Healthy snacks help fulfill different requirements of kids. Apart from maintaining their nutritional requirements, kids also need to manage their hunger. Bedtime snacks for kids help accomplish both these tasks at once.
But when it comes to choosing the right bedtime snacks, parents face two major challenges. One of them is that they need to choose snacks that their kids like the most. Also, they need to ensure that their kids do not overeat those snacks.
If you have kids, you would want to choose the best bedtime snacks for them. However, with so many options available, making an informed decision can be tricky. No worries, though, as this post will help you with it.
Why should you consider bedtime snacks for toddlers?
Kids feel happy when their little tummies remain full. For parents, though, it is necessary to make certain that it happens with the right kind of nutrition. Unlike those who are grown up, toddlers do not take care of their meals on their own. As such, they are more likely to miss their meals.
Bedtime snacks for toddlers supply the right kind of nutrition to little ones. So, whether your kids miss their meal due to a tantrum or any other reason, these snacks will take care of their nutritional supply.
You have to be careful with bedtime snacks, though. Your kids shouldn’t get into the habit of getting snacks before going to bed for not having their dinner. If your kids get into such a realization, they may intentionally choose not to have dinner for snacks before going to bed at night.
A specific hormone in boys, namely, melatonin, is responsible for inducing sleep. It is a by-product that comes from serotonin. However, tryptophan produces serotonin that comes from amino acid-rich food items.
The level of melatonin in the body reaches its peak at night because it is the time when it is dark outside. The rising or lowering levels of melatonin are responsible for making one feel sleepy or remain awake. It balances the desire to sleep or stay awake through a cycle, known as circadian rhythm.
In order to ensure that your kid has a sound sleep at night, consider giving tryptophan-rich bedtime snacks for toddlers. If your little one sleeps well at night, it will benefit their physical and mental well-being.
Which bedtime snacks for toddlers are high in tryptophan?
Tryptophan is present in foods that are high in amino acids. Such foods can be from both veg and non-vegetarian sources. Depending on what your kids like, you can give them the following foods:
• Eggs
• Dairy foods
• Meat
• Fish
• Hazelnuts, almonds, cashew, pistachio
• Lentils and beans
• Oats
• Soya
• Linseed, flax, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, chia
You might want to diversify the food sources to ensure that your little one gets the supply of essential micronutrients, vitamin B2 and B6, and iron. It is necessary to generate the serotonin hormone in the body from tryptophan.
What are some easy snacks to make at night?
Many foods can keep your little one from feeling hungry at night. The majority of them are easy to prepare. You can give them to your kid at night as snacks before they go to their bed.
Here are some easy snacks to make at night that will help your little one enjoys sound sleep.
Banana and banana yogurt
Banana is rich in potassium and magnesium, which help induce sleep. It also tastes great; if you wish to make your banana snack a bit yummier, you can think about preparing a banana yogurt. All you need to do is add some healthy protein, fat, and a few fruits. You can rest assured that your little one would like it.
Cheese Stick and dry cereal
A cheese stick will suit the taste buds of your little ones and fill their body with the requisite level of calcium and protein. An old cheese stick would come in handy and would be fine for this purpose.
You can also choose a dry cereal based on the taste preferences of your kid and add some milk to it. It will keep them full for the night.
Berries
Berries are rich in fiber and vitamins, and it also makes for a yummy snack option for kids. You can give your little one a bowl of berries to keep them be happy before bedtime. The great taste of this easy-to-prepare snack will help the kids have a sound sleep at night.
Cream cheese and mini bagel
This snack is not just for bedtime; it is also for other times during the day. However, it will keep your little ones happy and supply them with protein and carbohydrates. Preparing this nutritious snack is simple and easy, and it also tastes great.
Cheese and whole-grain crackers
If you want to prepare a snack that doesn’t take a lot of time and effort, you can consider combining cheese with some crackers. It is a great snack option that you can give to your kid before they go to bed.
Whole grain muffin
If you store muffins in a freezer or refrigerator, you can give them to your toddler before bedtime. It is one of those snacks that you can easily prepare with little effort. And it is also yummy!
Final thoughts
To sum up, the aforementioned options constitute bedtime snacks for kids. If your little one complains of hunger before going to bed, you can fill their little tummy with these exciting and yummy snack options. After having these snacks, your kid will feel satisfied and have a sound sleep at night.