Mama, we know evenings can be chaotic — juggling dinner, baths, bedtime, and maybe a quick scroll before you crash. But here’s something you might not realize: what time you eat dinner can actually impact your blood sugar, energy, and even how you feel when you wake up.

Research shows that eating later in the evening — after 7 or 8 p.m. — can make it harder for your body to manage blood sugar overnight, even if your meals and calories are the same. In one study, people who ate most of their calories after 5 p.m. had higher fasting glucose levels the next morning. Translation? Late dinners can make your body work overtime while you sleep.

But here’s the good news — just shifting dinner a little earlier (even by 30–60 minutes) can help balance blood sugar, boost metabolism, and support steadier energy all day long. In fact, one study found that eating dinner at 6 p.m. instead of 9 p.m. led to better overnight blood sugar and fat burning the next morning.

So if possible, aim to finish dinner about three hours before bedtime. Even small changes count — from 9 to 8 p.m., or 7:30 to 7.