While in college, it’s easy to get into the habit of choosing quick, easy, and cheap meals that don’t require much prep time from you. It can also be easy to use unhealthy foods as rewards for getting through a stressful week or a hard exam. Although this can be a great motivator at times – make sure to use this motivation tactic sparingly as these easy fixes can lead to decreased motivation and productivity. The following outlines a few recommendations for increasing brain power through food. It’s understandable that the following may all be good in theory, but may not seem attainable as a college student – how do you find time to prepare healthy meals let alone pay for healthier food items? It can be extremely difficult but by no means impossible! Turning around your eating habits could greatly enhance how productive you are when it comes to your school work.
As college students, it’s easy to snack when we get bored of doing school work, especially if you have snacky foods in your dorm room that are within reach. Even though snacking has a bad connotation, it doesn’t have to be a bad habit depending on how you do it. When we think of snacking it often involves junk food, but snacking with healthy foods can increase your academic stamina. Going for a piece of fruit can be beneficial to help you get to the next meal. The important part is making sure that your snacking is healthy and not increasing your sugary treat intake.
Another important aspect to implementing a healthier diet that increases productivity is prepping for meals. One of the hardest parts about eating healthy in college is figuring out when to make healthy meals. Meal prepping can greatly help with this. Making one or two main meals that will last you a few days can help reduce time spent to make healthy meals. In addition, it’s easier to eat something healthy when it’s already made rather than having to take the time to make something healthy when you’re hungry. When you don’t have anything prepped, it’s easier to eat unhealthy foods as these are usually quicker and allow for more immediate gratification. Every meal you eat does not need to be extremely gourmet, but that doesn’t mean that it has to be junk food either.
Having a general consistent time you eat different meals throughout the day can also be beneficial. This allows you to know when you are able to take a break to eat. When you don’t have a general designated time that you eat everyday, it’s far easier to eat when you get bored and turn to unhealthy foods too.
Learning how to implement strategies is only half the battle. Understanding what foods contribute to higher brain power is the second aspect in creating a diet that is more conducive to high brain productivity. The following is information about which foods can contribute to higher brain power and assist you in being more productive.
Here are some foods that could contribute to higher brain power:
- Green, leafy vegetables
- Fatty fish
- Berries
- Tea and Coffee
- Nuts and seeds
- Whole grains
- Dark chocolate
- Avocados
- Eggs
- Broccoli
- Soy products
- Beans
- Oats
What do brain-boosting foods tend to be composed of?
- Antioxidants
- B vitamins
- Healthy fats
- Omega fatty acids
Keep in mind that having a healthy diet is not the only aspect that contributes to greater brain power. Making sure that you have a consistent sleep schedule, exercise regularly, and try to be relaxed is the best way to increase productivity and enjoy your day to day activities more.
Written by Brynne Boeck
Subscribe to our newsletter and get GUTS Tips delivered to your mailbox! Join here!
*This is an opinion post. While the topics described here are mostly based on research, please keep in mind not to assume all of the information described above is factual.
Sources used:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/foods-linked-to-better-brainpower
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324044#dark-chocolate
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-brain-foods#TOC_TITLE_HDR