Anyone who wants to gain weight plans breakfast, lunch, and dinner — and overlooks one third of the day. Between the last meal in the evening and breakfast, there are often ten to twelve hours during which the body does not receive a single calorie, but continuously consumes energy. For people who are underweight, have a poor appetite, or have increased energy requirements, this gap is precisely one of the reasons why the scale does not move. Here is what happens in the body at night and how you can use the evening hours for your energy balance — and what we developed CaloSleep for.
The most important things in brief
- The body also consumes energy while you sleep. The basal metabolic rate runs around the clock — over the course of a night, this amounts to roughly 400 to 600 kcal, depending on body weight.
- Gaining weight depends on the 24-hour balance. A conscious evening portion is often the easiest way to really achieve the necessary calorie surplus.
- Eat late — but light. A late meal should be energy-rich without feeling heavy in the stomach. A glass is easier to drink than a plate is to eat.
- CaloSleep is made for exactly this time window: a high-calorie drink powder for the evening with 122 kcal per serving in water (around 200 kcal in whole milk), plus melatonin, GABA, passionflower, lemon balm, magnesium, and vitamin B6.
- Available directly in the shop or through any pharmacy (PZN 20647318).
The body continues to consume energy at night
The basal metabolic rate — the energy that the heart, lungs, brain, liver, and kidneys consume in a state of complete rest — accounts for the largest part of the daily calorie consumption in most people. And it knows no closing time: Even in deep sleep, the heart beats, the liver works, and the body maintains its temperature. A person weighing 60 kilograms has a basal metabolic rate of roughly 1,300 to 1,400 kcal per day, or 55 to 60 kcal per hour. Eight hours of sleep therefore cost roughly 450 kcal — as much as a full meal.
In addition: The night is the time when the body builds up. Tissue is renewed, muscles regenerate after exertion, and the immune system works. All of this requires not only energy, but also building materials — above all protein. Anyone who struggles to eat a surplus during the day should therefore not leave the longest fasting phase of the day completely unsupported. In the end, what matters is always the balance over 24 hours — and in this balance, the nighttime hours are the largest continuous block without any energy intake.
The evening gap: ten hours without a single calorie
In practice, the evening looks like this for many people with a poor appetite: dinner around 6:30 p.m., then nothing else, breakfast the next morning at 7:00 a.m. That is twelve and a half hours without energy intake. This perspective becomes interesting when you turn it around: In weight loss, this exact time window is deliberately extended — nothing else is called interval fasting. Anyone who wants to gain weight is doing well to consciously shorten the same window.
The easiest lever for this is a late meal: one last, consciously planned energy portion 30 to 60 minutes before going to bed. It shortens the nighttime fasting phase without changing the daily routine — and it does not compete with the appetite of the main meals because it can be small.
Five late meals that help with weight gain
A good late meal meets three conditions: It provides noticeable energy, it has little volume, and it does not feel heavy in the stomach. Five proven examples:
| Late meal | Energy (approx.) | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Banana with 2 tbsp peanut butter | approx. 300 kcal | Sweet, quick, no cooking — also works with a poor appetite. |
| 250 g quark with honey | approx. 330 kcal | Provides plenty of milk protein (casein), which is slowly digested. |
| Overnight oats with whole milk and nuts | approx. 350 kcal | Can be prepared in the morning — no decision is needed in the evening. |
| 50 g nuts with dried fruit | approx. 400 kcal | Highest energy density, but requires chewing — not everyone's thing in the evening. |
| CaloSleep in 125 ml whole milk | approx. 200 kcal | Mixed in two minutes, small volume, formulated for the evening. |
All five work — the calorie values are approximate and depend on the product and portion. The difference lies in everyday life: For those who have hardly any appetite in the evening, chewing is often the real hurdle. A glass is easier to drink than a plate is to eat. It was precisely from these conversations with our customers that the idea for our own evening shake arose.
CaloSleep: high-calorie, but made for the evening
Classic mass-gaining shakes are designed for the day: large portions, a lot of energy at once. In the evening, other things matter — manageable volume, good tolerability, and a formulation that suits rest rather than training. CaloSleep is therefore deliberately designed differently from our daytime products: a compact 25-g portion that is mixed into 125 ml of liquid, combined with a sleep complex of melatonin, GABA, plant extracts, magnesium, and vitamin B6.
