Deadline season is well and truly upon us, and with most of us cramming from our bedrooms, proximity to the kitchen for mid-study snacks has never been more optimal. We’ve put together five of the best mid-essay nibbles that will fuel your brain and cheer you up – but if all else fails, coffee will always be there for you.
Cheese
“Right before I feel I’m going to faint, I eat a cube of cheese.” Emily’s weight-loss strategy in The Devil Wears Prada, although unadvisable, reveals an important truth – cheese is powerful. If your Zoom calls run through lunch and your note-taking is getting progressively slower as your brain begins to fog, a slice of cheese might just salvage the situation. Munch your way through some cheddar to stave off those hunger pangs, revitalising your brain for another hour at least.
Similarly, if a late-night snack is in order while you painstakingly make your way through last-minute readings, allow cheese to come to the rescue. Cut a chunk of Cashel Blue, Brie, Edam, Gruyère, Manchenga – whatever you fancy. Drizzled with honey, sliced olives on top, sided with a small bunch of grapes, the possibilities are endless.
Perhaps the achievement of delving so deep into your workload calls for going one step further – pour yourself a glass of red wine and let your mind mull nonchalantly over your tutorial readings. These days, there’s nothing stopping you from channelling your inner Greek/Roman intellectual with Sheridan’s Cheesemongers at many Dunnes Stores branches. Although, it may be best to keep the wine at a safe distance from electrical equipment – spillages could really dampen the mood.
Smoothies
Smoothies are a fantastic free for all, and there is something so cathartic about holding down the blender’s lid as it whizzes furiously. Add oranges or grapefruit for enhanced learning and memory, protection for nerve cells and, ultimately, to ward off mental decline. Then throw in a handful of blueberries – antioxidants in blueberries are said to help improve communication between brain cells and delay short-term memory loss. Adding some avocados into the mix incorporates “a good kind of fat”, keeping your blood sugars stable and improving both memory and concentration. If you’re feeling adventurous, push the boundaries further and toss in a chilli to improve circulation to the brain.
Peanut Butter and Apples
The humble apple and peanut butter fix cannot be overlooked in this compilation. A thick layer of salty crunchy peanut butter (or almond, cashew, walnut – no need to discriminate) spread over a slightly tangy but juicy Granny Smith apple is a heavenly pairing. Have an apple cutter at the ready and you’ll polish off all the segments in seconds. With the slow energy release benefits of fat, protein and fibre, combined with the improvement of mental alertness, it pays to be greedy.
Chocolate
The high concentration of flavonoids (a group of plant chemicals) in cocoa has been scientifically proven to reduce mental fatigue, improve blood flow to the brain, boost memory and accelerate reaction time in mental activities. Dark chocolate in particular also contains phenylethylamine, or the “love drug”, perhaps further revealing why it has been worshipped by civilisations since 1500 BC. So, indulge yourself with a snack that has stood the test of time – your tastebuds, braincells and perhaps love life, will thank you.
Fish
If all else fails, pull out the big guns and fry up a hunk of salmon to avail of the increased memory capacity effects of Omega-3. However, a word of warning – eat with the camera off. Some lecturers are far too judgemental.
