Did you know that there are snacks that can help you fall asleep and stay asleep? I'm stocking up on them because as far as I'm concerned one of the worst things ever that can happen to me as a mami on a regular basis is when I'm so freakin' tired I spend the whole day thinking about getting into bed and sleeping and then when bedtime finally rolls around I either can't fall asleep or I can't stay asleep. It sucks and guarantees that I'll be tired again the next day. Well, maybe a little mindful snacking can help.
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Keep in mind that we are talking about snack sized portions here. No one is suggesting that you eat a huge serving of any kind of food right before going to sleep because that is too much to put your gut through and it's like basically asking for heartburn or nightmares, if you listen to my mother.
Click through the gallery for 10 bedtime snacks that will help you fall asleep and stay asleep and sweet dreams!
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Almonds
Snacking on a small handful of almonds before bedtime can be helpful because they are high in magnesium and if you don't have enough magnesium, it makes it tough to sleep.
Walnuts
Walnuts have tryptophan which helps you make the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin.
Chamomile tea
Your abuela is right about chamomile tea, it does act as a mild sedative. Perfect to encourage relaxation at night.
Rice
Rice has a high glycemic index, which helps you fall asleep faster. Good news for me because I always have some left over arroz that I can snack on.
Bananas
Bananas are not only rich in potassium, which helps your muscles relax, they also have B6 in them to help you make that magic sleepy time melatonin.
Shrimp and lobster
If I were rich, I'd be snacking on shrimp and lobster every night. They are both considered a good source for tryptophan which is believed to help you sleep.
Tuna
Tuna is another great way to get vitamin B6 so that your body can make magic melatonin.
Dairy
Surely you've heard that a glass of milk can bring on the zzzzzs, turns out it's not just milk, it's dairy in general. The calcium in dairy helps your brain turn the tryptophan in dairy into … yup, melatonin.
Cherry juice
Cherries have a way of boosting your levels of melatonin, so sip on some of their juice to help you go to sleep.
Cereal
A bowl of cereal before bed can help you go to sleep due to the combination of carbs, the sleepy goodness of milk and the power of vitamin B6 (if the cereal is fortified).
