10 Foods You Should Never Eat When You're Drunk

There's a reason that your go-to salad shops don't stay open until 4 a.m. on weekends. It's likely that the drunk foods you're craving are not necessarily the same ones that you meal-prepped for the week (though quinoa does taste infinitely better after a few glasses of wine).

Many foods that contain lots of grease or are highly acidic are not just low in the nutrients your body needs, like protein and fibre from whole grains, but they're not going to be easy on your stomach when added to alcohol. Basically, if you have any kind of stomach issues or acid reflux, the combo of alcohol and spicy or greasy foods going to trigger it, explains Ryan Andrews, RD, principal nutritionist at Precision Nutrition.

No one nutritional choice is going to "save" your body from a hangover or any other negative effects of drinking, especially if you've overdone it on the alcohol, Andrews points out. But for your body to feel better in the long-run, you'll want to make more balanced, nutrient-rich midnight snack choices, (sadly, fried cheese does not qualify as a balanced late-night snack). Here are some of the drunk foods you might want to avoid—tomorrow morning, you just might thank us.

1.Burgers

In case you're about to ask your Uber driver to roll through the McDonald's drive-thru on the way home, it's best if you don't. Eating a burger right now isn't the best idea, especially for your stomach. "The digestive system doesn't seem to be designed to handle large quantities of meat on a regular basis," Andrews says. Burgers, if made with beef, are often full of saturated fat (the opposite of the healthy fats found in a whole grain avo toast, for example).

If you have a craving for a burger with your beers, go with a lentil or other plant-based veggie burger instead, Andrews suggests. A burger made with protein-packed lentils will have less fat and be much more nutrient-dense, which is important, since drinking alcohol can make it difficult for the body to absorb certain nutrients, explains Andrews.

2. Bacon egg and cheeses

When it's basically breakfast by the time you're getting home, a bacon egg and cheese sandwich from your favourite bodega sound like a prime choice. But the roll it's served on unless it's whole grain is probably loaded with refined, processed carbs. Not to mention that greasy bacon and cheese are probably not the best for your stomach post-drinking, especially if you do have any kind of acid reflux.

If you're not too tipsy to feel comfortable cooking, make yourself some scrambled eggs instead (throwing in some whole grain toast is a smart way to satisfy that carb craving you're having and get some fibre in your system). Eggs alone are a much more nutrient-dense and filling source of protein than a carb and fat-filled sandwich, Andrews says.

3. Dairy

If you're only popping out for the occasional happy hour with coworkers, you probably won't have any issues, but if you're regularly throwing back shots, alcohol may irritate the lining of your stomach. In that case, it's best to focus on a diet that minimizes any other irritation to the gut, and dairy is a big gut irritant for many people, Andrews says (other triggers might be processed foods with lots of added sugar, oils, or salt). Dairy may not bother your stomach, but if you're even a little bit lactose intolerant, alcohol and dairy can be a lethal combination. Most likely, you won't be tempted to drink milk after alcohol, but you won't want to mix your drinks with ice cream or fall into the trap of getting mozzarella sticks.

4. Pizza with marinara sauce

Unfortunately, the ultimate late night indulgence (there are even apps to make sure a pizza gets to your door right when you do) doesn't make for the best mix with alcohol. Drinking loosens up the muscles that keep your food and digestive juices down, and the acidic tomatoes in marinara sauce (and salsa and hot sauce) can provoke GERD, acid reflux, and heartburn, says George Koob, Ph.D., director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism for the National Institutes of Health. They're especially bad when you eat them as a bedtime snack right before you lie down when gravity stops helping you keep your food down. White pizza is actually a better option—as long as it's not too greasy (too much fat can aggravate your stomach too).

5. Chocolate

Normally, a few pieces of dark chocolate would be an ideal treat—among other benefits, research shows that it can improve your mood and memory and reduce stress. But blending chocolate and alcohol, not so much. The caffeine, fat, and cocoa in chocolate join forces to aggravate the same gastro issues triggered by other acidic foods. If you're a tipsy sweets eater, chocolate isn't the way to go; it's best to choose something blander.

6. Pretzels

Crunchy snack foods are basically the number one things you want to munch on when you're drunk. But salty snacks make you thirsty, which can lead you to drink more and more quickly. (That's fine if you reach for water, but could be dangerous if you quench your thirst with the cocktail in your hand). Still, it's smart to snack on something while you drink, because it slows the absorption of alcohol. If the only food in arm's reach is salty, go for it, but make a point to wash it down with copious amounts of water. It's best to do that anyway while drinking so you're not as hungover tomorrow.

7. Fries

This one hurts, but it's going to benefit you to say no to fries next time you're drinking. They're fried in oil, so they're filled with fat that might make you feel awful either the night of or the morning after drinking. But also, fried foods contain lots of salt that can further dehydrate you, says Keri Glassman, RD, a registered dietitian based in New York City.

8. Oranges

If you're a drunk fruit lover, go off. But oranges specifically may not be the *best* choice for your stomach. The acid in oranges and other citrus fruits can instigate digestive issues. But reaching for some fruit after drinking isn't that bad of an idea (produce has lots of water than can help hydrate you, plus fibre to fill you up). Instead, try a banana: They're high in potassium, so they can undo some of alcohol's dehydrating effects, Glassman says.

9. Candy

Like salty snacks, super-sweet foods can also make you want to drink more — and you're more like to reach for alcohol than water, Glassman says. You're not really filling yourself up with anything besides sugar either, so you'll likely still feel hungry after eating candy. If you are dying for a leftover cupcake, piece of cake, cookie, or whatever, don't try to completely ignore your craving. Glassman says you'll end up eating more, especially if you start munching from the candy jar, and eventually cave on what you really wanted, anyway (especially when inhibitions are down). Choose one nighttime snack and stick with it.

10. Hot sauce

Yes, Beyoncé has been known for keeping hot sauce in her going-out bag, but that doesn't necessarily mean you should: Spicy food and alcohol are not a feel-good combination. Those same spicy foods that upset your stomach when you're sober will really mess with your system when you're drunk, Koob says. Keep your post-game snacks on the mild side and you won't need to pop a Tums along with the Advil for your head.