Getting quality shut-eye can be especially difficult if your body is still awake, but there are some foods that can actually help to induce sleep and achieve a more restful night. Here are a few sleep-promoting bedtime snacks to consumer an hour before hitting the hay:
Peanut butter and crackers Some all-natural peanut butter spread on some whole wheat crackers provides a mix of carbohydrates and protein with a bit of tryptophan.
Cheese stick Snacking on a low-fat cheese stick before bedtime also supplies tryptophan as well as lean protein, which can leave you calm and less frazzled while helping to keep your blood sugar on an even keel throughout the night.
Bananas and nuts Eating half a banana along with a handful of your favorite nuts provide your body with tryptophan and carbohydrates.
A bowl of cereal The milk contains tryptophan and the whole-grain cereal adds some complementary complex carbohydrates. Avoid the sugary cereals as sugar can cause sleep-disrupting blood sugar crashes during the night.
Make sure you eat dinner at least three hours before bedtime and have one of these snooze-inducing snacks about an hour before you climb into bed. You never want to go to bed full or hungry – both can be disruptive to your rest. Instead, try to find a happy balance and you may just get a more sleep-filled slumber.