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What snacks do you eat while studying that help you stay focused.
Thanks
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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...
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.
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.
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
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.