Winding down from a long day is not so easy for some of us. Our bodies may be worn out, but our brains are still running 100 miles an hour. Then there are those night-time hunger pains that we try to ignore but just can't. So there we are tossing, turning, and hungry.
The good news is that there are actually some sleep-friendly snacks that may help us get a better night's sleep.
Snacks containing ingredients such as tryptophan, whole grain carbs, calcium, magnesium and certain herbs can relax our busy minds. So if falling asleep is a problem, try eating one of these light snacks about an hour before bedtime to help get a better night's sleep.
Bananas and Almonds. Munch on these to get a nice mix of tryptophan, healthy carbs and calming magnesium.
Cherries. This fruit is a natural source of melatonin - a relaxing brain chemical.
Whole Wheat Toast and Peanut Butter. Another yummy snack that will provide you with the relaxing combo of tryptophan and complex carbs.
Enjoy a Bowl of Whole-Grain Cereal with Milk. The tryptophan, calcium, and magnesium in milk combined with the cereal’s carbs and magnesium can help make you feel sleepy. Be sure to stay away from sugary cereals.
And the favorite bedtime snack, a cup of herbal tea with a spoonful of honey (another source of tryptophan.)
You can find more sleep-friendly snack ideas at sleep.org.