Brain Food and the Bar

Ok so it’s almost impossible to balance a healthy lifestyle while you study for the Bar.  I mean you can try, but more often than not you’re going to opt for comfort and ease during these times.  Your best bet is it try as much as you can at the beginning of bar prep to maintain some form of healthiness so that when you’re in the last few weeks of prep hell you haven’t yet completely spiraled out of control.  With that in mind, you can’t ignore how the food you eat affects how you feel and your level of energy.  And while you don’t have the luxury of time to make a lot of healthy meals, you want to make the best food choices whenever possible so that you’re functioning as best as possible while you study.

With that goal in mind, it’s best to have some quick and easy snacks/meals to reach for that will keep you feeling alert, energized, and somewhat satisfied (because let’s be real, nothing is going to taste as good as pizza).

Here are some snacks to keep around the house to keep your brain and body bar-prep ready:

Savory Options.  Invest in a jar of mixed unsalted nuts goes a long way because they help balance sugar levels and set off hunger.  I also really enjoy tuna (in water, not oil) with avocado, and hummus with veggies or pita chips.  These type of low maintenance but healthy and filling snacks will help satisfy a salty tooth and will give you a boost of energy and brain fuel that those bags of chips just can’t give.

Sweet Options. I always have dark chocolate on hand; I mean it has health benefits, so why not? But also try to keep different fruits like cherries, grapes, or blueberries and other sweet fruits within reach.  My fave options when I want something chocolatey, but not overdo with sugar is to opt for fudge pops.  They satisfy just as well as other ice-y treats, but are super low-sugar, low-calorie option.

Beverage Options.  If you’re not getting enough sleep you likely feel the need for coffee to either wake you up or to keep you going.  However, instead of drinking only coffee, think of other options to help energize you.  If you’re not down with plain water (and don’t have the time to make fruit-infused water), try calorie free flavored water. I prefer St. Croix because it has no calories, sugar, or sodium. If you do want to commit time to something healthier, you can try making your own green juices in the AM with your breakfast so that you at least have some non-processed food at the beginning of the day.

Of course, I know optimal eating won’t happen during bar prep.  It is just not a priority, and frankly, after studying 12 hours a day who wants to reward themselves with fruit? But aiming for a balance, or at least some healthy foods sprinkled here and there will improve how you feel and how you think.  And improved thinking, i.e. a clear, un-muddled mind, is a key to owning the Bar.

Keep going—just a few weeks more!