3 in 5 Americans say it's normal for them to eat after 9 p.m., according to a Clinical Nutrition paper.

• Why it matters: Our bodies excel at digesting and processing nutrients during the day and powering down at night — and eating close to bedtime can come with a range of issues, The New York Times reports.

Zoom in: There are numerous studies that link late-night eating to heartburn, and some studies demonstrate how it can hurt sleep quality.

• More recent studies have also found links between late-night eating and body weight and diabetes risk.

What we're watching: Early dinners seem to be gaining popularity among Americans of all ages.

• 5 p.m. is the fastest-growing time slot for dinner reservations, while bookings at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. are falling, Axios' Carly Mallenbaum writes from Resy data.
• Surprisingly, Gen Z-ers are among the drivers of this renaissance of early dinners and early bedtimes, Axios' Sareen Habeshian reports.

The magic number: Research suggests that the ideal time to enjoy your last meal is three hours before bedtime, The Times notes.

• If you get the urge to grab a midnight snack, go for something light like fruit or yogurt.

Thanks to all the Finish Liners who have answered our call to tell us how you spend your me-time — and get a break from screens. Keep it coming to [email protected], with your name and hometown, to be featured in a future edition of the newsletter.

• Here's one from reader Richard Staples in Barrington, R.I.: "I use time driving to recharge. My phone is stashed away in my pants pocket, and the radio is off. It's free thinking time for me, especially out on an open road after leaving the city."