what should i eat while writing exams

The Top 9 Brain Foods for Studying and Exams

• 1. Berries Berries are rich in a variety of compounds that may help promote academic performance and protect the health of your brain. ...
• 2. Citrus fruits Citrus fruits are highly nutritious, and their intake has been linked to a variety of health benefits, including the promotion of brain health. ...
• 3. Dark chocolate and cocoa products ...
• 4. Nuts ...
• 5. Eggs ...
• 6. Avocados ...
• 7. Fish ...
• 8. Beets ...

Full Answer

What should you eat before a test?

How to prepare for an exam?

What is the focus of exams?

What can refresh you to return to studies?

What to eat for a budding expert?

Is it good to steer clear of high fat snacks?

Is it a good idea to chart a diet for exams?

See 2 more

What is the best food to eat during exams?

Other tips: Aim for 2 fruits and 5 vegetables each day as a minimum....Foods to feed your brain during examsVegetables and legumes/beans.Fruit.Grain (cereal foods) mostly wholegrain and/or high cereal varieties.Lean meat and meat alternatives.Milk, yoghurt, cheese and/or alternatives (mostly reduced fat)

What to eat before writing a test?

Add a protein food, such as milk, yoghurt or eggs, to keep you feeling full for longer. On exam day aim to include a portion of a food rich in long-chain Omega-3 fats, such as smoked mackerel, as they are believed to have brain-boosting properties.

What should I eat when writing an essay?

Smart, Healthy Snacks That Power Your Writing MusclesFruit. Fresh fruit is both healthy and delicious! ... Popcorn. Yes, we said POPCORN, and we mean it! ... Eggs. If you're in the zone and busy writing, you don't want to stop and cook an entire meal when hunger strikes. ... Hummus. ... Cheese. ... Nuts. ... Edamame. ... Pickle rolls.More items...•

What should you not eat before an exam?

Avoid eating chocolate or drinking fizzy drinks before an exam and in large quantities whilst revising due to high caffeine content. Food and drinks high in caffeine have been proven to reduce long-term and short-term memory abilities, and leave you feeling sluggish and demotivated after a short-lived sugar high.

What foods help you focus?

10 foods (and drinks) to improve concentration and memoryBlueberries. Often called nature's superfood, blueberries have several health benefits. ... Fatty fish. ... Green tea. ... Coffee. ... Eggs. ... Nuts. ... Pumpkin seeds. ... Leafy green vegetables.More items...•

What foods help you memorize faster?

The Top 9 Brain Foods for Studying and ExamsBerries. Berries are rich in a variety of compounds that may help promote academic performance and protect the health of your brain. ... Citrus fruits. ... Dark chocolate and cocoa products. ... Nuts. ... Eggs. ... Avocados. ... Fish. ... Beets.More items...•

Does coffee help you write?

In addition, coffee also provides much needed cognitive enhancement when we go to drink it. For us writers, sometimes putting words to a page just isn't enough to cut it. Through drinking coffee, we're able to shift down an extra gear, and help our mind process ideas just a little bit faster.

What did famous writers eat?

These 10 authors had similar epicurean tendencies, which nourished their writing—and often spilled into it.George Orwell—Plum Pudding.Agatha Christie—Devonshire Cream.Jack Kerouac—Apple Pie.J.D. Salinger—Roast Beef.Jean-Paul Sartre—Halva.Truman Capote—Italian Summer Pudding.Walt Whitman—Coffee Cake.More items...•

Does writing make you hungry?

Studies have shown that while you don't burn many calories, intellectual tasks can give you false feelings of hunger.

How can I top in exam?

21 Best Study Tips for Final ExamsMake the Most of Class Time. ... Study with Classmates. ... Take Advantage of Office Hours. ... Create Flashcards. ... Find a Good Study Spot. ... Switch It Up. ... Read and Review—Early and Often. ... Stay Organized.More items...

