Healthy bedtime snacks for the perfect snooze

Getting the munchies before bedtime will always be one of the most trying times of your life. It’s a proper dilemma when you’re caught between eating healthy and the urgent need to fill your tummy. However, to ensure you get proper sleep and don’t give in to mindless eating, it’s essential to pick the right bedtime snack. To address this problem, we spoke to some chefs to find some easy-to-make and nutritious bedtime snacks.

ALMOND AND CHERRY GRANOLA BRITTLE

Almonds, rolled oats, honey and cherries in the form of a granola brittle make for a guilt-free bedtime snack. All the ingredients contain tryptophan, which helps induce sleep and fight anxiety. Namrataa Kripallani, who is a restaurant owner says, “Tryptophan acts like a mood regulator, since it helps the body produce two main hormones that have calming effects: serotonin, a feel good hormone, and melatonin, a sleep inducing hormone. This is like having your cake and eating it too. You sleep feeling great on a full stomach, and you wake up energetic from relaxed sleep.” . sleeping. Chef Manu Nair of South Indies, a South Indian restaurant chain, says, “A good source of vitamin B, raw mangoes help build and strengthen one’s health. The vitamin C in this dish also acts as a booster for your immune system.”

BAKED SWEET POTATO WITH A SQUEEZE OF LEMON JUICE, SHREDDED GINGER AND KALA NAMAK

If you’re one to pull late nights, sweet potatoes are the snack for you. Anuradha Sawhney, the author of The Vegan Kitchen: Bollywood Style! says, “I often finish work late and tend to have problems sleeping. I eat sweet potatoes when they’re in season to fall asleep.” Sweet potatoes contain sleep-promoting complex carbohydrates.

WHOLE GRAIN BREAD WITH HOMEMADE NATURAL ALMOND BUTTER

Make yourself a toast with an almond butter spread if you’re having trouble falling asleep and your stomach is rumbling. Sawhney says, “Whole grains provide carbohydrates and almond butter contains magnesium. Magnesium deficiency is known to cause insomnia and muscle cramps, both of which disturb sleep.”

KONDAKADALAI KOZHUKATTAI

This dish is a blend of steamed rice flour dumplings tossed with chick peas, a trio of peppers and onions seasoned with hand-blended spices. Chef Prabhakar of Savya Rasa says, “This is a versatile and healthy dish. It has carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals along with natural digestive spices.”

FRUITS

Fruits like banana and kiwi help induce sleep. Kiwi contains antioxidants, which are said to regulate sleep-controlling neurotransmitters. Tart cherry juice works in the same way to help cure insomnia. Bananas are a great snack too, as they contain muscle relaxing magnesium and potassium.