Somehow, the time has snuck up on me, and it’s already December. The semester is coming to an end along with this unforgettable year. I think I can speak for everyone when I say this semester ended up not being how I initially envisioned it.
It’s been a tough semester, but we are almost done. No matter how it has looked for you, you’ve made it this far, and I am so proud of you. This semester, and year really, has brought out such strength and resilience in everyone. Even on days where it feels like it’s hard to get out of bed, you are doing your best, and I’m proud of you.
With finals around the corner, I’ve found that my anxiety and stress levels are increasing. Some peers of mine have expressed this as well. It is easy to forget to take care of ourselves during these times. While it is important to get our work done, it is also important to take care of ourselves and really practice self-love. It is hard for our bodies to function to the best of their abilities if we are not taking care of it. With that being said, it is also hard to get quality work done while also having a good quality of life if we are not being kind to ourselves and ignoring our body’s needs.
So please, as we start finals, remember that you matter too. Remember to get an adequate amount of sleep. Remember to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Remember to move! It’s easy to spend the entire day inside, sitting and working on assignments, especially during finals season. But please, remember to take a moment to stretch, go outside, and take a walk. Try to take a moment out of your day to do something that brings you peace and makes you feel alive. It doesn’t have to be something grand; the little things count too.
With that being said, I wanted to reemphasize that it is important to keep our bodies healthy and nourished. It is through nourishing our bodies that we keep ourselves alert, energized, and concentrated. Without this, it is easy to lose energy and motivation for our schoolwork, especially during finals season. Having a snack is a great way to help with this! It acts as a healthy alternative to coffee or an energy drink – plus, it’s yummy too! According to National American University in Canada, trail mix is one of the best “brain foods” to help with studying. It helps give energy and is filled with antioxidants, fiber, and healthy fats.
Here are two recipes for trail mix to munch on while studying! These recipes were taken from The Healthy Maven and Chrissy Carroll. Links to their original recipes are embedded below.
Enjoy and good luck with your final exams!
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“HEALTHY TRAIL MIX”
Courtesy of: The Healthy Maven
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups raw nuts i.e. almonds, pecans, cashews, peanuts etc..
1 cup raw seeds i.e. sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds etc…
1 cup unsweetened, unsulphured dried fruit
Fun stuff (amounts vary) i.e. 1/2 cup chopped dark chocolate, 1 cup popped popcorn, 1 cup pretzels etc..
Spice i.e. 1/4 tsp sea salt, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, a pinch of nutmeg (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.
Store in a Ziploc bag or mason jar.
Will keep for up to 1 month.
Optional: If you really need the extra sweetness, you can coat the mix with 2 T maple syrup, spread it out on a baking sheet, and allow it to dry before bagging.
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Nuts are a common ingredient found in a trail mix. Thankfully for those with nut allergies, there are alternatives! The following recipe is dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free, and vegan!
“MAPLE GLAZED NUT-FREE TRAIL MIX”
Courtesy of: Chrissy Carroll
INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup shelled pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup roasted shelled sunflower seeds
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/3 cup golden raisins
6 dried apricots, chopped into smaller pieces
1/4 cup allergen-free chocolate chips or chunks
INSTRUCTIONS
Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
Add the maple syrup to a small pot over medium heat. When it starts to bubble, stir in the salt and pumpkin pie spice. Reduce heat to medium-low, and add the pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds.
Continue to cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring often. Be sure to watch this closely as it’s a fine line between a nice maple coating and burning the mix. When there appears to be no more “extra” syrup in the pot and everything is sticking to the seeds, remove from heat and pour the mixture onto the parchment paper. Let cool.
Once cool, the seeds should have a firm glaze on the outside. Break apart any clusters as needed and mix in a bowl with the remainder of the ingredients.
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Bibliography
Carroll, Chrissy. “Maple Glazed Nut-Free Trail Mix (Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Vegan).” Dairy Free for Baby, 8 Sept. 2019, dairyfreeforbaby.com/nut-free-trail-mix/.
Lederle, Davida. “How To Build a Healthy Trail Mix.” The Healthy Maven, 11 Apr. 2019, www.thehealthymaven.com/how-to-build-a-healthy-trail-mix/.
Online, NAU Canada. “The 10 Best Brain Food Snacks for Studying.” NAU, 13 Apr. 2018, canada.national.edu/the-10-best-brain-food-snacks-for-studying/.