Sleep is something we all need, and if you don’t get enough of it, or the quality of your sleep isn’t very good, you’re going to have a bad time. You’re probably familiar with some activities that affect your sleep, like drinking alcohol or looking at bright screens before going to bed, but there’s one factor you might not be aware of – eating foods that are bad for your sleep. If you’re a person who just needs to have their midnight snack before hitting the sack, try sticking to these foods for better-quality sleep.

Cherries

Cherries might invoke connotations of love and passion, but there’s another thing they’re good for – putting you to sleep. Cherries contain melatonin, the chemical known for its sleep-regulating powers. However, not any old cherry will do. You should try to avoid sweeter varieties of this fruit, like maraschino cherries, and go for those that are more tart. While you should be okay to eat cherry-based products rather than the fruit itself, avoid anything with too much sugar, such as jelly.

Turkey

As you’ve probably noticed during Thanksgiving, turkey has magic, sleep-inducing powers. Okay, it isn’t really magic. Rather, this poultry meat contains a mighty amount of tryptophan, helping your brain produce serotonin and melatonin, which aids your body in getting to sleep. No need to eat turkey on its own, either, because the carbohydrates in whole-grain bread also contain some of that sweet, sweet tryptophan. Turkey sandwiches, anyone?

Cereal and Milk

Wait, isn’t cereal meant for the morning? While you might be used to starting your day with a big bowl of corn flakes, you should also be fine ending your day with one, as the carbs in cereal can help you get to sleep sooner. Milk, too, contains tryptophan, making it the perfect sidekick to this before-bed snack. However, you should be a little judicious in the type of cereal you eat, so avoid those sugar-packed kids’ cereals that might cause fitful sleep.

Jasmine Rice

A bowl of jasmine rice might not sound like the most appealing late-night snack, but it’s a sure bet if you’re trying to get to sleep. Jasmine rice in particular, is a high-glycemic food, meaning that your body takes longer to digest it, releasing sugar into your bloodstream more slowly than other foods. Studies have shown that eating jasmine rice a few hours before bed can cause some people to fall asleep much more easily than others. That’s something to keep in mind if you often find yourself tossing and turning while trying to get some shut-eye.

_{[Image via Getty]}