Hello UCSD! How are you holding up? I know how stressful the
week before finals can be, so just try to take a deep breath and relax. Next week will be over before you know it and
then it’s holiday break time!
Let’s continue on our “healthy tips” for studying. Have you ever heard that
you should eat every 3-4 hours to maintain a healthy metabolism? Well, here’s
the 4-1-1 on it.
·
Eating every few hours allows you to be
adequately nourished to fuel your body for whatever your day has in store for
you. You need a certain amount of calories (aka your Basal Metabolic Rate http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/)
to breathe, brush your teeth, walk to the bus, talk to a friend…etc.; basically
everything you do requires energy!
·
Studying uses energy (aka calories). FANTASTIC,
right? To make sure your body receives the right kinds of calories, it’s
important to time your meals and snacks so that you’re constantly supplying
energy to your brain. Aim to get the majority of your calories in during your
waking hours (the time you are most alert).
·
Should you eat late at night if you’re up
studying? This is a hard question to answer because it is unique for every person.
If you tend to stay up actively
cramming into the wee morning hours; then yes, you should be eating healthy
snacks to fuel your brain (although I do encourage at least 6-8 hours of
sleep). On the other hand, if you stay
up mindlessly munching attempting to
stay alert; then no, you should give in to your slumber and hit the books when
you are well rested!
Our dining units & markets across campus have a great variety of
healthy snacks to choose from. I always tell my students to shoot for 2-3 food groups when choosing a snack.
Some healthy snack ideas available at all the HDH Markets include:
·
Yogurt & Fresh Fruit –a GREAT balance of
protein and antioxidants to keep you full and flu free
·
Whole Grain Crackers (or bread) & Hummus –
full of energy bursting B vitamins to give you that extra push
Sometimes you may just need a little splurge and THAT IS ABSOLUTELY
OKAY! I suggest if you’re feeling something daring to check out the Sunday
DE-STRESS brunch at the dining units on Sunday, 12/8 to let loose and give into
a little chocolate craving.
Be sure to check Facebook & the blog next week to see where FREE
SAMPLES of healthy finals snacks will be available from the RD to make sure you
are well fed J
Interested in learning more about a particular topic? Feel free to
email me at tastebuds@ucsd.edu or follow HDH on twitter & check Facebook for upcoming
events featuring the Taste Buds!
