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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:
Growlybear83 · 10/01/2026 16:36

I often wake up at about 4 am feeling really hungry and I’ve been known to go downstairs and have some toast.

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.

Bebeandgang · 10/01/2026 15:59

Cereal tastes so much better at night so understand it as a late night snack but suspect waking in the middle of the night for it is unusual and a bad habit.

That said, I was no stranger to a middle of the night bowl of cereal when I was pregnant and it was a simple pleasure.

MNLurker1345 · 10/01/2026 15:54

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

Disturbia81 · 10/01/2026 15:54

I know loads of people who get up and eat something, it was a joke with a couple that they needed a padlock on the fridge at night. I’ve never done it as I never wake up. My mum does it

BoredZelda · 10/01/2026 15:50

MotorbikeStuntRider · 10/01/2026 12:38

Munchies?

Oh give over.

I often wake up hungry in the middle of the night.

JanuaryCrow · 10/01/2026 15:47

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!

3am, while being overweight? Well, to quote St Rachel of Rossissi: ‘it's not that common, it doesn't happen to every guy, and it is a big deal’.

Spoodles · 10/01/2026 15:47

Scohpahni · 10/01/2026 15:43

I think a grown man can do what he wants and shouldn’t be judged for it. I eat dinner and then eat a snack or two if I’m hungry hours later.

Who said she was judging him. Would you not be worried if your significant other woke up at 3am most nights to eat? It's not just an occasional late night snack it's another full meal at 3am.

olivett · 10/01/2026 15:47

I can’t sleep if I’m hungry so i have done this in the past on occasion. The only time eating in the night was a regular thing was when I was breastfeeding, exhausted and had a baby who was a poor sleeper. I did gain weight.

Toastythesnowman · 10/01/2026 15:46

I did when I was pregnant but I don't think it was normal thing to do.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 10/01/2026 15:45

Scohpahni · 10/01/2026 15:43

I think a grown man can do what he wants and shouldn’t be judged for it. I eat dinner and then eat a snack or two if I’m hungry hours later.

Maybe she is just worried about him? Because it ISN'T normal. So there might be a health issue that needs investigating.

Branleuse · 10/01/2026 15:45

My mum is someone that never seems to understand eating patterns that differ from hers!
What difference does it make whether it's normal or not?
Its perfectly legal to eat cereal in the night

Scohpahni · 10/01/2026 15:43

I think a grown man can do what he wants and shouldn’t be judged for it. I eat dinner and then eat a snack or two if I’m hungry hours later.

Wiseplumant · 10/01/2026 15:42

My husband regularly does this, can't get my head round it myself as eating in the middle of the night doesn't appeal. He says it helps him to get back to sleep!

CurlyhairedAssassin · 10/01/2026 15:42

Anononony · 10/01/2026 14:58

My go to night time snack! It's rare I eat it in the morning actually

Does he skip breakfast? I often don't eat until late afternoon but tend to eat 2-3 hours after dinner instead

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

CurlyhairedAssassin · 10/01/2026 15:39

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

Show quote history

Once a day?! Yuck.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 10/01/2026 15:38

It's not normal, no. No need to eat during the night unless you've only had a small main meal with minimal calories at 5pm, say, and nothing else since, when you would normally eat a huge meal at 7.30 or 8pm . Even then, if you wake up in the middle of the night and feel slight hunger pangs then it should still be possible to ignore them and they will pass and you'll drop back off to sleep.

Branleuse · 10/01/2026 15:33

I do this. I don't think it's within the range of normal. I always seem to need to eat before bed and it's not uncommon for me to wake up hungry at night.
I wouldn't be able to get back to sleep if I didn't eat something

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 10/01/2026 15:30

I do this. It’s medication driven. From meds l take at night. I can overide it. But l often don’t🥴

WanderlustMom · 10/01/2026 15:29

I do this, but I am 36 weeks pregnant so 😂

Brightlittlecanary · 10/01/2026 15:09

Myoldbear · 10/01/2026 14:56

Not really on topic, but I always hope that people who snack in the night clean their teeth before going back to bed.

Yes, I know it sounds a bit controlling, but I think it makes a good difference to health.

I’m not sure the word is controlling. Maybe a little obsessional. Do you honestly clean your teeth every time you eat?

Lollylavender · 10/01/2026 15:03

Myoldbear · 10/01/2026 14:56

Not really on topic, but I always hope that people who snack in the night clean their teeth before going back to bed.

Yes, I know it sounds a bit controlling, but I think it makes a good difference to health.

What?

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

Once a day is enough if done thoroughly

WoopsLiza · 10/01/2026 15:03

I've been all kinds of weights and had all kinds of diets and one thing I know for sure is someone else commenting on what or when I am eating has literally never helped me with anything. Neither has someone else's views on the healthiness of my food or the appearance of my body. We have an absolutely fucked sense of boundaries on this in this counrty

Thewonderfuleveryday · 10/01/2026 15:03

It's not normal. Especially if he's overweight. He needs to cut it out and start improving his health.

Spoodles · 10/01/2026 14:59

RecordBreakers · 10/01/2026 14:56

A lot of people will say "middle of the night" to mean "a time when I prefer to be asleep".
I'm a night owl, who no longer needs to be up early for work, so I'll say it if someone suggests me getting up at 7am. I have a friend who is up with the lark who considers 10.30pm to be 'the middle of the night' - it's just common parlance which people use.
Therefore not surprising people initially interpreted it this way.
It would have been helpful if OP had initially said "...wakes up at 3am"

Show quote history

To be fair to her she did clarify within just 15 minutes of starting the thread. Slightly too late unfortunately to edit her initial post.

I appreciate others may use the phrase in different ways but even with the clarification I find it odd so many are voting that it's completely normal.