If you want your brain to be functioning in top capacity on exam day so that you can recall the material from those hours of studying you put in (hopefully not all last night!) then consider some of the following tips from a dietician on what to eat before your exam.
1. Eat Breakfast
Studies show that concentration and memory recall are better in those that eat breakfast than those that skip it. So even if you wake up with nervous butterflies in your stomach on the day of the exam, it may be worth your while to try and cram something down. Dieticians recommend that you combine different types of carbohydrate-rich foods so that energy will be released at different rates. Try cereal, milk, toast, and juice.
2. Protein It Up
Protein is helpful for enhancing alertness, so if you’ve been missing sleep due to study sessions or nerves, you might want to have an egg or put some cheese on your toast to benefit from some extra protein.
3. Drink Some Energy
As long as it’s OK to do so in the exam, an energy drink is a good idea, whether it’s Gatorade or another sports drink, Coke, or fruit juice. Sometimes drinks other than water aren’t allowed to prevent cheating . . . water is good, as long as you don’t drink TOO much of it.
4. Keep It Light All Day
If your exam isn’t until the afternoon or evening, then keep eating throughout the day but avoid large meals that are high in fat, because they could make you SLEEPY and SLUGGISH, which is not how you want to feel. Go for soup, pasta, a sandwich, and some milk or juice to drink. Eat a small or medium-sized amount of food, and have a snack periodically to keep your energy up.
good luck with exams!