Nutritional values at a glance
| Nutrient | per 100 g of powder |
|---|---|
| Energy | 488 kcal / 2,039 kJ |
| Fat (of which saturated fatty acids) | 25.6 g (22.5 g) |
| Carbohydrates (of which sugar) | 43.1 g (5.7 g) |
| Fiber | 6.3 g |
| Protein | 17.0 g |
| Salt | 0.51 g |
A 25-g portion (1 heaped scoop) provides 122 kcal with water — prepared in 125 ml of whole milk, it provides around 200 kcal. The 500-g container is enough for 20 servings, which corresponds to around €1.25 per serving. With only 5.7 g of sugar per 100 g of powder, CaloSleep is deliberately kept low in sugar — the energy does not come from a sweet sugar bomb before bedtime.
The sleep complex: what is in one serving
| Ingredient | per 25-g serving |
|---|---|
| Melatonin | 0.5 mg |
| GABA | 375 mg |
| Passionflower extract | 375 mg |
| Lemon balm leaf extract | 150 mg |
| Magnesium bisglycinate | 250 mg (of which 37.5 mg magnesium) |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.41 mg (29.5% NRV) |
Melatonin is the hormone that the body produces itself in the dark — here it is included in a moderate dose of 0.5 mg per serving. GABA, passionflower, and lemon balm are classics in evening formulations, while magnesium is provided as highly soluble bisglycinate. Vitamin B6 contributes to the normal function of the nervous system. In addition, what is not in it: CaloSleep is gluten-free, GMO-free, and comes without aspartame, preservatives, and artificial colors. It is manufactured in Germany in an IFS-Food-certified production facility.
Important to know: Melatonin is a hormone produced by the body. If you regularly sleep poorly, have an illness, or take medication, please clarify the use with a doctor beforehand. CaloSleep is not intended for children, pregnant or breastfeeding women. It contains milk protein (whey) and is not suitable for those with a milk protein allergy; traces of gluten, egg, soy, and lupine are possible.
What an evening routine with CaloSleep looks like
- Dinner as usual. CaloSleep does not replace a meal — it complements it. Eat what makes you feel good in the evening, without forcing yourself.
- Mix 30 to 60 minutes before going to bed: 25 g of powder (1 heaped scoop) into 125 ml of milk, plant-based drink, or water, or mix briefly in a shaker.
- Want more calories? With whole milk instead of water, 122 kcal becomes around 200 kcal — with the same volume. Do not increase the amount of powder: The recommended daily intake of one serving (25 g) must not be exceeded.
- Make it a habit. A late meal works through the cumulative effect over the days. The routine is easiest to maintain if the shake has a fixed place — for example, right after brushing your teeth or while reading.
- The foundation remains sleep hygiene: dimmed lights, screen off, fixed times. No shake replaces a quiet evening — it fits into it.
How large your daily calorie surplus should be in total is shown to you by our calorie requirement calculator. Many combine CaloSleep with a daytime product: a classic calorie shake in the morning or in between, and the nighttime portion in the evening. Which shake suits which need is broken down in our buying guide for shakes to gain weight.
Who CaloSleep is intended for — and who it is not
CaloSleep is aimed at adults who need additional calories and want to use the evening for that purpose:
- People who are underweight or have a poor appetite, for whom large portions in the evening are difficult — a compact drink portion bypasses the hurdle of chewing.
- Older people, whose dinner is often early and small. Why every calorie counts especially in old age is described in our post about medical food for seniors.
- People with increased energy requirements, for example during a recovery phase — here the nutritional strategy should be supervised by a doctor.
- Athletes in building phases, who want to round off their daily balance with a protein-rich evening portion.
Not intended for children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or for people with a milk protein allergy. Anyone who regularly suffers from sleep problems or takes medication should speak with a doctor before use. And importantly for context: CaloSleep is a food for self-payers. In cases of disease-related malnutrition, instead full-balance medical food can be prescribed at the expense of the health insurance — the details are in the post medical food by prescription.
Frequently asked questions about CaloSleep
How is CaloSleep prepared?
