Bedtime Snacks Causing Bad Dreams?
According to Livestrong.com, several studies attempted to determine the relationship between eating before bed and dreams. Several of the studies indicated that eating and overeating before bed may increase brain wave activity, and that this heightened activity could increase the vividness of dreams, including nightmares.
Kids love reaching into the refrigerator for that one last snack before bedtime, but could what they eat be causing their bad dreams? Here’s a list of foods for your little ones to avoid if they suffer from chronic bad dreams or nightmares.
Ice Cream
While everyone loves a late night ice-cream indulgence, the combo of dairy and sugar have shown to increase the occurrence of bad dreams in children and adults. If you must have ice cream, opt for a non-dairy, low sugar option.
Fried Food
The grease found in fried foods is a before bedtime no-no. If you’re craving the salt or crunch of something fried, try a baked option in its place.
Juice
Juice, even as an alternative to carbonated sodas, is full of sugar. Sugar will prevent your child from being able to full relax and achieve a state of calm before bedtime. Stick to water and keep the juices for earlier in the day.
Junk Food
While sugar may be the obvious culprit in a variety of junk food and candy, the real sleep disruptors in this type of food are chemicals such as caffeine and theobromine, which have been shown to negatively impact the quality of sleep.
On the other hand, here’s a quick list of foods that may actually help your kids sleep better!
- Almond Butter on Whole Wheat Toast
- A cup of rice
- A handful of trail mix (minus the chocolate)
- Cheese and crackers
- Small bowl of Greek Yogurt
What are your favorite bedtime snacks? Share with us in the comment section below!
