Last snack to promote sleep.

We give our babies a last feed before bed, and send our children off to bed, often with a last snack, to ensure that they do not go to bed hungry. After all a hungry child is unlikely to settle quickly to sleep. What we offer our children, and indeed what we choose for our own supper, can directly affect the nights sleep.
Recently it has been proven that a snack which is high in protein encourages us to stay alert longer than a high carbohydrate snack. This is because one amino-acid called Tryptophan, which calms the brain, promotes sleep is less available in some foods compared to others. When you pair tryptophan with carbohydrates and calcuim then you are offering the brain not only the calming effect of the tryptophan but the calcium which encorages it's uptake.

So, what does make a good bedtime snack?

• Warm milk and half a turkey or peanut butter sandwich.
• Whole grain,low sugar cereal with low fat milk (whole milk for children)
• A banana and a cup of camomile tea
• Granola with yoghurt