2008 Woodie Awards
Snacking smart: Eating right during finals could help to boost energy, grades
By Liz Glazier
Rocket Assistant Focus Editor
Issue date: 4/27/07 Section: Focus
Besides the amount of food students eat during finals week, the times students eat and number of students eating on campus are also changes that the dining halls must face.
Operations Manager, Amanda Gartner, said she notices that the number of students eating during the week doesn't decrease within the first few days, but the times they eat do change.
"Less people eat exactly at noon and choose to spread their eating times out," Gartner said. "And of course, when we reach Wednesday and Thursday, we are serving fewer guests because students are returning home after completing their finals."
In order to accommodate students during this time, Weisenfluh Dining Hall will have drinks and snacks from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. every night during finals week, starting on Sunday, May 6 to help students take a break from studying. Coffee, fruit punch, hot dogs and cookies are just a few of the many items they will be providing for students.
So what exactly should students eat to keep their brains in test-taking shape? According to an article on the Belly Bytes Web site, there are four main groups of food that are beneficial for the brain; micronutrients, amino acids, glucose and fatty acids.
Micronutrients include foods such as fruits and vegetables. These help the brain maintain the oxygen in the body and also serve as antioxidants.
Amino acids from proteins are used to make the neurotransmitters that allow your brain cells to network and communicate. Egg yolks, fish, milk and cheese are examples of such foods.
Glucose is found in most fruits, fruit juices and soft drinks. These foods should be eaten in moderation.
Fatty acids include foods such as fish or vegetable sources. Fatty acids from fats are what the brain uses to create specialized cells that allow a person to think and feel.
The Web site also explained how a person should hydrate the brain by drinking plenty of water and to also eat carbohydrates such as bread or popcorn, which help fuel the brain.
The earlier a person gets these nutrients, the better-this is why breakfast is so beneficial. For many people, it has been drilled into their heads that eating breakfast is a great way to start the day off right, but it really is true.
According to the Total Health Web site, eating breakfast in the morning can improve your ability to concentrate and those "who eat breakfast have shown greater improvements in standardized test scores and increased ability to concentrate in class; they also are more alert and creative."
So during this finals week, eat right. The foods you eat could help contribute to getting that 'A.'
Operations Manager, Amanda Gartner, said she notices that the number of students eating during the week doesn't decrease within the first few days, but the times they eat do change.
"Less people eat exactly at noon and choose to spread their eating times out," Gartner said. "And of course, when we reach Wednesday and Thursday, we are serving fewer guests because students are returning home after completing their finals."
In order to accommodate students during this time, Weisenfluh Dining Hall will have drinks and snacks from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. every night during finals week, starting on Sunday, May 6 to help students take a break from studying. Coffee, fruit punch, hot dogs and cookies are just a few of the many items they will be providing for students.
So what exactly should students eat to keep their brains in test-taking shape? According to an article on the Belly Bytes Web site, there are four main groups of food that are beneficial for the brain; micronutrients, amino acids, glucose and fatty acids.
Micronutrients include foods such as fruits and vegetables. These help the brain maintain the oxygen in the body and also serve as antioxidants.
Amino acids from proteins are used to make the neurotransmitters that allow your brain cells to network and communicate. Egg yolks, fish, milk and cheese are examples of such foods.
Glucose is found in most fruits, fruit juices and soft drinks. These foods should be eaten in moderation.
Fatty acids include foods such as fish or vegetable sources. Fatty acids from fats are what the brain uses to create specialized cells that allow a person to think and feel.
The Web site also explained how a person should hydrate the brain by drinking plenty of water and to also eat carbohydrates such as bread or popcorn, which help fuel the brain.
The earlier a person gets these nutrients, the better-this is why breakfast is so beneficial. For many people, it has been drilled into their heads that eating breakfast is a great way to start the day off right, but it really is true.
According to the Total Health Web site, eating breakfast in the morning can improve your ability to concentrate and those "who eat breakfast have shown greater improvements in standardized test scores and increased ability to concentrate in class; they also are more alert and creative."
So during this finals week, eat right. The foods you eat could help contribute to getting that 'A.'
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