Mix 25 g of powder (1 heaped scoop) into 125 ml of milk, plant-based drink, or water, or mix briefly in a shaker and drink 30 to 60 minutes before going to bed.
How many calories does one serving provide?
A 25-g portion provides 122 kcal with water. Prepared in 125 ml of whole milk, it is around 200 kcal. The recommended daily intake of one serving (25 g) must not be exceeded.
How much melatonin is in one serving?
One serving (25 g) contains 0.5 mg of melatonin, plus 375 mg of GABA, 375 mg of passionflower extract, 150 mg of lemon balm leaf extract, 250 mg of magnesium bisglycinate, and 0.41 mg of vitamin B6. Anyone who regularly sleeps poorly or takes medication should clarify the intake with a doctor.
Doesn't a shake feel heavy in the stomach right before bed?
One portion is deliberately kept small — 25 g of powder in 125 ml of liquid, so just under a glass. It is recommended to drink it 30 to 60 minutes before going to bed, not right at bedtime. How late eating is tolerated varies from person to person — try out which time is comfortable for you.
Is CaloSleep gluten-free and lactose-free?
CaloSleep is gluten-free and low in sugar, but contains milk protein (whey). For a milk protein allergy, it is not suitable; for lactose intolerance, it can be prepared with lactose-free milk.
Can CaloSleep replace a meal?
No, it is intended as a supplement to normal nutrition. Anyone who has to replace whole meals — for example in cases of disease-related malnutrition —, for whom fully balanced medical food is the right way; it can be prescribed by a doctor.
How long does one container last and how long is it shelf-stable?
The 500-g container contains 20 servings of 25 g each — just under three weeks with daily use. After opening, the powder should be consumed within 8 weeks; store coolly (5–25 °C) and dry and keep the container tightly closed.
Can I also get CaloSleep in a pharmacy?
Yes. CaloSleep has the pharmaceutical central number (PZN) 20647318 and can be ordered by any pharmacy through the pharmaceutical wholesaler — as a self-pay product.
Try CaloSleep Vanilla
500-g container with 20 servings · 122 kcal per serving with water · gluten-free, without aspartame · made in Germany
To the productPreferably through the pharmacy? Simply state the PZN 20647318 — any pharmacy can order it.
The night is not a lost third of the day, but the phase in which the body works with the energy you gave it during the day. Anyone who closes the evening gap makes gaining weight a bit more predictable — with a simple late meal or with a shake that was made for that purpose. How the entire path to more weight looks, from calorie requirements to a weekly plan, is explained in our large guide to weight gain and in the basic post about high-calorie medical food.
- Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods (Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation). OJ L 404 of 30.12.2006, p. 9. eur-lex.europa.eu
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 of 16 May 2012 laying down a list of permitted other nutrition and health claims made on foods. OJ L 136 of 25.05.2012, p. 1, Annex, entry Vitamin B6 "contributes to the normal function of the nervous system". eur-lex.europa.eu
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers (FIC Regulation), Annex XIII Part A: Nutrient Reference Values (NRVs) for vitamins and minerals. OJ L 304 of 22.11.2011, p. 18. eur-lex.europa.eu
- Product information for CaloSleep Vanilla: label (nutritional values per 100 g and per 25-g serving, directions for use and warnings).
- Calorie values for the example late-night meals and estimate of the basal metabolic rate: rounded estimates by the editorial team, vary individually.
The laws, guidelines, scientific publications and databases mentioned relate to nutrition and supply in general, not to CaloDrink or other CaloShop products themselves. Product information for CaloShop products is excluded; it is taken from their labels and nutritional information.
CaloSleep is a food (high-calorie drink powder with sweeteners) and not a medicinal product; it does not replace a balanced, varied diet or a healthy lifestyle. "Vitamin B6 contributes to the normal function of the nervous system" is a claim approved under the Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 in conjunction with Regulation (EU) No 432/2012. Melatonin is an endogenous hormone — in case of regular sleep problems, illnesses or medication intake, please consult a doctor before use; not suitable for children, adolescents, pregnant or breastfeeding women. The calorie information for the example late-night meals are approximate values and vary depending on the product and serving size; the figure for the nocturnal basal metabolic rate is an approximate calculation and varies individually. This article is for general information purposes and replaces neither medical nor nutritional therapy advice. As of: August 2026.
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