips, pretzels, breads, crackers, canned soup, processed snack foods. ...
  • Refined carbohydrates. ...
  • Processed meats.
Nov 18, 2021

What are the 7 foods to avoid? ›

The seven foods you should never eat and we would all do well to avoid are alcohol, sugar, artificial sweeteners, coffee, soda, dairy and meat. To many people, that is their whole diet! There is enough evidence to write a book on each one of the big seven, and, in fact there are many books written on just such topics.

What is the #1 unhealthiest food? ›

1. Bacon
  • Fried food. ...
  • Potato chips. ...
  • Added sugars. ...
  • Processed oils. Try to cut processed oils out of your diet as much as possible. ...
  • Hydrogenated fats. This category of fats lurks in many packaged foods and fast food products. ...
  • Refined carbohydrates. Advertisem*nt. ...
  • Breakfast sausages. Advertisem*nt. ...
  • Processed meat. Advertisem*nt.
Jan 30, 2022

What is the most unhealthy fruit? ›

What Fruit Is Most Unhealthy? Determining the most unhealthy fruit often comes down to your dietary needs and what you're hoping to avoid. In general, however, dried fruits tend to be the most unhealthy, as they contain more carbs, sugar, and calories per serving than fresh fruits.

What is the one food we should all stop eating? ›

Instant foods: Ready to eat or instant foods, such as instant noodles, curries, and other meals, must be avoided. They are generally bad for the gut, rich in calories, low in fiber and other nutrients, and high in salts, and may contain monosodium glutamate (MSG) and several preservatives or taste enhancers.

Why shouldn't you eat ketchup? ›

The nutritionist says that ketchup is high in salt too. It must be noted that a diet containing excessive salt is linked to the risk of developing high blood pressure. The delicious ketchup also tends to be an acidic food which can result in various gastrointestinal issues.

What foods do nutritionists never eat? ›

Charcuterie boards, eggnog, candy: For many, the holiday season means indulging in these types of unhealthy treats. But doctors and nutritionists say that in their own lives, what they generally avoid are beverages and processed foods that contain high levels of added sugar and salt.

Why shouldn't you eat corn? ›

Corn is a starchy vegetable, like potatoes and peas. That means it has sugar and carbohydrates that can raise your blood sugar levels. It can still be a healthy part of your diet if you don't overdo it. If you have diabetes, you don't necessarily need to avoid corn, but watch your portion sizes.

When should you not eat dinner? ›

While studies suggest that eating between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. is beneficial for overall health, if that doesn't fit your schedule, she says to try to stop eating at least three hours before bed to avoid issues like acid reflux.

What are 10 good dinner foods? ›

Our 20 most popular dinners of 2024
  • Air-fryer salmon.
  • Sweet potato & peanut curry.
  • Beef stroganoff.
  • Easy sausage casserole.
  • Chicken & chorizo jambalaya.
  • Lasagne.
  • Easy chicken curry.
  • No-fuss shepherd's pie.
Mar 14, 2024

What foods should you eat and avoid? ›

Choose fish, poultry, beans, and nuts; limit red meat and cheese; avoid bacon, cold cuts, and other processed meats. Eat a variety of whole grains (like whole-wheat bread, whole-grain pasta, and brown rice). Limit refined grains (like white rice and white bread).

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