25 Healthy Foods to Eat at Night

You may know tryptophan as the compound in turkey responsible for making you want to take a big ol' nap after polishing off your second plate at Thanksgiving dinner, but walnuts are also high in melatonin. Pop a handful before bed to help you fall asleep peacefully.

Ginger is a powerful digestive aid, known for naturally relieving an upset stomach and easing nausea. The best way to enjoy ginger before bed is by making this zingy root into a stomach-settling tea.

Bananas are rich in both potassium and magnesium. Because they work together, both of these minerals are known for helping the body relax; a key ingredient for a good night's sleep. Grab a banana before bed or blend up this healthy smoothie.

Avocados not only provide a couple of the sleep-promoting compounds we've already covered, tryptophan and magnesium, they are also a filling source of healthy fats. You don't need much, though – about 1/2 of an avocado sprinkled with pumpkin seeds or smeared on a slice of whole grain bread will have your head hitting the pillow in no time.

Spinach before bed? Hear me out before you judge. Spinach is another food that is jam-packed with the natural sleep aids potassium and magnesium. Pop a few baked spinach chips before hitting the hay or add spinach to a before-bed smoothie.

Cherries are more than just an ice cream sundae topping! Studies have actually shown that sipping tart cherry juice (available at most grocery and health food stores) can increase both the duration and quality of sleep thanks to its high levels of melatonin and tryptophan.

Fish like salmon and tuna not only provide a hearty dose of tryptophan, they are also high in vitamin B6, which helps the body to make serotonin. If salmon isn't your idea of a snack, try adding salmon and broccoli to your dinner a couple nights a week to improve sleep quality.

Similar to whole grain crackers, whole grain bread also delivers vitamin B6 and magnesium, to help relax the body and increase production of melatonin. Try a slice of 100 percent whole grain bread with a tablespoon of peanut butter or mashed avocado to boost the combined power of these foods.

Just to be clear, I'm not talking about a bowl of fruity marshmallow cereal before bed. A 100 percent whole grain cereal, like Kashi 7 Whole Grain Puffs Cereal with a splash of milk delivers the perfect combination of ingredients for a good night's sleep.

Whole grains to the rescue once again! Oats aren't only a nutritious breakfast food, they may actually help you sleep better, too. Like other whole grains, oats are a complex carbohydrate, meaning they digest more slowly and help to keep middle-of-the-night munchies at bay. The complex carbs in oats also stimulate the release of serotonin, helping you to feel relaxed before you tuck yourself in for the night.

Who doesn't like a little candy before bed? Dark chocolate is rich in magnesium, so indulging in a small square before bed may help you to relax. Keep the portion size small, though, because too much of the naturally-occurring caffeine in chocolate might make it difficult to fall asleep.

Pomegranate juice is one of the few food sources of melatonin. If you've ever taken melatonin to help you sleep, you may try sipping a glass of pomegranate juice before bed instead.