I’m a Registered Dietitian and I Sip This Cozy Drink Before Bed Every Night (No, It’s Not Tea)

Maybe it doesn’t surprise you that about one third of adults aren’t getting the recommended nightly minimum of seven hours of sleep. Or maybe it does, but only because you expected that number to be higher. It didn’t surprise me because, until recently, I was one of them.

I would consistently get around six hours a night and, although I felt sluggish during the day, I was still accomplishing everything on my to-do list. I thought sleeping less was part of adulthood. (It’s not, by the way.) But after two-ish years, I grew tired of feeling tired and decided to give those sleepless nights a rest.

That meant taking my sleep hygiene more seriously and making a few changes to my routine. I started setting aside time to wind down in the evening and minimizing my nightly screen time. I also replaced my requisite glass of wine (which, coincidentally, can also disrupt sleep) with this soothing berry- and lavender-flavored milk.

I discovered Clover Sonoma’s moon milk just over five months ago and it’s become a mainstay in my — and my husband’s — nightly ritual. The lavender-hued milk tastes slightly sweet with a hint of honey, blueberry, and lavender. It’s made with ingredients that naturally promote relaxation, like lavender oil, but mostly I find it to be an incredibly cozy drink when warmed up.

Once our daughter falls asleep around 7:30, my husband and I change into our pajamas and sink into the couch to catch up and watch reality TV while sipping mugs of the warm milk. After our episode is over and our mugs are empty, we turn off the TV, spend the rest of the night relaxing (without screens!), and then crawl into bed by 10.

Since changing my pre-bedtime routine, I’ve been sleeping between seven and eight hours every night. Who knows how much of that is due to the milk, but I’ll still gladly drink to that.

Buy: Clover Sonoma Blue Moon Blueberry Lavender Milk, $5.99 for 1 quart at Amazon

What are your favorite pre-bedtime drinks? Tell us about it in the comments.