Tick Tock the Best Midnight Snacks to Send You Back to Sleep ...

Oatmeal is a great choice at night for several reasons. One is that it is warm and soothing and can help you relax while you eat it. Another is that it contains healthy carbohydrates, which produce serotonin, a chemical that helps you sleep. Have a single portion so you aren’t too full to get comfortable and add a bit of fruit if you like.

What makes this combination so great? The eggs contain protein so you won’t feel hungry before morning and they boost the serotonin released by the carbs in the toast. Eggs and toast are easy and quick to prepare so you can be back between the sheets in no time. Perfect!

You’re not one to turn down cheese, are you? Neither am I. When you’re plagued with insomnia, your snack might just be the cure you’ve been looking for. Cheese contains magnesium, which is a nutrient that plays a role in your sleep/wake cycle. An ounce or two is all it takes. Add a few whole grain crackers if you like.

Did your mom ever give you this at night when you were a kid? There’s science behind why warm milk makes such a great midnight snack. Part of it is that drinking warm milk relaxes you so you can drift off to sleep. It also contains tryptophan, which promotes sleep, as well as calcium, which helps promote healthy REM sleep cycles.

You’re not going to find a more delicious snack than fresh cherries. They’re a prime choice for a midnight snack because they contain melatonin, which as you know makes you sleepy. Cherry juice also does the trick if you can’t find fresh cherries. You can eat cherries or drink cherry juice every day and reap the sleep inducing benefits.

Almonds, like cheese, are high in magnesium, which can have you drifting off to sleep in no time. A handful is all you need and they won’t take any prep time, so you can head back to bed as soon as possible. Need an extra boost of sleepiness? Try adding sliced almonds to your oatmeal or pairing them with cheese.

According to experts at Cooking Light magazine, not just any tea will do if you’re trying to fall asleep. Lavender tea needs to be your go-to choice because it has calming properties that can help you relax enough to fall asleep. Just be sure you’re choosing a decaf version or you’ll do more harm than good.

Which of these snacks will you try next time you can’t sleep? What other suggestions do you have?