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Original poster

Is it normal to eat cereal in the middle of the night?

86 replies

PistachioTiramisu · 10/01/2026 12:33

DH often eats a bowl of cereal in the middle of the night - after having eating a full dinner around 8. I think this is odd as he shouldn't be hungry at night but he says he is! What do you think?

OP posts:
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HarvestMouseandGoldenCups · 11/01/2026 00:09

Does he brush his teeth again?

YesSirICanNameChange · 10/01/2026 22:57

Cereal tastes better at midnight; it's a scientific fact.

Samdelila · 10/01/2026 22:57

I think it’s normal for teenagers.

Anononony · 10/01/2026 22:56

CurlyhairedAssassin · 10/01/2026 15:42

Are you a shift worker or something? Because if not, that is a very erratic meal schedule.

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Nope, work from home but more of a night owl, tend to go to bed around 2am get up at 10am (partner also wfh and does morning school run, I do afternoon). Just don't get a proper appetite until late in the day 🤷

chickencaesersalad · 10/01/2026 19:28

My husband and myself are partial to a bowl of cereal before bed if we’re feeling snacky.. but middle of the night every night is a bit odd.

YelramBob · 10/01/2026 19:22

Dontdisrepectme · 10/01/2026 17:53

I don't really see why it's odd?

If you wake up hungry and need something that doesn't require a lot, cereal is a good one.

Waking up at 3am to eat is odd. Newborn babies or kittens with tiny stomachs need feeding every few hours, not adult men who've had an evening meal.

123yellowpot · 10/01/2026 19:05

This used to happen to me, it was frustrating as I am slightly overweight and obviously waking up hungry at 3am and eating doesn’t help that. It wasn’t just mild hunger you can ignore. I’m not diabetic or pre-diabetic. I got one of those blood sugar monitors you stick on your arm, it showed my blood sugar dipped really low overnight even though I was eating a lot during the day. I have some banana and nuts now just before bed and that solved it.

MulberryFresser · 10/01/2026 18:45

Does he have heart burn or something he wants to relieve by eating?

MulberryFresser · 10/01/2026 18:45

Is he jet lagged?

Fiftyandme · 10/01/2026 18:43

It’s normal for him.

DramaAlpaca · 10/01/2026 18:43

I used to eat Weetabix during the night when I was breastfeeding and constantly hungry. I went for Weetabix because it was quick to eat so I could get back to bed as soon as possible after feeding the baby. I've never eaten cereal during the night before or since.

OriginalUsername2 · 10/01/2026 18:42

I used to and I was overweight too. The body never gets around to burning off body fat if you’re always giving it sugar. And the more you have, the more you want!

Redpeach · 10/01/2026 18:41

The point of breakfast is to break a fast

Rubes24 · 10/01/2026 18:38

I did this while breastfeeding and while pregnant. Occasionally if I wake at 3am and can't get back to sleep I will start getting hunger pangs and have some cereal or a milky drink like Horlicks or something. Am not overweight and dont have health concerns so I think its normal. I suppose if he is waking up every night because he is hungry and hes eating enough in the day then it could ve worth getting thyroid tested just incase.

soupyspoon · 10/01/2026 18:35

How overweight
What type of cereal
What does he say is the reason, hunger, insomnia?
Any recent blood tests
Does he want to stop eating in the night?

MMUmum · 10/01/2026 18:33

Is he at risk of diabetes? Insulin resistance could cause his brain to tell him he's hungry because insulin resistance prevents him drawing energy from his cells.

Thewonderfuleveryday · 10/01/2026 18:29

PistachioTiramisu · 10/01/2026 16:48

He has a large appetite and will eat a cooked breakfast if he can (!), maybe soup for lunch, and a full dinner in the evening - always with potatoes of some kind, meat and vegetables, followed by a pudding.

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It sounds like he's possibly quite unhealthy. Unless he's incredibly active. How overweight is he? 6lb or 3 stone overweight.

Ohwhatfuckeryitistoride · 10/01/2026 17:57

My dad used to, remember him doing all my life. I think it was something to do with working shifts, so he sometimes would be eating his "dinner" at 2 or 3 oclock. My son, who also works shifts, will often get up for a snack on.his nights off, though its more likely to.be ice cream.

Spoodles · 10/01/2026 17:56

BoredZelda · 10/01/2026 17:47

Bad habit? Eating when you’re hungry is what you are supposed to do.

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A bad habit as in his body is now used to waking at that time. He's most likely not waking because he's actually hungry he's waking because he's got into the routine of waking.

Dontdisrepectme · 10/01/2026 17:53

I don't really see why it's odd?

If you wake up hungry and need something that doesn't require a lot, cereal is a good one.

BoredZelda · 10/01/2026 17:47

MNLurker1345 · 10/01/2026 15:54

Consider health issues, blood sugar dip or stress if not health related then a developed bad habit.

Bad habit? Eating when you’re hungry is what you are supposed to do.

Myoldbear · 10/01/2026 16:52

Lollylavender · 10/01/2026 15:03

What?

Do you really clean your teeth after every single snack or lunch??

Once a day is enough if done thoroughly

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No. It's just that you don't make as much self cleaning saliva when asleep.

Therefore it's more important to clean teeth before sleeping than at other times.

Spoodles · 10/01/2026 16:50

Imbacknot · 10/01/2026 16:30

Give him more to eat at dinner time.
My step dad was the same, he would wake with hunger in the nights.
My mother could never understand it as he had eaten dinner at 8pm.
But it was the size of the meals it was not enough for a grown man.

I mean if it's 8 at night for dinner and that's it till the next day.
You may be full op but some of use like more food on our plate.

Have I stepped back in time?

Why are you presuming the OP is the one cooking and serving the meal or that she should be the one giving him larger portions.

Original poster
PistachioTiramisu · 10/01/2026 16:48

Blondeshavemorefun · 10/01/2026 16:43

It’s unusual to wake in the night for cereal

but seem many have a snack later in evening /before bed

what does he eat daytime

Show quote history

He has a large appetite and will eat a cooked breakfast if he can (!), maybe soup for lunch, and a full dinner in the evening - always with potatoes of some kind, meat and vegetables, followed by a pudding.

OP posts:
Blondeshavemorefun · 10/01/2026 16:43

PistachioTiramisu · 10/01/2026 12:47

It's usually around 3 am. I guess it isn't that unusual then so I won't comment on it to him any more! He is overweight but I also think it is a habit he has just got into!

It’s unusual to wake in the night for cereal

but seem many have a snack later in evening /before bed

what does he eat daytime