With the finals approaching, the last thing we have on our minds is worrying about a healthy diet or cooking. However, research has shown that following a healthy and nutritious diet has multiple benefits while studying for exams, such as improving memory and attention as well as helping you stay energized. If you are wondering how to easily stick to a healthy diet during finals period, here are the 5 steps you should take.
1. Plan Ahead and Shop Wisely
This is the very first thing you should do if you want to be able to stick to your diet. It is very important that you plan and shop groceries beforehand so that you don’t have to worry about going for a quick grocery run in the middle of a study session. Also, try to stick to the items on your grocery list and stay away from unhealthy snacks and drinks. If you don’t have bags of chips or chocolate bars in front of you, the odds are you will stick to your diet more easily.
2. Meal Prep
Even if you normally do not like to meal prep, during finals month it might come handy to cook larger meals and store it for at least next 3 days. To have balanced meals make sure to add various sources of protein, carbs, and veggies. The same logic from the first step applies to meal prepping too! Having pre-made meals will help you avoid making unhealthy choices when in a rush for an exam!
3. Eat Breakfast
Make sure you start the day with an energy-boosting breakfast, especially if you are studying early in the morning or you have exams during that time. If you don’t have time to prepare breakfast, then granola bars, egg muffins, and overnight oatmeal can be a quick solution. Try to add healthy fats and proteins for a morning boost.
4. Stay Hydrated
Staying hydrated is obviously very important all the time, but it is especially important during the exam period because it will help you reduce extra caffeine consumption. You can try adding antioxidant-rich fruits such as lemon, strawberry, orange, or blueberry to make it more flavoured and tempting. You can also opt for green tea, jasmine tea, or black tea for more caffeine.
5. Snack wisely
Snacking can be a good way to add vitamins and nutrients to your diet, without eating large amounts of calories. It will also help you fight sugar cravings during late night study sessions. Fruits, nuts, dried fruits and yogurt are healthy snack options. You can also prepare energy balls, oatmeal cookies, or frozen yogurt bars and store them in the freezer for weeks to come!