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Halloween Sleepy Food Ideas To Get Your Children Sleeping Well

by Baby Sleep Coach | Oct 30, 2021 | Food and sleep

As Halloween approaches, parents everywhere may be wondering how with all the Halloween Treats they can still trick their little one into going to bed at a reasonable time.

Whilst planning earlier Halloween activities such as an afternoon Halloween party instead of a nighttime chocolate feast is a good idea if you’ve got little ones – this isn’t always possible, especially if your toddler has older siblings. We have listed some of our favourite sleep-inducing foods but with a spooky twist to let the kids join in the fun (but until a reasonable time!).

The important thing is to have fun like one night of sugar-fuelled sleep issues won’t affect your routine as long as you pick it up the next day.
The recipes below include foods that increase the production of sleep-inducing hormones. You can read more about these on our Foods and the full list of foods that Promote Sleep Blog here.

Now, onto our spooktacular Sleepy Halloween Treats:

halloween pancakes sleepy food to help kids sleep

Spooky Sleepy Banana Pancakes

Our banana and oat pancakes are a spooktacular way to include melatonin in your little one’s meal. The most important thing to remember is that – pancakes aren’t just for breakfast! These make a great, healthy dessert or Halloween treat. They can be whipped up easily within 15 minutes by an adult or it’s a great task to include your baby or toddler in as a messy play or learning experience – depending on their age!

Ingredients (to make enough for 1 adult and 1 little!):

2 ripe bananas
2 Eggs
8 TBSP or ½ Cup of rolled oats
½ TSP baking powder
Cherries as a melatonin rich addition (optional)
Cherry jam to drizzle (optional)

Treat Tip: If your child is a little older, consider whether to use chocolate chips as the ‘eyes’ of the ghost – but don’t forget your cherries for the mouth and drizzle to keep that sleepy secret sauce!

Method:

Mash up the bananas in a bowl with either a fruit masher or the back of a fork.
Tip: This is a great part for your little one to help with.

Whisk the 2 eggs together and add to your bananas. Continue to mix well until they have formed one mixture.
Tip: If you’re trying to be quick then you can add all the ingredients to a blender or hand blend!

Heat up your pan with a little oil on a medium high heat.

Add the rolled oats and the baking powder, mix well and then stand for a few minutes minutes to thicken.

Turn the pan to a medium heat and ladle/spoon the pancake mixture into the pan. Try to make some ghoulish shapes!

Cook for few minutes on medium heat.

Flip the pancakes and cook for a further few minutes.

Serve up, don’t forget to get creative with the fruit, jam, dessert sauce, chocolate chips or whatever you and your family are using.

Let us know how it goes with a photo in the comments!

halloween green smoothie food to help child sleep

Green Sleeping Potion Smoothie

This one is a super easy win and filled with fantastic nutrients! If your little one is old enough to participate in some imaginary play you could pretend you are making a magical potion together.

All you need is:

1 Banana

Ice cubes

A handful of Kale

1 ripe Avocado

Fresh orange juice (add to correct consistency)

Method:

Put all the ingredients into your magic cauldron (or a blender if you don’t have a cauldron!) and blend until it is a smooth, green consistency. The avocado should make the potion smooth but if it’s too ‘green’ for your children, add some more orange juice.

Spiderlicious Ice Cream

4 ripe bananas (the riper they are, they sweeter they will be) cut into round slices, frozen.

2/3 cup full-fat coconut milk or unsweetened almond milk
2 cups loosely packed baby spinach or to taste

Blend together the coconut milk / unsweetened almond milk and the baby spinach.

Once your have the spinach-puree, add the frozen bananas in and blend again until it reaches the desired consistency.

Enjoy immediately or put into a loaf tin or similar, tightly sealed and into the freezer.

edamame dip sleepy food for halloween to help kids sleep

Edamame Dip With Carrot Sticks

12 oz edamame frozen or fresh, shelled

1 lemon just the juice

1 clove garlic

1/4 tsp cumin ground

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/4-1/3 cup olive oil

Method:

Fill a saucepan with boiling water. Add frozen edamame to the water and boil for 4-5 minutes. Drain and allow to cool.

In the bowl of a food processor, add edamame, garlic, cumin, salt, pepper and lemon juice. Turn on the machine and process for 2 minutes.

Scrape down the sides of the processor bowl and turn machine on again. With the machine still running, slowly stream in olive oil through the feed tube. Check for consistency and seasoning.

You may top with a bit more olive oil, lemon juice and a sprinkling paprika if desired. Serve alongside fresh veggies, slices of pitta bread, breadsticks or some tortilla crisps for older children.

Turkey Meatballs That Will Make Your Child Sleep

ground turkey
rolled oats
onion powder
garlic powder
dried parsley
dried basil
dried oregano
salt
pepper
egg

Method:

Preheat oven at 400F (200 C) or pop then in air fryer for 20 minutes.

Mix all the ingredients together and shape them mixture into balls.

Place them on a baking tray and bake in preheated oven or fry them in your air fryer.

You can add grated courgettes to hide some extra veg into you child’s food.

We hope the recipes above help you have a few Spooky but Sleepy treats this Halloween! Remember, it’s important not to put too much pressure on yourself to stick to bedtime routines on one off instances like these. Whilst our sleep routines are important, so are the memories we create together on special occasions. If you’re going to visit family this Halloween and your child will be sleeping elsewhere, don’t forget to check out our blog on How To Get Your Baby To Sleep Whilst Travelling.

Have you downloaded your freebie yet? Top 10 Baby Sleep Coach Tips To Help Your Baby Sleep Better Guide! If not, then make sure to click here.

For more advice on how to help your baby sleep and find a baby sleep solution that works for you and your family, you can check out our 1 : 1 consultation services or our new baby sleep guides which come with free access to my Sleepy Village Facebook community for easy access to get your questions answered.

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