Best Foods for Finals Week

Finals week is in full swing and I am sure everyone is reeling of the amount of coffee, energy drinks they are consuming in order to stay up. Instead of resorting to caffeine there are other healthier ways to stay energized and awake to study. Researchers have also found certain goods that can help you concentrate better to get the grade you need. Here are a few tips on how to prepare yourself for finals week:
 
1. Eat small, frequent meals
To keep your blood sugar and energy levels steady you want to eat 5 small meals.

2. Have easy, convenient meal-type foods on hand 
Avoid living entirely on snack foods, as they usually won’t energize you as much as a real meal. Resort to frozen entrees, bean soups, peanut butter and cold cut sandwiches, ready-to-eat tuna and low fat chicken salads and other healthy, convenient foods.

3. Avoid sweets and sugary foods
Choose protein bars that have at least 15 grams of protein to keep your energy going.
  
4. Choose meals and snacks that emphasize protein over carbohydrate
Protein-rich meals and snacks keep your energy. For example, snack on cheese, crackers and skim milk instead of crackers and juice. Top your pasta with grilled chicken strips rather than have pasta and sauce alone.

5. Limit caffeine
As hard as it may be, cut back gradually on your caffeine intake. Try only one cup of coffee and drink tea for the rest of the day. Having too much of anything is never good.

6. Water, water, and more water!
Keep a glass of ice water at your desk to help maintain your energy. Consume water at least every two hours of studying.

7. Avoiding extra, exam-time calories
Don’t bring the snacks to your study place. Eat snacks in the kitchen or another part of your room, away from the desk.
 
Convenient Snacks perfect for studying: 

• A handful of Trail Mix: Look for walnuts, raisins, and dark chocolate and avoid the candy filled mixes
• Greek Yogurt with Berries: Choose low or nonfat yogurt and add the fruit for a filling snack
• Whole Grain Crackers, Oatmeal, or Whole Grain Toast: These carbohydrate options are better then chips or french fries
• Treat yourself with Dark Chocolate and Peanut Butter: The antioxidants in the dark chocolate and the protein in the peanut butter is a better choice than ice cream or cookies. Be careful not to over indulge, make sure this is only a treat.

Read on to learn the best foods to eat for concentration, energy and memory…

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Recommended foods for the best performance:

For more information visit eatright.org/public for tips of the day and current nutrition information.