Ever since I became a mom, I’ve been having my dinner at 5pm so I can eat at the table with my daughters. Some might consider this ridiculously early but it’s a habit that’s worked surprisingly well. I stay full for the rest of the night and I’m less inclined to snack on sugary treats or junk food while waiting for a later evening meal. According to Catherine Norton, associate professor of sport and exercise nutrition at the University of Limerick, I’m onto something. Eating earlier supports our health in a number of meaningful ways. “Humans evolved to eat when it was light and rest when it was dark,” says Norton. “Although modern life lets us eat at any hour, our hormones and digestive system still prefer a daytime schedule. You may like “Aligning mealtimes with available daylight can strengthen circadian rhythms [the body’s internal clock] and make it easier to maintain energy and metabolic balance during winter.” Why is eating earlier better for us? “Our body handles food best earlier in the evening—by nighttime, …