The 10 Best And Worst Foods To Eat Before Bedtime

That hankering for a late night snack can often be hard to resist. If you do give in to your appetite and have a little something to eat right before bed, there are some things you should avoid in order to get a good night’s sleep.

Some foods promote a nice, deep slumber and others make it harder to fall asleep at night. So, when that tummy starts to rumble, here are some of the things you should and shouldn’t reach for if you’ve got an early morning ahead of you.

Best:

1. Turkey

We all know how easy it is to fall asleep after Thanksgiving dinner, and that’s because turkey is one of the foods that promote sleep. According to Health magazine, it’s not going to help a whole lot if you’ve got a serious case of insomnia.

2. Bananas

Between the natural dose of muscle relaxants and carbohydrates you get from bananas, they’re a great option as far as late night snacks (and a good night’s sleep) are concerned.

3. Milk

Ahh, the classic glass of milk before bed. We’ve all heard that a glass of milk can promote sleep, but does it really work? According to Reader’s Digest, any dairy product can actually help you rest well at night.

4. Cereal

• Cereals that are packed with complex carbs are said to make it easier to sleep at night, Russell Rosenberg, Ph.D., CEO of the National Sleep Foundation told Health magazine. And even better— they go well with milk. That’s a double-dosage of sleepy time foods right there!

5. Tea

While there are certain teas that have high caffeine levels that should be avoided late at night, there are plenty of others that make falling asleep a cinch.

Worst:

1. Dark Chocolate

Believe it or not, dark chocolate has high levels of caffeine, so you should probably avoid this when it comes to late night desserts.

2. Wine

Wine, or alcohol of any kind, really can make falling asleep difficult, so maybe try to have your last glass well before you ever head to bed.

3. Coffee

This is a no-brainer. Definitely skip out on this high dosage of caffeine late at night. Save it for the morning, instead!

4. Steak

Steak is high in protein, and therefore harder to break down, according to Huffington Post. Give your digestive system a break while you’re trying to sleep and skip the steak the next time you eat dinner later in the evening.

5. Fatty Foods

It can be quite tempting to have a late night cheeseburger, but fatty foods make falling asleep more difficult. So, no matter how good this may taste, it’s not worth ruining your sleep over, is it?

These 10 best and worst foods are just some of the foods that either promote or hinder better sleeping habits. Be sure to use this as your guide before reaching into your fridge at night.

[h/t: Health Magazine]