Midnight Snacks Which Will Help You Sleep

If you’ve ever laid awake waiting for dreamland, and thoughts of food spin around in your head instead, you are not alone.  Midnight cravings happen to everyone at some time or other.  Ignoring the snack attack doesn't always work.  A trip to the kitchen is sometimes all that will make the cravings disappear.  But, you still want to get back to sleep, so the last thing you want to do is reach for something that is going to keep you up all night.  You want to have food on hand that will have a soothing effect on you.  You want sleep to come again at some point that night.  So, what are some of the best foods you can snack on that will help you sleep?

Milk

Drinking a glass of milk will help you sleep for two reasons.  Milk will satisfy your hunger.  Milk also contains tryptophan which enhances relaxation and will make you drowsy and ready to lay your head back down.  Warm milk will especially trigger that sleepy feeling.  Sip a mug of warm milk and you will be dreaming in no time.

Turkey

Like milk, turkey contains tryptophan.  If you’ve ever enjoyed a turkey dinner at Thanksgiving, you know how a nap after dinner sounds.  Irresistible.  Of course, you don't have to roast a huge turkey when you want to stock the refrigerator with this sleep-inducer.  You can easily find turkey breasts to roast and have on hand.  Enjoy a few slices of cold turkey for a simple, fast snack, or make a nice sandwich.  Use whole grain bread which is high in complex carbs, which are also part of the formula to make you sleepy.  

Fruit

Choose fruit to snack on in order to maintain your diet, but choose bananas and cherries in particular to help you sleep.  Bananas contain minerals that relax the muscles, as well as tryptophan, just like turkey and milk. Cherries and cherry juice boost the bodies production of melatonin which the body needs to sleep.  If you fill a bowl with bananas and pour a bit of hot milk over, you've got a snack that is Mr.   Sandman's best little helper.

Oatmeal

If you want a relaxing treat, you can't go wrong with a warm bowl of oatmeal.  Because oatmeal is loaded with sleep inducing nutrients like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium, it only makes sense that this comforting food could also be a valuable midnight snack.  Of course, this is another opportunity to enjoy some warm milk.  With a warm bowl of oatmeal, you have a double dose of sleepy-time snacking.

Wine

Although we know alcohol in excess will prevent you from getting a good night's sleep, a single glass of wine will relax your body and mind.  For many people, this is the perfect end to a hectic day.  Adding a glass of wine to your evening routine may help you relax enough to let Mr. Sandman do his job.  Remember, too much wine will either keep you awake or cause you to wake in the middle of the night.  Try a mug of mulled wine for the ultimate experience in relaxation.

Just because we have a case of the midnight munchies doesn’t mean we have to be up for hours contemplating what we will eat.  If we choose the right kind of foods when the late night snack attack hits, we'll be able to slip into sleep time with less effort.  Get back on a normal sleep schedule with less stress by enjoying these sleepy time foods.