Will tonight's dinner still be digesting when you go to bed?
Eating too close to bedtime, or too heavy, can leave your body still digesting when you're trying to sleep. Build your evening meal below, set your dinner and bedtime, and see where you land — then browse how long different foods and combinations take.
Times digesting are estimates from food type — actual digestion varies with portion, health, and metabolism.
The Nutrisize Health app knows the digestion profile of thousands of foods and can nudge you when a late, heavy meal might cost you sleep — tuned to what you actually eat and when. Private, on your device.
Total time to clear the stomach and absorb, fastest first.
| Food group | Time to digest | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Beverages | 0.5–1.5 h | Liquids fastest to process |
| Spices | 1.0–2.5 h | Small quantities, fast absorption |
| Fruits | 1.5–3.5 h | Simple sugars absorb fastest |
| Eggs | 2.0–4.5 h | Complete protein, moderate digestion |
| Superfoods | 2.0–5.0 h | Concentrated nutrients |
| Vegetables | 2.5–5.5 h | Fiber slows digestion |
| Seeds | 2.5–6.0 h | Similar to nuts but smaller portions |
| Dairy | 2.5–5.5 h | Varies by fat content |
| Seafood | 2.5–6.0 h | Fish digests faster than meat |
| Snacks | 2.5–6.0 h | Depends on fat and fiber content |
| Grains | 3.0–6.5 h | Complex carbs, moderate digestion |
| Nuts | 3.0–7.0 h | High fat content slows digestion |
| Nut Products | 3.0–7.0 h | Processed nuts, similar to whole nuts |
| Poultry | 3.0–7.0 h | Lean protein |
| Spreads Fats | 3.0–7.0 h | Emulsified fats, moderate digestion |
| Processed | 3.0–7.0 h | Varies widely by composition |
| Legumes | 3.5–8.0 h | High protein + fiber = slow digestion |
| Oils | 3.5–8.0 h | Pure fat slows gastric emptying |
| Fats | 3.5–8.0 h | Pure fat slows gastric emptying |
| Meat | 4.0–9.0 h | Red meat slowest to digest |
Combinations on your plate change how long the whole meal takes.
| Combination | Adds | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Fat With Protein | +0.5 h | Fat slows protein digestion by delaying gastric emptying |
| Fiber With Carbs | +0.5 h | Soluble and insoluble fiber slow carbohydrate absorption |
| Acid With Minerals | +-0.3 h | Vitamin C enhances iron and calcium absorption speed |
| Liquid With Solid | +-0.25 h | Soups and stews digest faster than dry solid foods |
| Spice With Meal | +-0.15 h | Ginger, black pepper, and cumin enhance gastric motility |
| Raw Vs Cooked | +0.5 h | Raw foods take longer to break down than cooked equivalents |
| Fermented Food | +-0.3 h | Fermentation pre-digests proteins and starches |
| High Gimeal | +-0.5 h | High glycemic meals empty stomach faster |
Sources: Mayo Clinic, NIH National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, WHO. Educational reference only — not medical advice.