Sleep is a very important part of our life. It improves our mood and concentration, and increases energy and happiness. Everyone may experience some night’s where it is anything but restful. But if it happens often, it can have a negative impact our health. The good news is there are many healthy sleep habits you can start to practice to help you get more restful sleep.
If you are having trouble falling or staying asleep, here are a few things you can try:
1. Create a relaxing bedtime routine. Relaxing activities include reading a book, taking a warm bath, listening to a podcast or nature sounds, meditating, etc. Try one of these to help you wind down and drift off.
2. Keep your room cool and comfortable. A room that is cool, dark, and quiet is perfect for healthy, restful sleep. Be sure that your mattress and pillows are comfy as well to help your body to relax.
3. Limit caffeine late in the day. Coffee may be your afternoon go-to pick-me-up. However, caffeine in coffee, non-herbal tea, soda and chocolate contain stimulants which may keep you up. Try to avoid these items at least 6 hours before bedtime.
4. Aim to get to bed and wake up at the same time. This includes the weekend! Having consistent times to wind down and rise help you body adjust to a routine. This may even include avoiding your naps in the day to help it stick to these times.
Information gathered & adapted from:
https://headspace.org.au/assets/Factsheets/HSP225-Sleep-Fact-Sheet-DP3.pdf
Easy Banana Bread
Servings: 8
Ingredients
1/2 cup butter, salted or unsalted
1 cup sugar, granulated
2 eggs, beaten
4 bananas, finely mashed
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preparation
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and butter a 4×8-inch loaf pan
2. Cream together the butter and sugar in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, mash the bananas and eggs. Combine the mashed banana and eggs well with the creamed butter and sugar.
3. Sift together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to large bowl of the combined mixture. Lastly, add in the vanilla extract and stir until combined.
4. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
5. Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, or until a tester inserted into the middle of the loaf comes out clean.
6. Remove from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 2-3 minutes. Remove the banana bread from the pan and let it cool completely before serving. Tip: Use a bread knife to prevent your slices from becoming crumbly.
Serving Size: 1 slice
Nutrition Information per Serving: 12.9 grams total fat, 7.6 grams of saturated fat, 53.2 grams carbohydrate, 2.1 grams fiber, 4.5 grams protein, 167.5 milligrams sodium, 31.2 grams sugar
Recipe adapted from:
https://cookeatshare.com/recipes/easy-banana-bread-719687