Does chocolate help in exams?

You can never have enough of dark chocolate and the best part is, it is good for you when you are preparing for exams, because it helps improve mental fatigue and boosts memory. Great for coordination, memory and brain functioning, the nutritionist calls them “nature's multivitamin”.

What drink helps you study better?

15 Brain-Boosting Juices and BeveragesCoffee. Coffee is probably the most widely consumed nootropic beverage. ... Green tea. Green tea's caffeine content is much lower than coffee's. ... Kombucha. ... Orange juice. ... Blueberry juice. ... Green juices and smoothies. ... Turmeric lattes. ... Adaptogen lattes.More items...

How should you eat before an exam?

Even if you're nervous, try to eat a full meal with protein, carbs, and vegetables. A good idea is to go for fish, greens, and healthy carbohydrates such as rice or whole wheat pasta. Try fruit or dark chocolate for dessert.

What should I eat in the morning before an exam?

For an effective breakfast, include slow-release carbohydrates, like whole rolled porridge oats, whole grain bread, or low-sugar muesli, as they provide slow-release energy. Add a protein food, such as milk, yogurt, or eggs to keep you feeling full. These protein-rich foods can lead to greater mental alertness.

When should you eat before a test?

If an exam or test is in the morning, if you plan on eating a big meal, make sure to eat at least a half-hour to an hour before the test begins. If, by the time the test begins, your energy levels are dipping, carry a few squares of dark chocolate with you to eat right before the exam begins.

Should I eat a banana before an exam?

“Your brain runs purely off glucose (a type of sugar) and bananas are packed full it. Eating a banana will give your brain the healthy, natural, low GI sugar that it needs during exam time.

Upgrade Your Diet Before Your Exams

Too many students live on junk food and yet expect maximum performance from their brain.This is an unreasonable expectation!Treat your brain like t...

Best Brain Foods to Eat Before An Exam

Now that you’ve got the big picture, let’s look at specific foods you’ll want to include in your diet.These foods all have well-deserved reputation...

What to Drink For Peak Test Performance

Now that you know the best brain foods to eat to prep for your exams, it’s time to discuss what you should and shouldn’t be drinking.What you drink...

What to Eat The Day of Your Test

Your diet should provide the perfect balance of foods that will keep you focused and energized, alert yet calm.Here is how to eat right the day of...

Food Tips For During The Exam

Depending on what you are allowed to have with you during your exam, you may want to try one or more of these tips.

Eating For Best Exam Performance: The Bottom Line

Your brain performs best when you’ve fueled it with the right foods.Follow a Mediterranean-style diet and include plenty of the best brain foods.We...

What are the best foods for studying?

Berries. Berries are rich in a variety of compounds that may help promote academic performance and protect the health of your brain. Berries, including blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries , are especially high in flavonoid compounds called anthocyanins. , 2 ).

What are some good snacks to eat during a marathon?

Nuts are concentrated sources of healthy fat, protein, and fiber, and they can help keep you fueled throughout marathon study sessions. Plus, some research shows that snacking on nuts may even help improve certain aspects of brain function.

Which food has the highest flavonoid content?

3. Dark chocolate and cocoa products. Cocoa has the highest flavonoid content by weight of any other food, which is why cocoa products like chocolate significantly contribute to dietary flavonoid intake. Consuming flavonoid-rich cocoa products may favorably affect brain health ( 12.

What is the best fruit to eat to improve brain health?

Although fruit juices are more concentrated sources of these potential brain-health-promoting compounds, whole citrus fruits are also rich sources of flavonoids and can be used as a snack when studying or preparing for an exam.

What are the benefits of eating berries?

2. Citrus fruits. Citrus fruits are highly nutritious, and their intake has been linked to a variety of health benefits, including the promotion of brain health.

Why is eating healthy important?

Although an overall healthy diet is most important for keeping your body and brain nourished and ready to take on difficult tasks, research shows that certain foods may be especially important for brain health and promoting mental performance.

