During an anticipatory time of exams, finals and projects, long study sessions remain inevitable. Through these periods, one may experience cravings for snacks and sweets, leading consumers to indulge in various foods. This ultimately leads to a crash in energy levels due to a significant intake of carbohydrates. However, numerous options of delicious and healthy snacks exist which provide simple, yet fulfilling, options to cure a feisty appetite.
Before settling on a certain treat, one may consider what their body needs. Different foods provide unique benefits, perfect for times of low energy or headaches; for example, brain-boosting ingredients include nuts, dark chocolate and berries. These foods provide benefits to one’s brain function and memory, aiding students in difficult study sessions. Ingredients best for energy, derived from carbohydrates, include whole grains, oats and fruits. These ingredients provide and store energy in the body, helpful for fueling students hard at work. Protein-rich qualities exist in Greek yogurt, eggs and peanut butter, which remain useful for keeping students full and fueled during strenuous periods of work. Finally, water, teas and coconut waters provide efficient sources of hydration, aiding students with retaining energy and brain function.
A simple snack, manageable to assemble and enjoyable to eat, exists in trail mix. With no singular correct recipe, one putting together this treat allows them to customize their ingredients to their heart’s desire. Simple and healthy components may include peanuts, cashews, almonds, dried fruits, dark chocolate morsels and granola. This combination of nuts – rich in protein and fatty acids, fruits – saturated with fiber and antioxidants, dark chocolate – plentiful in antioxidants and beneficial to the heart and oats– abundant with fiber and antioxidants, provides a delicious combination of ingredients that may cause a person’s brain to thrive.
Additionally, energy bites stand as a satisfying snack. With room for creativity, one only needs to mix oats, peanut butter, chocolate chips, honey, chia seeds, vanilla extract and shredded coconut. After letting them chill in the refrigerator, the chef should roll them into balls and enjoy them without the need for an oven. This recipe contains a multitude of fiber, protein, antioxidants and delicious goodness that may keep a person full and happy.
Numerous other snacks exist as well, including apple slices and peanut butter, smoothies, Greek yogurt parfaits, avocado toast, egg muffins and protein shakes. The chef’s creativity may run wild — with the correct ingredients and handling, a tasty and nourishing snack lies within close reach.
“Healthier food makes me feel a little more productive and relaxed especially when it is a later night for me. It helps me focus more on the topic that I’m trying to study and it mostly helps my body as well… Junk food however sort of makes me sluggish and tired. It also doesn’t [energize] me the best when I am doing work,” freshman Eva Jones said.
While ample foods provide the mind and body healthy benefits, not all snacks provide healthy effects. Certain foods, especially in bulk, contribute to a dreaded sugar crash. These foods commonly fall under the category of junk foods. Not only does junk food leave one with unsatisfied hunger, but it also harms their health. Junk food may cause increased stress, fatigue, lack of focus and sleeplessness, all of which threaten one’s ability to remain productive. Long-term consumption of junk food may lead to depression, type two diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and obesity — threatening a student’s well-being and impacting their personal, social, school and work life.
“I do get cravings while I work. What helps though is to heat up bouillon chicken cubes or powder into a broth to drink throughout the day or just snacking on vegetables. Bell peppers are a great healthy snack to use as a replacement for chips. It definitely helps to simply not have unhealthy food near you though, as saying no and portioning is a skill that takes time,” magnet junior Seneca Cruz said.
Food powers one’s body and mind, allowing individuals a healthy brain space and the ability to perform basic bodily functions. A sweet, slightly unhealthy, treat occasionally poses nothing to fear; the key lies in moderation and balance. Bodies of all size and shape deserve proper nutrients — through the stressful time of the semester’s impending closure, students should remember to treat themself with kindness, starting with what they consume.
