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In today's technology-driven age, many find it tough to fall or stay asleep. The trouble is we're glued to screens, often amped up, and sometimes eat incorrectly, making it hard for our bodies to relax, unwind, and get the 7+ hours of shut eye we so desperately crave.
If you’ve had trouble sleeping for quite some time, you’ve likely tried a variety of methods from going to bed at a set time every night to unplugging from technology a couple of hours before bed. While these methods can work, they’re definitely not right for everyone.
Research Shows Meal Sizes Might be the Answer To Finally Falling Asleep
If you still struggle with getting a good night’s sleep, the problem might be the way you’re eating. Research shows that eating a larger meal in the morning, while your body has time to burn it off throughout the day, and eating a light meal at night could be the key to helping many finally get better sleep.
Why? Well, when your body has to focus on digestion, it can be hard for it to also focus on staying asleep. When we sleep, our body repairs and rejuvenates cells, which takes a lot of concentration. If you start your day with a generous breakfast, your body will receive the fuel it needs to run throughout the day. A light dinner will still satisfy you, without causing your body to have to overwork at bedtime.
If you’ve already tried other sleep methods to no avail, this option might be the secret to finally getting to sleep on time. You have to make sure you're eating a large breakfast and reasonable lunch for this to work,
If you're interested in giving it a shot, here are seven light, yet delicious dinner options to try out:
1. Crab Cakes – Usually this would be the entrée with one or two additional sides, but simply eating two to three crab cakes can definitely fill you, without overloading your stomach. You can serve them over a bed of cabbage, spinach, kale, or lettuce to add some greens.
2. Light Pasta – Skip the carbs in this recipe by serving your favorite pasta sauce over a bed of spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles. This light and refreshing dish will satisfy your cravings, without weighing you down. To keep it even lighter, drizzle with olive oil and red pepper, instead.
3. Veggie Stir Fry – Instead of using traditional white or brown (or maybe even fried) rice in your stir fry, swap it out for quinoa. You'll get more veggies in each bite, while still getting a healthy dose of grains. To make this even healthier, use chicken or vegetable broth instead or soy sauce and save the leftovers for the following day's lunch.
4. Caprese Salad – This simple, yet satisfying dish is light and airy, while still making you feel full. Just cut up a few tomatoes and fresh mozzarella cheese. You can drizzle a little oil and vinegar, or balsamic vinegar over as needed, and top with fresh basil or the herb of your choice.
5. Chickpea Wraps – Skip the animal protein at dinner altogether and cook chickpeas in a pan, covered in hot sauce, soy sauce, or keep it simple with just olive oil and spices. Add the mixture into a wrap with some lettuce, tomato, cucumber, dressing or hot sauce, and other veggies or condiments.
6. Salmon Tacos – Skip heavy salsas and taco sauces and make these refreshing tacos for dinner. Use spices and fresh chillis and peppers to get the heat you want and add cooked salmon (cooked in just olive oil), veggies, and low-fat plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. Skip the cheese (you won’t even miss it!).
7. Veggie Burgers – Instead of loading up on heavy beef or turkey burgers, make veggies burgers instead. Mix black beans or tofu with your favorite veggies, spices, and some bread crumbs for a satisfying yet low carb and less filling burger option. Serve it in a lettuce bun for an even lighter meal.
These awesome light dinner options should give you the variety you crave while leaving room to mix and match between meals. Switch up the salads you eat, try meatless tacos, swap the veggies in your stir fry, change out your spices, sauces, or dressings, and make other minor adjustments to keep these meals varied and delicious.