We’re all familiar with the saying “you are what you eat”,  but how about the phrase ‘healthy eating, healthy sleeping’?

It’s said that we should avoid eating just before bed if we want to keep our sleep pattern at its best, but is that always the case? What about eating things that are not only healthy for us but benefit our sleep?

Of course, enjoying your food whilst keeping a balanced and healthy diet is the main priority here, and it’s worth pointing out at this point that we are not food experts here at Mattressman, however, we have done some research into food and eating habits that are well-studied and can help you to nod off.

The people behind sleep.org say that eating a diet that is high in fibre and low in added sugar is key to a healthy diet and healthy sleep, so consider eating dishes that contain lentils, pulses, beans, oats and nuts. High-fibre diets are also linked to deeper, more restorative sleep, so they are great as part of an evening meal.

If you’re looking to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your diet this year, green fruits such as kiwis and grapes are not only great for adding to salads but are also high in serotonin, which means that they are a good snack to have nearer bedtime. Green vegetables like kale and broccoli also work well with dinner and are rich in calcium, which is great for inducing sleep.

Cherries contain large amounts of melatonin, a hormone that is known for increasing feelings of tiredness, so drinking a glass of cherry juice or keeping fresh or frozen cherries to hand for an afternoon snack could be great for your shut-eye.

We’ve all heard the saying ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’, but what about bananas?

Bananas are rich in potassium and vitamin B6, both of which are needed to make melatonin (the secret ingredient behind sleepiness). Drinks like banana smoothies – with added nuts like walnuts and almonds – are a great accompaniment to your evening meal and are healthy and filling.

Lastly, if you’re looking to cook something for dinner tonight that is not only delicious but healthy and won’t interfere with your sleep, have you considered fish?

Fish – particularly salmon and tuna – are packed with vitamin B6, which helps the production of the sleep hormone melatonin. This delicious recipe is full of flavour and will help you if you’re struggling for ways to add fish to your diet.

Will you be adding any of these foods to your meal tonight? You may find that you’ll sleep more soundly if you do!

Sleep well!