Post workout nutrition for late night workouts

From what I have heard and read at multiple nutrition forums, and done myself, is that a good late night snack/meal (if you figure you have x meals and count this as one) is low fat or fat free cottage cheese with dry almonds (as in not honey roasted, salted, etc).  Cottage cheese is a super food, it has casein protein which is slow releasing and can keep your metabolism active for several hours after you eat it.  Also, the stats on FF CC read like this for 1/2 C:  70-100 Cal, 0 Cal from fat, 0 saturated fat, 5g Carb and 14g Protein.  The almonds also have healthy fats that slowly digest and keep your body from going into starvation mode which you are sleeping.

If you're ending your intense workout at 10pm, I would think maybe a light protein shake with milk (which also has casein protein) and then if your stomach can handle the CC and almonds about 20-30 minutes after that.

I go with the magic elixer:  Chocolate Milk.   It has a 4:1 carb to protein ratio, makes my tummy feel full and helps me get to sleep more quickly.

I have no idea if its the best plan or not, but in that situatuion I find myself having a whey protein shake made with milk. It takes literally 30 seconds to make and seems to give me enough to keep me from getting hungry until breakfast.

1) That's a lot of calories right before bed.

2) I would eat as little as possible unless you are losing too much weight or have problems sleeping.

The studies regarding post-workout recovery and nutrition are usually done on elite athletes doing very hard and long workouts. If you don't fall into this group, I would use some caution when trying to match up with what the studies recommend.

You could probably get away with a small snack after your workout and it won't have a negative effect on your recovery. The muscle milk has a good deal of protein and is a good option if you can stomach it. You may not even need anything after your recovery depending on time and intensity. Are you eating anything beforehand? If so, that is also being digested after your workout. You may not want to take anything in if that is the case.

Then again, if you're looking for an excuse to eat ice cream, more power to you. I would never use logic and facts to stand in the way of ice cream!

Not to hijack the thread, but I absolutely despise the term "super food"  It means nothing, has no actual criteria, and seems like a term hack writers and marketing people throw around when they want to convince you to eat something.

just curious if any of you have seen any proof that eating late means the food is more likely to be converted to fat? 

Your body will not store fat if it has a higher priority need (i.e. replenish glycogen stores, fuel necessary functions).  When those needs have been met, then you will store excess energy as fat.

As long as energy in = energy out you will not gain fat, no matter when you eat.  The reason not eating after xx hour at night works is people eat less.

Most of your repair/regeneration systems work best when you sleep, so going to be on an empty stomach means you aren't setting yourself up for optimal recovery.

good point ^. Depends what type of nutrition program you have, what your weight goals are, what your workout was and if you are working out in the AM, and frankly how your body reacts to certain food. I try no to have late night workouts too much, but i ALWAYS have a snack before bed and it doesn't effect me as i am a frequent eater.

last night i had to do a 1:15 run at 9:00pm. It was 95 degrees. When i got home i was very hungry and thirsty. I had a glass of Accelrade and a muscle milk for recovery. Maybe too much protein, but i like it. I also had an apple, and a piece of toast with nutella and peanut butter on it. I am not trying to keep weight down though and i can sleep just fine when i eat.

If I don't get enough back in me after a later night workout, I dream about bacon at which point my growling tummy wakes me up!

I eat some watermelon and a bowl cereal with almond milk.

When I do my night training, whether it is on the trainer or at the gym,  I have a Strawberry/Banana protein shake and an Advocare Nighttime Recovery supplement. 

I was just stating that cottage cheese has a lot of benefits especially in terms of slow digesting protein and low calories per serving.  Sorry for offending anyone with my superlatives.

I didn't mean anything against you, or the advice you gave.  I happen to agree that Cottage Cheese is really good for you, I just don't like the term.