MINI BITES: BEDTIME POPSICLES

Oh bedtimes. Such a sweet, snuggly, and often bananas time of day to unwind, have precious conversations (or answer a million random questions), read books, pray and give 100% attention to the kids. But we all know its one thing to get kids tucked in and another to get them to sleep.

A couple of our babes are particularly challenged (like their mama) in this area so about a year ago, after doing plenty of research (aka, calling my mom + googling), I started giving them and myself small doses of Melatonin – an au naturel supplement that helps you fall asleep. And it’s a God send. Seriously. Except that it’s not meant to take every night. Since we’re trying to ease our way back into a schedule before school starts, I’ve been looking for other ways to naturally help them get sleepy at night and discovered that there are several sleep inducing foods out there.

Bananas, yogurt, almonds, oats, cherries and honey all have nutrients that help you sleep and they all taste delicious together. Or course, piling your favorite ingredients into a snack size parfait before bed would be delish but blending them up and freezing into popsicles would be way more fun!

BEDTIME POPSICLES

• 1 banana (or a little less)
• 1/2 cup pitted cherries (we used frozen)
• 3/4 cup favorite vanilla yogurt (coconut milk yogurt for dairy-free)
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• Honey to taste
• Granola to top

1. Add first four ingredients into a blender and mix together. Add Honey to taste.
2. Pour into popsicle mold (this is our fave) and sprinkle granola over the top. Place in freezer for a few hours until frozen.
3. To make the layered popsicle, blend banana, yogurt, almond milk and honey. Fill molds a little over halfway and freeze. Then blend cherries with a little yogurt, almond milk and honey and add to the molds. Top with granola and freeze. (*makes about 10 large popsicles)

We ate them on kind of a wild night that lacked any routine so they didn’t (and I doubt they will) work as well as Melatonin, but I do think the right kind of snack right before bed makes a big difference!

Have any bedtime tricks up your sleeve, friend?

XO, Rae