Do you need to eat egg whites?

However, you need to eat whole eggs — not just egg whites — to reap their potential brain-function-promoting benefits. One study in 19 children and adolescents found that eating egg yolks was associated with higher short-term learning, memory scores, and attention, compared with egg whites.

Why is it important to stay hydrated during exams?

Your brain is 73% water and it takes only 2% dehydration to diminish your memory, attention, and other cognitive skills. ( 26 , 27) Even mild dehydration adversely affects short-term memory, concentration, and alertness.

What is the best breakfast for brain health?

Here are a few examples of well-rounded, sustaining breakfasts high in brain foods: Frittata seasoned with turmeric and rosemary with a side of apple and nut butter. Sprouted grain bread topped with avocado and tomatoes and drizzled with olive oil. Full-fat Greek yogurt topped with berries, walnuts, and shredded coconut.

How to boost mental function during a test?

If you normally drink caffeinated beverages, use caffeine strategically to boost mental function at test time without leaving you a sleepless, anxious wreck. And, of course, avoid brain-draining foods like sugar and excess alcohol, especially when preparing for a test.

What is the best food source for omega 3s?

Since DHA is a primary structural component of the brain, people low in DHA actually have measurably smaller-than-average brains! ( 7) The best food sources of omega-3s are animals allowed to get their food from their natural habitat: ( 8) wild-caught fish. grass-fed beef. pasture-raised pork. free-range chicken.

Does chocolate help with memory?

It stimulates blood flow to the brain to aid memory, attention span, reaction time, and problem solving. ( 18) And due to the feel-good compounds anandamide and phenylethylamine that it contains, chocolate gives you a happy buzz that’s been described like being in love. 7. Turmeric.

What to eat during a long exam?

Carry healthy snacks, such as protein bars, trail mix, energy bars, granola bars, almonds, walnuts, or fruit for such times, to keep your energy high.

What to eat on exam day?

Healthy food choices on exam day include eggs, nuts, yogurt, and cottage cheese. Good breakfast combinations might be whole-grain cereal with low-fat milk, eggs and toast with jam, porridge, oatmeal, or sugar-free muesli.

What is the importance of eating healthy during a long exam?

A long exam is like a mental marathon in which endurance is critical. Nutritionists emphasize the importance of healthy eating habits at this stressful time. They say the right food and drink can energize your system, improve your alertness and sustain you through the long exam hours. The wrong dietary choices can make you feel sluggish, jittery, or burned out. The following nutrition tips will help you perform at your best on exam day.

How to be sluggish on exam day?

1. Make sure to eat Even if you normally skip breakfast or avoid eating when you are nervous, you should still make the time to eat something.

What happens if you eat a big breakfast before an exam?

Eat enough to feel satisfied but not so much as to feel full. If you eat a big breakfast or lunch before an exam, you will feel drowsy and heavy. Your body’s energy will be focused on the digestive process rather than on providing your brain with the energy it needs to function efficiently.

How to get better at a brain exam?

Drink brain boosting beverages. Make sure you drink enough water before and during your exam. Tea also works, though without a lot of sugar. Dehydration can make you lose your concentration, feel faint, and sap your energy. Don’t wait till you’re thirsty to drink a glass of water.

What to do the night before a test?

Instead, on the night before the exam, stop studying in the early evening. After that, take it easy, eat your dinner, lay out your clothes for the next day, pack your bag, take a shower, set a couple of alarms and head to bed early. You’ve done all you can.

While studying

The most important essential food not only for exams but in general is of course water (Read the related question section below why I include water in food). When you study for exams you need to stay hydrated to keep your focus and alertness. A good guideline is 0.5 liter per hour.

One day before the exam

There are really delicious dishes that unfortunately make you (or others) suffer the next day. You really want to avoid these on the day before your test because on exam day your focus should be on relaxing rather than dealing with your body.

