Super Bowl Sunday: a day of celebration and indigestion, a joyous combination of football, friends, and of course–food. Here is Social Grocery’s low down on the Super Bowl Snackdown!
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If you read my post yesterday, you would know that I”m not the best sleeper. I”ve tried many things and nothing has seemed to work. If you can relate, don”t lose hope! I”ve done my research and found four new things to try that will hopefully ease our sleeping issues so we can finally get some well-deserved snooze time.
HAVE A SNACK
Okay, I know what you must be thinking, and no I am not saying to eat a huge meal before bed. The truth is that foods that are high on the glycemic index (foods that raise your blood sugar levels) can help make you sleepy. Such foods include french bread, saltine crackers, mashed potatoes, watermelon and honey. So next time you lather up that baguette with honey while watching your favorite evening drama, don”t feel so bad. Your body will thank you later!
AROMATHERAPY
Aromatherapy. When I think of aromatherapy, I think of those fancy bath salts and soaps — not so much my sleeping patterns. But it”s true. Lavender is used as a way to help people relax before bedtime. So next time you”re feeling the need for sleep, add some lavender to your nighttime bath. Or perhaps buy a lavender air freshener. You can also look into lavender herbal pillows.
YOGA / DEEP BREATHING
By practicing yoga, you help to eliminate stress levels in your body. The relaxation that comes from yoga is helpful when its time to hit the hay. In addition, deep breathing before bedtime can also help put your body and mind into a relaxing state. If you”re not a yoga fan, even slight meditation or counting down (yes, count your sheep!) before bed are good practices to experiment with.
RELAXING MUSIC
I will admit, I have used this remedy before and it”s definitely worked for me. And no, it doesn”t need to be classical music. But listening to a soothing playlist definitely helps calm your nerves and slowly drift into dreamland. I personally enjoy listening to a little Mumford & Sons, Brandi Carlile and Adele before bed. It all depends on your tastes, but definitely worth a try!
Hopefully these few tips will help us all get a little extra snooze. If not, there”s always night caps and sleeping masks. To each his own!
What”s your before-bed routine? Share with us:
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Are you familiar with this scene? I would be lying if I said I didn”t feel like this practically everyday. I”ve never been the best sleeper — but it”s the worst when you actually do get a full night”s sleep and you still feel like a dead weight. All. Day. And as much as I love my coffee, I can”t drink it all day, every day. I mean, as delicious as an all-coffee diet sounds, that whole “UNHEALTHY” neon sign is blinking in my brain. Nice thought, though.
The problem is that while we may get enough sleep at night (or not), we still have to take care of ourselves during the day. This means eating right and not skipping meals. I”m not sure about you, but it”s unlikely that I ever take the time to actually eat breakfast each day — more than likely I”m running out the door or I”m just too exhausted (see above) to even move, let alone make a meal.
To get your body started off on the right track, start your day off with a quick breakfast — like a whole-grain cereal with milk or a low fat yogurt with fresh fruit. Eating as you start off the day helps boost your metabolism (common sense, right?), so try not to skip it, if possible. Apples or grapes are a great on-the-go breakfast if you don”t have time to sit down and enjoy. In addition, if you can go without it, try to switch out your AM coffee for green tea, instead. If you can”t imagine giving up the java altogether (I”m not strong enough, either) maybe switch out your second and third cups for green tea, instead.
If you start to feel tired before lunchtime, have a snack! It is recommended that we snack between meals — this doesn”t mean having 5 meals a day, but keeping your body fueled and energized. Great between-meal snacks are things like almonds, fresh fruit, salsa and chips, cottage cheese and whole-grain crackers, celery with peanut butter, etc. Also, don”t forget to stay hydrated! Water is your best friend. Literally.
By eating a great breakfast and fueling up between mealtimes, our body should get that extra boost it needs — without the need for excessive energy (such as coffee, energy drinks). This way, your body can energize itself naturally without the caffeine crash, which means a happier you and less headache. Sign me up!
What”s your favorite energizing breakfast? Share with us:
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You know the essentials. Flashlights, batteries, first aid kits, blankets, rain gear, canned goods, water — a gallon per person, per day, etc. Just Google “Hurricane Preparation” and you”ll find dozens of checklists for this sort of thing.
What you might not necessarily find, if not looking hard enough, is GOOD hurricane essentials. Yeah, we”re talking snacks. Let”s not forget we”re all about food here — personally, if this weekend I”m stuck at home in my basement braving the storm, I”m going to be cranky enough. That being said, snacks are essential for mood lifting and some sort of comfort in not-so-desirable situations. Anything helps!
That being said, here are 3 items I know I”ll be stocking up on this weekend.
BEEF JERKY
Oh yeah. Beef jerky is one of those snacks that once you start, you can”t stop. There is no such thing as just ONE piece of beef jerky. More like the whole bag! My personal favorite is peppered, but teriyaki comes in for a close second. Beef jerky is also a good source of protein, which is fabulous for days where you”re not going to be grilling up chicken for dinner.
Explore the beef jerky varieties we have available on Social Grocery! (You know you”re curious now.)
SEEDS & NUTS
Don”t underestimate a good handful of almonds! Pumpkin seeds, anyone? Sunflower seeds? Or maybe you”re more of a peanut person. Shelled or non-shelled? So many types, so little time! Nuts are full of nutrients — fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, etc. It depends on the nut, but overall they are a better choice than something such as chips. Munch on!
Check out all of our nuts and seeds on Social Grocery — it”ll blow your mind!
TRAIL MIX & MEAL BARS
I”ve always been a sucker for trail mix. Recently, I have also become a fan of nutritional bars such as Clif Bars, Luna Bars, Larabars, etc. The thing that”s great about trail mix and bars is that they”re extremely satisfying and keep you full — perfect for times when you”re limited on food supplies. Not to mention, you can make your own trail mix catered to your tastes. Chex mix, anyone? Who doesn”t love that?
Take a peek at our trail mixes and bars on Social Grocery — we”re all about eating smart (sometimes).
Have a different suggestion? What will you be stocking up on this weekend?
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