9 Foods That Will Help You Sleep on a Long Flight
By Zlata Faerman
Photo illustration and design by Lauren DeLuca and Erik Mace for Yahoo Travel.
Traveling anywhere by air can really take a toll on the body. You’re out of your comfort zone, surrounded by strangers, and have completely relinquished control to the pilot of your plane (not an easy feat for many people). The emotional and physical stress of flying — especially long distances — can bring on boredom, dehydration, deep vein thrombosis, sleep deprivation, anxiety, and a host of other uncomfortable developments.
There are certainly ways to help you feel better during your long distance flight. You could try upgrading (use your miles if you can!) for more legroom, reclining chairs, better meals, and entertainment. You should also make sure you’re geared up properly. We’re talking eye masks, earplugs, neck pillows, and noise-canceling headphones. Health-wise, hydration is extremely important, as is walking up and down the aisles to encourage blood flow and keep away deep vein thrombosis.
In addition to the tons of water you should drink on a long flight, eating the right food is just as important — especially foods that help you fall asleep. You shouldn’t necessarily use a long flight as your time to catch up on rest, but sleeping definitely helps the time go by faster and can reenergize you in time for landing. We did some research and talked to experts to put together a list of the best foods to eat on a long flight to help you rest. There are many foods that fit the bill, but it’s not like you can sauté some spinach on a flight from New York to Tokyo, right? Our list contains some of the more easier-to-pack options!
While some of these might seem like no-brainers, culinary expert and ITC Hotels’ corporate chef Manjit Gill has some tips on what to stay away from: coffee, chilled desserts, and raw meals over cooked ones, which are easier to digest. Though this certainly won’t be an issue with airplane food!
From all of us here, safe travels and bon voyage!
Almond Butter
Photo: Thinkstock / Sohadiszno
Almond butter ensures your blood sugar doesn’t get too low. If blood sugar falls significantly, it can disrupt your much-needed sleep. However, the catch is that because it is a kind of paste, it might not pass through TSA, except in small amounts. If you can’t find it at a shop once you’re past security, try eating some on the way to the airport, to get your body relaxed and ready for rest. Better yet, eat two tablespoons of almond butter after resting on a flight, soon after you land, and you’ll feel refreshed.
More from The Daily Meal: Why You Should Order a Bloody Mary on Your Next Flight
Bananas
Photo: Thinkstock / Jupiterimages
Full of serotonin (a neurotransmitter that can trigger sleepiness) and magnesium (which relaxes muscles), bananas are an easy food to pack for your trip. Bananas are commonly used to treat certain sleep disorders and insomnia, and have been found to significantly increase sleep time in addition to helping your body become accustomed to a regular sleep schedule, as potassium helps your muscles relax. Double score!
Chamomile Tea with Honey
Photo: Thinkstock / Mariha-kitchen
Chamomile tea is known for its relaxing effects; it calms nerves and reduces anxiety. But does the honey part surprise you? Louise Hendon, co-founder of Paleo Living Magazine, says that honey often helps people sleep because if blood sugar falls too low, it can disrupt a snooze session. Honey helps to make sure that doesn’t happen. If your airline doesn’t serve honey, ask the Starbucks or any coffee shop in your terminal for as small, to-go packet.
Cherries
Photo Modified: Flickr / Juan Antonio Capó Alonso / CC BY 4.0
These pitted fruits provide naturally occurring melatonin (the regulator of the sleep/wake cycle). You have your choice of eats or drinks with cherries. Pack a plastic baggie full of them, or mix one cup tart cherry juice with two cups sparkling water for a nice spritzer.
Nuts
Photo: Shutterstock / Stasis Photo
Walnuts and almonds are an excellent source of vitamin B6, which is required for the normal production of neurotransmitters and melatonin. Melatonin is the key hormone that helps regulate the sleep/wake cycle. Brian Tanzer, MS, CNS, of The Vitamin Shoppe suggests mixing nuts and seeds into a cup of yogurt, or eating about a third of a cup of the nuts alone.
More from The Daily Meal: 10 Healthy Packed Meals for Your Flight
Oatmeal
Photo: Thinkstock / Magone
It’s not just for breakfast! Shelley Carella, head of community at Yummly, says that a bowl of oatmeal a few hours before you’d like to go to bed can help you sleep through the night, so eat your oats before you go to the airport. Oats contain a good amount of melatonin and tryptophan, and unlike many carbs, they don’t digest quickly enough to make you hungry in the middle of the night. (Which begs the question: How does it make sense that we eat oatmeal for breakfast?!)
Oranges
Photo: Shutterstock / davidsansegundo
According to Dr. Shawn Talbott, nutritional biochemist, oranges and other citrus fruits have been shown to directly stimulate areas of the brain associated with stress resilience. On the biochemical side of stress, oranges contain both vitamin C and flavonoids, which are among the most effective nutrients for reducing concentrations of cortisol, a stress producer. I don’t know about you, but the less stress I’m feeling, the easier it is for me to sleep.
Related: Beating Jet Lag and Travel Exhaustion with Science and Magic
Seeds
Photo: David Swart/Flickr
Sunflower seeds, chia, and sesame seeds contain tryptophan. Mia Russo Stern, CHC, AADP and certified holistic health coach, says that pumpkin seeds also contain magnesium, which is great for sleep and muscles and can create an overall feeling of relaxation.
Warm Milk
Photo: Shutterstock / Dima Sobko
Normally available on all fights, milk has the proper protein-to-carbohydrate ratio to stabilize blood sugar levels, and the calcium it contains induces sleep, according to Dr. Barry Sears, a leading authority in anti-inflammatory nutrition and author of the recently published book The Mediterranean Zone.
More from The Daily Meal:
11 Foods and Drinks to Avoid Before Flying
12 Things to Eat and Drink When Taking a Red-Eye (and 6 Things to Avoid)
Unhealthiest and Healthiest Free Airline Snacks
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