FALL 2010 FINALS GUIDE
9
DIET
Healthy snacks for crunch time
Students should avoid foods high in sugar and fat, along with drinks high in caffeine
Foods high in protein are the best types of food for your study session. Caffeine should be consumed in moderation so that your mind will be ready to rest.
Evan Palmer/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
BY JACKLYN BAILLERGEON editor@kansan.com
As exams and papers grow closer to their due dates, many students find themselves working and studying for hours at a time, which often changes their eating and drinking habits.
Leslie Sear, a junior from Overland Park, said she tends to eat and drink the same things every finals week.
"I eat pancakes three times a day for all five days. I'm not even kidding," she said.
Sear says her habits during finals week aren't very healthy but have become a tradition.
"Pancakes are easy to make and I love them," she said. "When I get back from a bad final I can eat delicious pancakes and my day is better."
On the other side of the food spectrum, Kristen Hadjis, a sophomore from Colorado Springs, Colo., said that during finals week she likes to eat healthy foods.
"During finals week I eat a lot of hummus, eggs, peanut butter, bananas and pasta. I stray away from candy and junk food because I know that just gives you a sugar crash and doesn't help you retain information," Hadjis said.
Ann Chapman, coordinator of nutritional services at Watkins Memorial Health Center agrees that eating foods high in sugar and fat which are common "cramming" foods, may not help with mental performance during finals time.
"Those aren't healthy choices, whether you're studying or not," she said. "They may make you feel more sluggish and drowsy, which won't help you when you're trying to study."
Chapman suggested planning snack times to prevent cravings for unhealthy foods and to control portion sizes.
"Building in a study break with a pre-portioned snack is a good idea," she said. "The best snack is one with a combination of protein and carbs, which can be eaten before, during, or after study."
Eating fresh foods is best, Chapman said, but snacks such as whole grain cereal, pretzels or popcorn are also good choices.
For those looking for a "super food" to help them study better, Chapman said that no foods have been proven to increase mental aptitude concentration or performance, but certain foods can still help students.
Many students also consume caffeine while they study. Sear and Hadjis, like many college students, drink Diet Coke while staying up late to study.
"I live off caffeine during the school year,
even though I know it's probably bad," Hadjis said.
Chapman said that drinking caffeine is an acceptable way to help a student study if it's consumed in moderation.
"Small amounts of caffeine can help you feel more alert, but too much can be counter-productive. Instead of helping you study, drinking too much caffeine can give you headaches or prevent you from falling asleep when you're
ready to rest," she said.
Chapman said to practice healthy eating and drinking habits and be sure to get enough sleep to maximize performance on exams.
For more information on healthy eating visit Watkins Health Center's Wellness Resource Center or go to hawkhealth.ku.edu.
Edited by Lisa Curran
MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2010
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN