Food and sleep. Two of the most basic human necessities. We definitely love both, so much so that we’ve romanticised the idea of eating where we sleep as a fun and relaxing activity. Breakfast in bed. Snacks during sleepovers. But is late-night snacking in bed really a good idea? Should you succumb to those middle-of-the-night junk food cravings?
Admit it, many of us are guilty of having a snack =l (and in some cases meals) in bed at some point in our lives. Some of you might even be reading this article in bed while munching down on some food! While we all need to get a healthy amount of food and sleep every day, it’s actually unhealthy for us to eat where we sleep.
Crumbs and Critters
Getting food crumbs on your bed is inevitable if you regularly indulge in a bedtime snack. Not only does this get your sheets and mattress dirty, but you are also basically opening up a buffet for creepy crawlies that love to munch on stray food particles that you leave behind. You don’t want to be inviting cockroaches, flies, and ants to be your bed buddies which may lead them to eventually infest your whole house. Better eat your Chinese takeout on the dining table, or maybe even your couch, but for us, the bed isn’t the best for nighttime eating – or any time of day for that matter.
Messes from food or spilled drinks can also be a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. So unless you have a waterproof mattress, you’ll probably end up with sticky stains that you might never fully be able to get rid of and that will invite in tiny critters for a sleepover.
Related Article: Under the Microscope – Australia’s Bed Bugs
Keeping Your Food Down
It may seem like a minor detail, but when you eat in bed, you usually don’t sit up the way you would at the dinner table. This puts your digestive tract in an awkward position. When your position is more slanted or horizontal, this puts you at risk of indigestion or acid reflux which won’t be good for you, your food, or the whole experience of eating in bed.
Likewise, sleeping with a full stomach can also cause heartburn, secondary to acid reflux, which isn’t the most comfortable, especially when you wake up the next morning.
More Food and Less Sleep
There are also a couple of detrimental psychological effects of eating in bed. Who would have thought right? The more often you eat in bed, the more your body associates the space with activities other than sleeping. This could be watching Netflix on your laptop, using social media, or a number of other activities that you do while eating in bed. All of these can disrupt your sleep hygiene! So instead of associating your mattress and pillow with a good night’s rest, your body ends up wide awake, anticipating other activities.
Eating in bed can also lead to overeating. Let’s face it, we almost never just eat in bed. We’re probably online, reading a book, or watching a movie and before we realise it, we’ve already eaten way more than we normally would because we’re preoccupied. Overeating before bedtime is also tied to weight gain and increased blood sugar levels, and when done regularly, is a common cause of obesity.
So, is it OK to eat in bed? We would definitely say that it isn’t a good idea. Head over to the dining table for your meals, and make your bed a sacred space to get your good night’s sleep.
Feeling Hungry at Night?
There are times when your last meal may be too far from your bedtime, and we get it, we get hungry too! But, instead of eating junk food, ice cream or carb-rich food, opt for light healthy snacks. Just think of it as a way for your hunger to pass than to make your stomach full in the middle of the night.
Many dietitians and nutritionists recommend eating filling snacks that are easy to digest like boiled eggs, cooked carrots, almonds and walnuts. The ease of digestion of these snacks would help you feel more comfortable when you head on to bed for you to get better sleep.
Can’t Avoid Eating in Bed?
We know how tempting it is to snack in bed, especially on a movie night, and we really can’t blame you if it’s something you enjoy. But if it is, we recommend getting Ecosa’s Waterproof Mattress Protector. A waterproof mattress protector is the easiest way to protect your mattress from water,
spills, sweat, dust mites, allergens and even food crumbs whenever your late-night snack gets messy.
It’s also easier to clean your bed when you use a mattress protector, simply pull it away and throw it to your laundry bin, and you won’t have to face the fears of dirt, dust, and spills seeping into your mattress.
