Ditch the chocolate & relax with a bedtime smoothie
Struggling to fall asleep at night? The reason might be that late night rendezvous with Ben & Jerry. Or the greasy buffalo wings leftover from dinner. Face it, your sleep is going to be as messy as the food stains on your sheets.
Just like unhealthy snack binges – your daily meals trigger how well you sleep each night. How does your diet stand up against sleep? The simple (but not-so-easy-to-do) answer is the healthier you eat throughout the day, the better you’ll sleep at night. But sometimes a little snack before bed can help with relaxation.
Why not try a delish smoothie – with sleep-inducing ingredients – to satisfy your cravings AND help you sleep?
Sleep inducing ingredients
When you think of a smoothie, a quick, healthy breakfast choice comes to mind. Trick out your smoothie with sleep-fueled ingredients and you’ve just found a flawless bedtime snack.
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Milk – Calcium ramps up the relaxation while tryptophan helps you fall asleep. The perfect sleep combo.
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Bananas – Melatonin, serotonin and magnesium in bananas will help your muscles uncoil and help you sleep soundly.
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Honey – Used for years as a natural sleep aid, honey contributes to the release of melatonin
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Flax seed – High amounts of tryptophan and omega-3 fatty acids increase levels of the sleep-regulating serotonin.
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Almonds – A good source of magnesium, which promotes sleep and muscle relaxation.
Now let’s blend these sleep-generating ingredients with some tasty flavors. Check out the recipes below.
Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
Ingredients
- 2 bananas
- 2 tbsp. honey
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 2 cup ice cubes
Showtime
Place all the ingredients into a blender. Blend for approx. 30 seconds or until smooth.
 Cherry Pie Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup frozen or fresh cherries
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla
- 1 tsp. honey
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1/3 cup almond milk
Showtime
Place all ingredients into your blender. Blend until smooth and add more milk to thin out.
 Banana & Nutmeg Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 banana
- 1.5 cup almond milk
- 1/4 tbsp. nutmeg
- 2 tbsp. honey
Showtime
Place all of the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
 Almond & Flax Seed Smoothie
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp. peanut or almond butter
- 1 banana
- 2 tbsp. flax seed
- 1/2 cup almond milk
- 1 tsp. honey
Showtime
Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Smoothie hack
After cleaning the kitchen from dinner, the last thing you want is a blended mess all over the counter.
During your weekly grocery trip, add all the ingredients to your shopping list or sub in the fruits you have available. When you get home, use zip-lock bags and prep the smoothies for the week and place in the freezer.
Delicious smoothies can help put you to sleep but so can following a daily sleep routine that allows your body to wake up refreshed and ready to conquer the day.
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