Well apparently it’s the time again for the Richardson family. It’s time to move again! It seems crazy to say that we’re coming up on our fifth move in the five years that I have been writing for Cook’n. In fact, it will be our tenth move in ten years! Crazy. Granted, we’re only moving a couple miles away from this house so the task doesn’t seem quite as daunting as a forty hour move from Iowa to California with our two children at the time.

Regardless if you are moving 4 miles or 1500, one thing is for sure: stress. Which for a lot of people means stress eating. I am definitely in that group of people who stress eat. My whole other article this week is about my new love (addiction?) for rice pudding and I have to wonder if I wouldn’t be turning to it as much if we weren’t getting ready for this move.

Anyway, I tend to be a night-snacker. I’m usually a sweet tooth but buttery, salty popcorn is also a big time weakness of mine. Sometimes that late night bowl of ice cream or bag of chips do not seem like they could possibly be all that bad but often it’s those things like that that can really creep up on you and make you gain weight.

So how can you have your cake and eat it too, so to speak? Thankfully, there are plenty of healthier snacks that are pretty guilt free. Some of my favorites are:

Savory Snacks:

1. HUMMUS AND VEGETABLES

It is always a great idea for me to have hummus on hand. It has a good dose of protein in it and healthy fats, rather than being chuck-full of just carbs and trans and saturated fats. Dipping carrots or sugar snap peas in hummus is a favorite snack of mine. You get that crunch effect you are going for in chips or pretzels without the guilt.

2. PISTACHIOS

Pistachios in the shell are an excellent nighttime snack because the shelling process requires some work, consequently slowing down how fast you can eat them. The slower you eat, the less you will consume. Another bonus with pistachios is that you get to eat more nuts per ounce (49 nuts) than any other nut. In addition, nuts come with a unique nutritional package because they contain fiber, biotin, vitamin B6, thiamin, folate, unsaturated fats and plant sterols, all of which makes them highly nutritious as well as satisfying.

3. ALMONDS.

People who eat almonds experience greater improvements in their total cholesterol and triglycerides -- two key cardiovascular disease risk factors. Almonds are also another food that is high in magnesium. One ounce of almonds (about a quarter-cup) can be snacked on raw, roasted or seasoned with your favorite spice like curry or chili powder.

Sweet Snacks:

4. DARK CHOCOLATE

Chocolate is often seen as a forbidden food -- but not all chocolate is created equal. There is a big nutritional difference between your average convenience-store chocolate candy and cacao-rich dark chocolate. The dark chocolate lacks the high added sugar content of traditional chocolate and instead provides you an antioxidant punch that has been shown to lower blood pressure, improve insulin sensitivity, fight inflammation and improve your mood. Next time you need to wind down at night, have an ounce of your favorite dark chocolate (70 percent cacao or greater).

5. STRAWBERRY BANANA ICE CREAM.

Ice cream is a great late-night treat, but with half a cup packing almost 200 calories, this treat becomes off-limits fast. A great alternative to traditional ice cream is to make it with frozen bananas. Mashed frozen bananas provide an ice-cream-like consistency without the added sugars, fat and calories. Here’s the simple recipe: Slice up two very ripe bananas and one cup of strawberries. Place them in the freezer until frozen. Once frozen, blend the strawberries and bananas in a food processor on high until an ice-cream consistency is achieved. Voila, vegan ice cream!

6. BERRIES AND CREAM.

The combination of berries and cream is a simple and satisfying dessert. By substituting full-fat plain Greek yogurt for the cream, you can still enjoy a high-protein version of this luscious dessert. Top half a cup of full-fat plain Greek yogurt with a quarter-cup of blackberries and a quarter-cup of raspberries.

7. FROZEN BLUEBERRIES.

The cold sweetness of frozen blueberries is very refreshing at the end of the day. Frozen blueberries are packed with just as many high-powered antioxidants as their fresh counterparts because they are flash frozen at peak ripeness. Blueberries are one of the best foods that you can eat for your health. Research has shown that the nutrients in blueberries can help improve brain function and heart health.

What are some of your favorite healthy snacks to eat before bed time? Please share in the comments below.