Throughout the Pace Pleasantville and Briarcliff campuses, there are several late–night eating options for students. The cafeterias themselves have extended their hours until up to 11 p.m. on certain nights of the week. What’s more, there are multiple small businesses in the surrounding community that allow for evening deliveries up to or past midnight. Last, but certainly not least, Pace students also have their very own student-run business to rely on for late-night food from nine in the evening until one in the morning, the Pace Perk, located on the Briarcliff campus.

Of course, with all these options for late-night food, one might just wonder whether eating so late in the evening is actually beneficial for student health. Contrary to the popular belief that eating food after 8 p.m. is unhealthy, studies show various results.

There are some unfortunate effects of late night food consumption. First off, eating large meals or spicy foods can cause stomach pain or irritability and make it difficult for people to sleep. Foods that have high fluid density make it more likely for people to have to get up and go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

Livestrong writer, August McLaughlin, explains in his article “The Effects of Eating Late at Night” that, “Overeating or eating high-fat, greasy or acidic foods, such as tomato products, at night heightens [risk of heartburn or acid reflux]. For these reasons, you may benefit from avoiding late-night eating if you are prone to acid reflux or heartburn.”

In addition, New York Times writer, Anahad O’Connor claims, “Scientists found that the late sleepers had higher body mass indexes, typically downed more calories at dinner, and ate fewer fruits and vegetables.” O’Connor goes on to report, “Eating after 8 p.m. was associated with a higher body mass index, suggesting that late-evening calories are…more hazardous to your weight.”

A person’s body mass index (BMI) informs a person whether they are severely underweight, underweight, average, overweight, or obese by calculating the ratio of their height to weight. People with a BMI over 25 are considered to be overweight.

Like any meal, late night cravings, if one truly feels they ought to be indulged, should only be indulged with nutritious foods such as grains and fruits, which provide the body with vitamins, antioxidants, fiber, and other beneficial supplements.