Bedtime snacks are both the best and the worst thing. The right bedtime snack can hit different and be just want you needed to put you to sleep, but the wrong bedtime snack can keep you up all night long. While some people have stricter rules about their eating schedules and prefer not to snack before bed, if you’re genuinely hungry (and not just bored!), a bedtime snack is entirely harmless. You just want to make sure it’s a healthy snack that’s going to help you fall asleep- not prevent it. Sometimes we just can’t beat our cravings, even when it’s 2 a.m. So for those nights you get a late-night craving, reach for one of these healthy snacks:
Greek yogurt
I know, Greek yogurt might not be the ideal late-night snack, but it’ll definitely help you fall asleep! Plain Greek yogurt is packed with protein, full of probiotics, and low in sugar. The protein will help curb any hunger, and probiotics will help you get a better night’s rest.
Cherries
Whether they’re dried or fresh, cherries are a great bedtime snack. Cherries contain melatonin, which is a hormone that regulates your sleep cycle. While you can buy melatonin pills to help with insomnia, you can also eat cherries for a more natural form.
Banana and peanut butter
This classic snack is excellent for helping you fall asleep. The potassium and magnesium in bananas help you relax your muscles, which will help you sleep. The healthy fats in peanut butter will keep you full and satisfied throughout the night.
Pistachios
If you’re looking for a quick late-night snack that’s light but will hold you over to the morning, grab a handful of pistachios. Pistachios are also super high in melatonin- one ounce of pistachios contains the same melatonin amount as a pill.
Cheese and crackers
A more savory late-night snack that’s satisfying but won’t keep you up through the night is cheese and crackers. The combination of carbs from the crackers and protein from the cheese keeps your blood levels consistent. The combination also makes tryptophan more available to your brain, which increases melatonin.
