Tag: parent

Top 5 Foods for a Good Night’s Sleep

| February 15, 2013

Waitrose Bananas

Waitrose Bananas

As a parent I count my blessings each time I get a full night’s sleep, it’s enough to make me want to jump out of bed with joy in the morning. If my toddler doesn’t wake me then I’m usually lucky enough to sleep through the night. But on occasion when I just can’t drift into a slumber, whether for reasons of stress or just a plain old inability to sleep, I turn to natural foods to assist.

There are some simply brilliant foods to help induce Zzz’s. These foods contain tryptophan which converts to serotonin and melatonin, the brain’s key calming chemicals. Serotonin promotes calm and melatonin helps to cause drowsiness and lower body temperature for a restful sleep. The perfect package for shut-eye.

I recommend trying one or two of these foods 90 minutes before you plan to close your eyes so your digestive system has time to process what you eat before slumber. It’s always a good idea to avoid caffeine and alcohol at least four hours before sleep and don’t go to bed when you’re either hungry or full as this will contribute to a disrupted night’s sleep.

Top 5 Foods for a Good Night’s Sleep

1. Bananas
High in serotonin and melatonin, bananas also contain potassium and magnesium which is a muscle relaxant.

2. Oatmeal
A small bowl of oatmeal contains melatonin and complex carbohydrates which can help more tryptophan get into the brain. Topped with some warm milk this is a healthy source of comfort food and if you’re slightly peckish it will keep those hunger pangs at bay.

3. Almonds
A handful of almonds contains tryptophan and magnesium to relax muscles.

4. Low-fat Cottage Cheese
Low-fat cottage cheese contains tryptophan and is a lean source of protein that will help keep your blood sugar regulated throughout the night.

5. Flaxseed
Known for their mood lifting properties. Sprinkle a couple of teaspoons of flaxseed on a small bowl of oatmeal or on a portion of low-fat cottage cheese.

If you feel like a warm drink before bed a cup of chamomile tea can help to promote calm thanks to chamomile’s natural soothing properties. If you want something a little richer a glass of warm milk contains tryptophan and calcium, known to reduce stress and stabilise nerve fibres.

Take your pick from these Top 5 Foods and see what works best for you.

Most importantly, don’t stress about not sleeping. Having a regular routine before bed will help to get your mind and body in the mood for sleep. A warm bath with some relaxing aromatherapy oils and reading a good book before bed contribute to winding down and preparing for rest.

Big Questions From Little People

| October 10, 2012

Big Questions from Little People

Little People ask some very Big Questions!

Here’s a wonderful new book, in aid of the NSPCC. For each book sold a minimum of 67% of net royalty income is donated to the NSPCC.

It’s a delightful compilation of over 100 Big Questions from children aged 5 to 12 years old with answers to these challenging questions by some very Big People. Brilliant!

Compiled by Gemma Elwin Harris this excellent book provides answers to some of life’s big questions.

The answers come from renowned experts such as Sir David Attenborough, Bear Grylls, Dr Richard Dawkins, Kate Humble and Dame Jacqueline Wilson to name a few.

Every parent should have a copy of this book.

These questions are going to pop up and if you didn’t already know the answer to your child’s inquisitive question, you now can!

Every answer to every question is written simply and concisely, making it a joy to explain to your children.

Some of my favourite Big Questions from the book –

  • Can a bee sting a bee?
  • How are dreams made?
  • Why is the sky blue?
  • Why is the sea salty?
  • How do you fall in love?

Big Questions Infographic

Created by Faber and Faber for the book Big Questions From Little People. INFOGRAPHIC: What Big Questions are on Your Child’s Mind?

Big Questions From Little People can be purchased online from Amazonand you can find out more about this book published by Faber at Big Questions From Little People.

Follow Big Questions From Little People on Twitter and join them on Facebook.

Riverford Veg Box Chooser

| August 29, 2012

If you’re like most parents, time is something you simply don’t have enough of. And feeding your family with the best, most nutritious foods will be a priority for their health and wellbeing.

Instead of spending your time shopping at the supermarket with babies and toddlers in tow, you can quickly order your weekly Fruit, Veg, Dairy and Meat online from Riverford and have it delivered to your door.

Quickly choose the right sized organic veg box for your family with the new Riverford Veg Box Chooser. Just select your answers to these easy questions ‘how many people you are feeding’ and ‘how many times a week you cook’ and the right Veg Box will be conveniently chosen for you.

You can include delicious, fresh and organic Fruit and organic Meat in your Riverford order. There are also Dairy Products and everything else you need for healthy and tasty meals in the Riverford Shop.

Find out how much we enjoyed our Riverford Veg Box.

Riverford Veg Box