There is a saying that goes “Have a breakfast like a king, a lunch like a prince and a dinner like a pauper”, and it isn’t without its reasons. We need to kickstart our body at the beginning of the day to get it going and maintain our energy through the day before we let our bodies rest for the night.
But as much as many of us wish to keep to such a feeding system, it is sometimes highly impossible due to our hectic schedules. Most of us end up having large dinners that leave us feeling overly bloated and unable to go to sleep.
So what kind of food can we can have for dinner that will keep us nicely full and yet still allow us to be lulled into a good night’s sleep? Here are some dinner ideas for tonight.
Fish
Did you know that fish, especially salmon, halibut and tuna, contain vitamin B6 that is required by our bodies to produce the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin? Now you do. Besides that, fish also contains loads of protein and omega-3 acids that are good for our heart and body.
Yogurt
Yogurt is dairy and dairy contains a good amount of calcium that is, surprise surprise, imperative for a good night’s sleep. Apparently, being calcium-deficient may make it difficult for one to get some proper shut eye. You learn something new everyday.
Green, leafy vegetables
And you wonder why some of your friends choose to just have salad for dinner. Green, leafy vegetables like kale also boast a good amount of calcium that, like yogurt above, helps to put you to sleep.
Banana
Good as a breakfast food as well as a part of your dinner, bananas contain vitamin B6 which helps your body produce melatonin, the hormone that induces sleep. Double the goodness in one fruit. Nice!
Jasmine rice
It is a well known fact that carbohydrates can put a person to sleep faster than anything else, especially if the meal included high-glycemic-index (GI) jasmine rice rather than lower-GI long grain rice. It is speculated that the greater amounts of insulin triggered by the high-GI meals increased the ratio of sleep-inducing tryptophan relative to other amino acids in the blood, allowing proportionately more to get into the brain.
Tart cherry juice
Having a glass of tart cherry juice as part of your dinner also allows you to enjoy a good night’s rest as the drink is melatonin-rich. The next time you feel like you aren’t able to get some proper shuteye, have yourself a glass of this and you should be well on your way to dreamland.
