Fit for Learning — Food for Thought

Winter 2021 / Fit for Learning Food for Thought

Ever find yourself flagging, losing your focus or finding it hard to kick-start your day? Maybe you need to look at your diet. Here’s our tasty guide to eating your way to a more productive life.

Don’t skip breakfast!

However tempting it might be to make do with a coffee in the morning, make time for breakfast. Slow-release carbs, such as porridge oats or bran flakes are great sources of sustained energy and fibre, and if you follow this with a boiled or poached egg the protein fix will help you stay feeling full for longer. If eggs aren’t your thing, yogurt is another excellent source of protein. If you’re pushed for time, make a smoothie the night before and chill it in the fridge — you could combine yogurt, oats and a selection of fruits for a magical morning mix.

Maintain a balance

Don’t fall foul of fad diets that tell you to cut out one food group or another. Each food group serves an important purpose. Try and include a healthy mix of carbohydrates, fibre, protein and fats. When it comes to carbs, opt mainly for unprocessed options such as brown rice and wholegrain bread rather than the white variants. White carbs may give you a burst of energy, but its shortlived and can leave you feeling more tired than before you ate.

Energise Your Mind

One thing you need while studying is focus. These superfoods will help fuel your mind and give you a sense of well-being.

Spinach is packed with folic acid and vitamin B12 which are proven to help sharpen the mind.

Snack on raisins, which are high in the brain-boosting mineral boron.

Improve your short-term memory with a regular intake of blueberries.

Feast on cold-water fish such as salmon, tuna and maceral. They are all rich in Omega-3 fatty acids which are known to promote healthy brain function.