Looking to get a good night’s sleep? The path to more successful slumber runs through your kitchen.
A number of foods contain substances that promote healthier sleep patterns…and are tasty as well. Each of these recipes highlights one of these sleepytime foods.
Strawberry Banana Protein Smoothie
Bananas provide magnesium, an essential mineral, and tryptophan, an amino acid, both of which are known to support sleep.*
4 frozen strawberries
1/2 banana, frozen
1 cup almond milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 scoop Strawberry SPIRU-TEIN
Combine ingredients in a large, high-powered blender, such as a Vitamix, and blend until smooth and creamy.
Yields: 1 serving
RECIPECARD1
Cherry-Stuffed Grilled Chicken
Cherries supply melatonin, a hormone crucial to healthy sleep, as well as fiber and healthful phytonutrients.*
1 1/2 cups pitted and coarsely chopped sweet cherries
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 tsp chopped fresh sage
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp chopped fresh thyme
4 skinless chicken breast halves (4–6 oz each)
3 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
1 1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp coarsely ground pepper
Yields: 4 servings
Source: reprinted with permission from Northwest Cherry Growers
RECIPECARD2
(No Bake) Walnut Brownie Bites
Walnuts provide both melatonin and tryptophan along with essential fatty acids and vitamin E.
1 cup raw almond meal
1/2 cup cacao powder
1/8 tsp sea salt
1/2 cup pitted Medjool dates (packed)
2 tbsp honey
1/4 cup raw walnuts, crushed