Roundup: Foods For Sleep

My whole life just suddenly made sense to me. The reason I’m always tired is because everything I love to eat (and eat a lot of) makes you sleepy. Great, I have to stop eating! Actually, what really inspired me to look into foods that make you want to curl up under a blanket was my daughter. She dropped her afternoon nap when she was three and a half yet she still gets quite tired around 1 or 2pm. I understand that kids require down time around that part of the day, but I find Scarlett (almost five) can get especially pokey. So I wondered if it had anything to do with her diet.

After checking in with my favorite pediatrician, Dr. Sears, of The Doctors television show fame, it turns out it may. Most of Scarlett’s lunch choices are on his list of foods that send you to bed. It made me rethink my menus–Perhaps I needed to add these items into her dinner instead and keep lunches free and clear of them. It’s a project I’m experimenting with now.

I’m sure I’ll still have a tired girl after an active morning. Besides, those little bodies need time to refuel, but maybe my new approach will help. Nobody (her or myself) has fun when the day falls apart at 3. Obviously, a good nights rest always helps too.

Dr. Sears’ Foods For Sleep

Dairy
Soy Products
Meats
Seasfood
Beans
Whole Grains
Hummus
Rice
Lentils
Eggs

Our favorite sleepy recipes:

Lemon Linguini

Asparagus and Parmesan Frittata

Turkey Pumpkin Chili

Adzuki Bean and Brown Rice Salad