It’s been widely reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that 1 in 3 adults don’t get enough sleep. If you’re a part of the US workforce, this probably doesn’t come as a surprise to you. A good night’s rest can be so hard to come by with the hustle and bustle of modern life. Luckily, we have the recipe for a sleep remedy you never knew you needed: white night insomnia cookies.
In order to get into why you need these cookies before bed tonight, let’s get into the basics. Lack of sleep is detrimental to your short-term (and long-term!) health by making you irritable, tired, and unable to focus during the day. According to the CDC report, “Sleeping less than seven hours per day is associated with an increased risk of developing chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and frequent mental distress.” Not getting enough rest can not only greatly impact your body in innumerable ways, but your personal, social and work life as well.
To gain some sort of reality check, ask yourself a few questions. 1) Do I wake up feeling like I lack the energy to take on the day? 2) Do I have trouble focusing, remembering, and concentrating on what I need to do at work? 3) Have I been feeling moody in ways out of my control? If any of your answers to these are “yes”, then maybe it is time to stop counting sheep and take the first steps towards bettering your sleep health.
One of the biggest factors for your sleep is your lifestyle. Believe it or not, what (and when) you eat before bed can disrupt your sleep in ways you’ll deeply feel in the morning. Tossing? Turning? It could’ve been something you ate. Studies have long disproven the notion that it’s unhealthy to eat before bed, so the issue here isn’t the time frame. Some foods, like bananas, almonds, peanut butter, and other healthy carbs are generally low-calorie sleep aides that are never a bad idea. However, it’s generally suggested that you avoid any sugar, caffeine, and spicy foods before bed. Making sure your body gets the nourishments it needs will lead to much better shut eye.
Your body not only deserves the right nourishment, it deserves the right mattress, too. It goes without saying that the type of mattress you sleep on is vital to the body relaxing enough to reach deeper, sounder sleep. If there’s anywhere you should consider investing, let it be the place you rest every night. The journey to the perfect mattress may seem daunting, but there are plenty of helpful guides online that will help you make the right decision. There are a lot of factors that go into finding the mattress right for you – like weight, preferred sleep position, mattress lifespan, type and material, and budget – and it’s important to consider every single aspect before making the commitment.
If you feel like no matter what you do you can’t get enough sleep, take some steps towards bettering your lifestyle. By swapping out unhealthy habits for new and improved ones, you’ll first notice the effects on your sleep. It’s a given that we all reach for a nightcap of our choice, but if you’re not careful, it might lead to another sleepless night. Many of us believe that a drink before bed helps us sleep better, but studies show that may not be true. Alcohol in the bloodstream disrupts the sleep cycle, lessening the time spent in REM sleep (the deep, highly restorative sleep so hard to come by). What could help you catch a few ZZZ’s better than a glass of wine? Cookies!
These insomnia cookies are not only chewy, warm and exquisite, they are also packed with nutrients that will help you get a good night’s rest. Consider the carbs and proteins in this recipe your fairy godmothers of sleep. The star of the recipe is tryptophan (also found in turkey), an animo acid that is used in the body’s production of serotonin, which helps regulate your level of melatonin. Any recipe with this amino acid, as well as healthy carbs to balance it out, will lead to deeper, more restful sleep.
If you’re looking for ways to improve your sleep, you’ve found the perfect first step towards the beauty rest you’ve been missing. Set aside the technology screens, put down the glass of wine, and pick up a baking pan. You won’t believe how restful you’ll feel in the morning after indulging in these delicious cookies.
White Night Insomnia Cookie Recipe
Prep time: 10 min + Cook time: 20 min = Total time: 30 min
Ingredients you need:
- 1/4 cup coconut oil melted
- 1/2 cup plain greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup pitted dates (soft)
- 1 egg
- 1-2 tbsp honey
- 3/4 cups spelt flour
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 cup flax seed
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- 1/8 tsp cardamom
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/3 cup dried cherries
- 1/4 cup white chocolate chunks
You may find useful:
- Measuring cups
- Blender
- Mixing bowl
- Rubber spatula
- Parchment paper
- Cookie sheet
- Cooling rack
How do you make the perfect insomnia cookie? Check out this recipe below:
- Preheat the oven or toaster oven to 350 degrees F.
- Combine all wet ingredients, including dates, in the blender and blend until smooth.
- Combine all dry ingredients including walnuts, flax seed, and cherries in a large mixing bowl.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients to form dough.
- Fold in white chocolate chunks.
- Scoop about 2 tbs of dough and place on parchment-lined cookie sheets. Press down dough with your fingers to about ½ inch thick rounds.
- Place in oven and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let cool on cooling rack.
Insomnia Cookies
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1/2 cup plain greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup pitted dates (soft)
- 1 egg
- 1/2 Tbsp. honey
- 3/4 cup spelt flour
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 cup flax seed
- 1/4 tsp. sea salt
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. ground ginger
- 1/8 tsp. cardamom
- 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
- 1/3 cup dried cherries
- 1/4 cup white chocolate chunks
Preheat the oven or toaster oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine all wet ingredients, including dates, in the blender and blend until smooth.
Combine all dry ingredients including walnuts, flax seed, and cherries in a large mixing bowl.
Combine wet and dry ingredients to form dough.
Fold in white chocolate chunks.
Scoop about 2 tbs of dough and place on parchment-lined cookie sheets. Press down dough with your fingers to about ½ inch thick rounds.
Place in oven and bake for 20 minutes.
Remove from oven and let cool on cooling rack.
Delight in these cookies with a warm cup of tea before bed and you’ll find all those ZZZ’s you were missing. Have a good night’s rest tonight–you deserve it.
279 Shares