Sleep and Eggplant Cannellini Stew?6/22/21

What do these two things have in common? Maybe, not anything. Let's take a look at the components in Kim's Eggplant and Cannellini Stew recipe and see what we can learn about their health benefits and stumbling blocks. The recipe is at the end of this blog, and so far, all my "recipe guinea pigs" have given it 5 stars. Let me know your thoughts once you give it a whirl.

What do these two things have in common? Maybe, not anything. Let's take a look at the components in Kim's Eggplant and Cannellini Stew recipe and see what we can learn about their health benefits and stumbling blocks. The recipe is at the end of this blog, and so far, all my "recipe guinea pigs" have given it 5 stars. Let me know your thoughts once you give it a whirl.

Sleep is an essential component to health and last night, like many of my nights, I was sleepless. My mother has always been a night owl and at 79 years-old she still sleeps only 4-6 hours a night. I take after my mother, though after having Covid, not once but twice, there are days I sleep for 12-13 hours. My 82-year-old father on the other hand, needs 7-8 hours of sleep a night. According to the National Institution on Aging our sleep need may decrease throughout our lifetime, until around the age of 60. The National Sleep Foundation guidelines recommend people over 65 get 7-8 hours of sleep a night. Who knew we had a national institute that monitored us as we grow old? Not me, but I may still be in denial. I do pitch AARP in the trash.

Back to what "Sleep and Cannellini Stew" have in common. In this case, my sleeplessness gave way to the creation of this new recipe. I was hungry before bed, but nothing sounded good, so I skipped the snack. After tossing and turning until 1:30 am, I gave up and headed to the kitchen. In the heat of the moment...get it heat...kitchen...corny, right..."Oops...I Did It Again” as Britney Spears would say...I scanned the frig, freezer, and pantry to conjure up a new dish. The recipe below is what I conjured. By the time, I finished preparing the stew the wonderful aromas permeated the kitchen. The scents curbed my hunger cravings.

This made me curious about the ingredients and if they could influence sleep or cause restlessness for some reason. So below I have listed the ingredients and what I have discovered.

Eggplant- kitchn suggest that you avoid eggplant due to the fact that it can "cause increased levels of norepinephrine which is a stimulant". I am not a scientist, so this is a foreign language to me, but the term "delayed sleep" is something I live with very often. So, steer clear of eggplant near bedtime and possibly dinnertime.

Onion- Apparently breathing the scent of cut onions acts as a natural sedative. Read more at Fitness Blender. They recommend a bag of cut onions near your bedside, but I must say that a bag of onions in the bedroom really seems like a romance killer. If not the pungent odor, then the affect of the "aroma" of onion could have on you and your partner. You may both fall fast asleep before the romance has an opportunity to blossom.

Celery- Is a low-calorie veggie filled with water. Not recommended before sleep, otherwise you may wake for those disruptive bathroom trips. Let's skip it and watermelon before bed.

Tomatoes- This is one of my favorite foods! I can't imagine a life without tomatoes. However, they stimulate the brain and can trigger migraines, both of which can delay or hinder sleep according to articles in Runners World and the Valley Sleep Center. The good news is that the natural amino acids in tomatoes may help control blood pressure, which is one of my health issues.

Broccoli- There are so many great benefits to fibrous veggies like broccoli, but easy digestion is not one of them. We all know that kind of discomfort at bedtime! It does contain tryptophan which helps our bodies produce amino acids that produce the sleep inducing serotonin, so Prevention recommends not eating right before bed but instead a couple of hours prior to trying to drift off to sleep.

Garlic- My husband has complained for years that garlic keeps him awake. Well, there is a reason. According tosuperfoodsrx , "The veggie’s hot and spicy properties work to intensify salivary flow and gastric juice secretion." They recommend eating garlic for breakfast or lunch, rather than dinner.

Red Pepper Flakes and Cannellini Beans- Need I say more? If so, please leave your comments for others to read.

Here is the recipe. I would not suggest eating this prior to bed. It is probably better served for lunch and an afternoon snack. However, if you cook it at night, the aroma of the onions may help induce sleep. Enjoy and tell me more about your sleep experiences and this recipe.

Kim's Eggplant and Cannellini Stew

1 Eggplant (cubed in 1” squares)

2-3 Celery Stalks (chunky slices)

1 Sweet onion (chunky slices)

3 medium Garlic Cloves (finely chopped)

1 tsp. Red Pepper Flakes

4-6 Tbs. Olive Oil

Sautee the above items for 3-4 minutes. Stirring as needed. The oil will be absorbed. Then add:

32 OZ. Chicken Broth

1 15-16 oz. Cannellini Beans (canned and drained)

1 ½ Tbs. Herbs of Province

1 tsp. Black Pepper

1 tsp. Salt

Simmer for 3-4 minutes. Place the above mixture in a slow cooker. Add:

3 Chicken Bouillon Cubes

12-15 Sweet Petite Tomatoes (whole)

12 oz. Broccoli (frozen chopped or baby florets)

Place your slow cooker on high for 4-6 hours. Before letting it sit make certain the frozen broccoli is thawed and stirred into the stew.

To serve you can add some chopped green onion for some crunch and fresh flavor, plus some almond Blue Diamond Nut-Thins plain, cheese, or your preferred flavor crackers.

#sleep #lowcalorie #healthy #recipes #senior #soup