The breakfast on exam day

Probably the most important meal to consider. As I mentioned in my article “ 17 Tips for your Exam Day to Take Home your Certificate ” a breakfast that supercharges your batteries is crucial for your success. Don’t eat (or drink) too much but enough to not feel hungry, even if you are so nervous that you don’t feel like eating.

During the exam

What absolutely worked best for me is not to eat anything during an exam. I always find that very annoying hearing other people chewing or opening their wrapped snack bars.

After the exam

This is an easy one! Eat whatever you like, reward yourself with a visit to your favorite restaurant. Drink a glass of champagne and celebrate your success.

Related questions

Should I use caffeine pills during an exam? To give yourself a wake-up boost those pills are a great during long tests. Read about how caffeine can help you in this article on how coffee improves your focus.

What to snack on for math?

For snack ideas think avocado toast on whole grain bread, tuna with crackers, or even a whole grain cereal with milk —all of which are cheap, easy to make, and will be devoured before you are able to finish one math problem.

What carbs should I eat to get energy?

Also, try pairing a low GI carb—wholegrain bread and cereal, brown rice, chickpeas, wholewheat pasta, sweet potatoes—with a lean protein, which will supply you with plenty of fuel to power through the next set of flashcards.

Is it good to have a sundae after a test?

So, maybe it's a good idea to save the creamy carbonara pasta and ice cream sundae for after the test when you're celebrating your good grade, or at least just being done with the material. However, if you do want something sweet for dessert, don't hold back from grabbing some dark chocolate. The delicious candy bar actually increases blood circulation to the brain, improving your ability to focus. What could be better?

Can eating fatty foods affect your memory?

Sugary foods will negatively alter your precious sleep cycle, while fatty foods can adversely affect your memory. And, in reality, neither your sleep nor your memory are worth sacrificing for a slice of pie, even if it is your favorite food.

How can I Prepare for an Exam?

Studying and preparing for an exam is vital to your success. Not sure how you should get started? Our study tips and tricks are bound to help you make the study preparation a little easier on you.

What to do before answering a question?

Before you answer any question, make sure you read through the instructions properly. The way a question is structured can tell you how you should answer it. For example, the word ‘define’ indicates you need to provide a definition. Misreading a question can cause you to lose marks.

Why is it important to prepare yourself for an exam?

Nothing causes anxiety as much as feeling completely unprepared. This is why it’s important to prepare yourself beforehand. Don’t wait until a few days before an exam to start studying, even if you are a fast learner.

How can I Reduce my Exam Anxiety?

You’re not alone! It’s common for students to feel anxious before an exam. It takes more than just good study habits and time management to calm your nerves. You need to have a plan of action for the day and the days leading to it.

What should you eat before a test?

So what to eat right before reporting to the examination hall? Well, the key point is to eat light and healthy.

How to prepare for an exam?

Tips for Diet During Exams. Exam time requires special attention in diet. 1. Eat smaller, frequent meals. Yes, the age-old weight loss advice holds true for preparing for exams too. Small meals will provide a steady supply of energy to the exam fatigued brain.

What is the focus of exams?

While the focus during exams is entirely on studies and a good exam time diet , the one neglected part is being physically active.

What can refresh you to return to studies?

Pouring over the books or on the computer may be a common sight but taking small breaks like a walk to the nearby store can refresh you greatly to return to studies and also make you active.

What to eat for a budding expert?

Hence, a combination breakfast of whole grains and protein will do the trick.

Is it good to steer clear of high fat snacks?

Snacks take on a whole new meaning when catering to someone cramming away their woes! It is best to steer clear of high fat and high sugar snacks. This will help in maintaining a stable blood sugar.

Is it a good idea to chart a diet for exams?

Not really the best scenario for exams that are looming close. Instead, it would be wise to chart a good diet for exams with the following food groups incorporated wisely!