Nursing Students General Students
Published Jul 4, 2008
What snacks do you eat while studying that help you stay focused.
Thanks
PianoGirl20
60 Posts
Try half of a whole-wheat bagel (the Pepperidge farm ones are pretty good...at least I'm pretty positive they're Pepperidge farm ) with a tablespoon or so of peanut butter. I've found that this snack will keep hunger under control for a little while and not be one of those overly carb-laden (but usually delicious) snacks that puts me right to sleep.
Regarding the whole staying awake thing, yeah, I get sleepy, too. Sometimes, if you're really afraid you'll nod off, it might help to take yourself to a place that's a lot less likely to make you doze. For ex., when I'm at college, there are a couple of coffee shops right down the block. I go there because I can treat myself to a little drink as I study (which of course wakes me up) and I'm way less likely to fall asleep in the middle of Caribou Coffee than lying on my bed. When I am studying in my dorm room, blaring some fun music helps. Or sometimes, if I know I'm settling in for a long study session, I just ward off sleepiness in the first place by taking a 10 or 20-minute power nap.
moomoo111
84 Posts
The Naked Juice protein drinks are the best. I have never stayed more focused. You can get them at the grocery stores and Starbucks sell them. They are a little on the expensive side but they are the best for me. They have different flavors and they are all natural. I like the Protien with soy. It works great for someone at my age, 46, who has menopause issues.
chilibean
9 Posts
My favorite snack while studying is cold red grapes and a green tea from starbucks. The best thing about starbucks is when you study there the refills are only $0.50.
rnmomtobe2010
1,051 Posts
All of these ideas are making me hungry ...Thanks a million!!!
moncj66
285 Posts
Well, I have a HUGE craving for salty & crunchy snacks late night, so I usually eat rice cakes, dry high fiber cereal, baked chips, low fat popcorn, or fiberone bars..usually keeps the hunger at bay..BUT sometimes I just have to eat something fattening and its usually pizza with breadsticks late night.
Sarah Bellum
264 Posts
I like chili cheese dip. I cheat and use the lower fat canned chili from Hormel, a few dollops of fat free cream cheese and low fat cheddar sprinkled over the top. Zap in the microwave til bubbly and eat with tortilla chips. That's pretty much a meal for me that I can study my way through. Pretty high in protein too.
whodatnurse
444 Posts
Yum...I love all that stuff.
If you ever want to minimize the damage from a pizza craving, check out the South Beach Diet pizzas. They are sooooo good and sooooo filling. They're made with a whole wheat crust, so each one has 10 g fiber for a very reasonable calorie count of 350 (I think that's right).
shrimpchips, LPN
659 Posts
I use to buy sixbucks and then one day I realized, why am I paying this much for coffee. I was looking for 5 hour energy but could only find a knock off called 6 hour power. It worked pretty good.
I have never heard of 6 Hour Power but I will have to check that out, thanks! :)
is that just for refills on green tea or is that for any Starbucks drink that you order? I never knew about that! Then again I don't think the Starbucks that I have on campus has $0.50 refills but I could be very wrong...
coolpeach
There's nothing that I can eat that will help me stay focused. I drink coffee sometimes, but its a fine line between getting energy, and not drinking so much I am over hyper and unable to concentrate anyway. I have never been able to take any kind of caffeine pills (nodoz, viverine) etc. Tried that when I was younger and it always made me sick to my stomach, sometimes made me vomit, and gave me a headache which I had to go to sleep to relieve.
Here's what I have found helps concentration for me. Take mini breaks every half hour to an hour or so to just get up and walk around. I have a treadmill and sometimes hop on that to get my blood pumping in between. I have also been known to take a page I needed to memorize and do it while walking around the block. I think it's easier to learn when you have blood moving to the brain. Another trick if your getting tired is to stick your feet under cold water (just your feet). I actually read this somewhere a few semesters ago along with the physiological reason it works (and it does).
I also try to always get a study group together when class starts which helps. Even when we studied separate it was motivating. The night before a big test we were constantly calling each other and checking up, asking questions, discussing important concepts and it makes you stay on your toes. In addition, we usually took a pool of $3 each before a test. There were 6 of us in the group so the one with the highest grade got $15. Even though it was only $15 the concept and competition really help everyone's motivation.
Here's what I have found helps concentration for me. Take mini breaks every half hour to an hour or so to just get up and walk around. I have a treadmill and sometimes hop on that to get my blood pumping in between. I have also been known to take a page I needed to memorize and do it while walking around the block. I think it's easier to learn when you have blood moving to the brain.
that's my problem - I'm the type of person that can't get interrupted. once I start something, I have to finish - or at least work on it until I want to finish. if I get interrupted or try to take a break, it's hard for me to get back into the swing of things.
That actually seems like a good idea! sometimes I have motivation issues as well as my friends. I'll have to discuss this with my study group lol
NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN
3,959 Posts
I've gained so much weight since being in school I:madface: I definetly need to start snacking on more healthy snacks. I think nurses should be in good shape in order to be a good role model for patients.