10 Tips for Healthy Eating During Exams

When you’re studying for finals, good nutrition often slides way down on the priority list. good nutrition should be part of your study plan because it’s going to help you ace those tests. The better the fuel your brain gets, the better you’ll study.

How do I eat smarter?

Meeting daily vitamin and mineral requirements will make doing your best much easier. Iron and B vitamins are especially important to maintaining the physical and mental energy necessary to study well. Iron-containing foods include dates, cereals and spinach; Foods that contain B vitamins include whole-grains, wheat germ, eggs, soya and nuts.

Chewable Vitamin C is not a meal.

Dietary supplements are good, but real food is better. An orange contains not only Vitamin C, but also fibres, beta carotene and other minerals — so it can’t be replaced by a pill. When you’re heading for the library, pack whole-food items like apples, bananas, clementine’s, carrot sticks or dried apricots.

Chewable Vitamin C is not a meal.

Dietary supplements are good, but real food is better. An orange contains not only Vitamin C, but also fibres, beta carotene and other minerals — so it can’t be replaced by a pill. When you’re heading for the library, pack whole-food items like apples, bananas, clementine’s, carrot sticks or dried apricots.

Eat at regular intervals.

Eating regular meals helps keep nutrient and energy levels more stable, curbing the temptation of empty-calorie snacks in the vending machine.

Big meals keep on turning … in your stomach.

You might find that eating the standard three-big-meals-a-day slows you down mentally and physically. Consider 5 or 6 well-balanced, smaller meals,

Meet breakfast, your new study buddy.

While much is said about the reasons to eat breakfast, less known are the best ways to eat smart in the morning. Milk and a toast or paratha just don’t cut it. The idea is to get some protein, calcium, fibre and a piece of fruit or a vegetable in there. So, a bowl of cereal with milk and a piece of fruit would do the trick. Or try a cereal bar with milk.

Going bananas? Good.

Fruit ranks high among the best foods you can eat for your brain. Any seasonal fruit (which can be bought frozen in bags) get a lot of attention because they contain powerful antioxidants and other nutrients. The natural sugars in fruit offer clean energy, so you don’t experience the crash that follows consumption of refined sugar.

Choose powerful vegetables.

Not all vegetables are created equal. The darker the color, the higher the concentration of nutrients. For example, spinach has more to offer the mind and body than iceberg lettuce. Other great vegetable choices include bell peppers, broccoli and sweet potatoes.

Smart snacking can enhance studying.

Snack smart while studying and you may find that you retain more. Try to get two food groups into your snacks to balance the nutrients and keep your blood-sugar level stable. Some smart snack examples are dry fruits, sing chana, veg sandwitch, tikkis etc

Gather simple recipes for nourishing foods.

Stay well hydrated.

Choose your beverages well, though. Caffeine and sugar should be kept to a minimum. Since too much caffeine can make you jittery, Better choices include water, fruit juice, milk, butter milk, coconut water and anti-oxidant-rich green tea.

Good Luck