During finals week, many K-State students are cooped up in Hale Library for hours on end. In between your hours of studying, it’s easy to reach for that candy bar in the vending machine or indulge in a sugary soda in order to stay energized. However, that sugar rush doesn’t take long to expire and send you crashing. Here are three study snacks that are not only good for you, but won’t leave you feeling sluggish afterwards.
1. Almonds
Almonds not only have nutritious fats that your body needs, but they are convenient to eat when you’re studying and easy to grab at a moment’s notice.
“I like eating almonds because of all the nutrients they contain,” Margaret Baughman, junior in apparel and textiles, said. “I also like that they’re low calorie and just a handful of them can fill you up and keep you focused for longer periods of time compared to junk food.”
2. No bake energy bites
Not only are these a no brainer to make, but they are perfect for a pick me up when you’re feeling that afternoon lull. Gimme Some Oven, an online lifestyle blog, shares the recipe.
- 1 cup (dry) oatmeal (I used old-fashioned oats)
- 2/3 cup toasted coconut flakes
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 cup ground flax seed
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips or cacao nibs (optional)
- 1/3 cup honey or agave nectar
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions: stir all ingredients together, cover and let chill in the fridge for half an hour, once chilled roll the mix into whatever size ball you like, store them in an airtight container and keep in the fridge up to a week.
3. Veggies and fruit
You can’t go wrong with these two, and they’re both loaded with essential nutrients and vitamins. Dianna Schalles, dietician specialist at Lafene Health Center, said fuelling your body every three to five hours, this will help keep your blood sugar levels regulated which can help reduce fatigue. Just cut up your favorite veggies or fruit, pair it with your favorite dip like hummus or peanut butter, throw them into a plastic container and eat up.
“Usually when I’m studying at Hale I’ll bring carrots and hummus and keep them in a glass jar with the hummus at the bottom, that way the carrot don’t all fall over and get messy,” Willy Evans, senior in journalism and mass communications, said.
By making your own study snacks like the ones above, you can help squash the temptation to gorge on unhealthy food like chips, candy and sugary sodas. When you indulge in the right kinds of food, your body will thank you and you’ll feel more energized and ready to take on finals week.