Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

Ren, Yogurt---pref. organic but w/ live cultures at least, bananas & other fruits---easy to digest, protein smoothies. Also, mints as in mint tea but even Altoids can help, candied ginger settles the tummie too. If you can handle it, B-vitamins, calcium, protein shakes & Vit C are GREAT to help w/ stamina & also alertness. I find it helps to put in the info, take a break & learn to let the subconscious mind do its thing---it can be "programmed" to retrieve info. When I home schooled my kids, using funny or odd associations helped them remember everytime. I know you asked about food but anything that helps reinforce that your mind does know this stuff & that can help you program your brain for easy retrieveal will help your stress & thus your stomach.

Try to stay away from the caffeine right now, the extra boost just isnt worth the crash you'll get. I dont know if you would be interested but GNC sells a product called whey protein powder, if you mix a scoop of that with some milk and fruit in the blender, well it's not a milkshake but it does give you all the nutrients you could need. Try munching on some saltines, and ginger tea is my go to. I wish all the students here luck, You will all do wonderfully I'm sure! I have you all in my thoughts for an easy bout with the test monsters.

When I was in college, I tried to keep my routine healthy during exams just as I did year round - still exercised every day, ate healthfully, etc. - it made me feel more energized and capable of handling exams/papers/etc. I usually kept my diet as simple as possible - always get a good bfast - mix of protein & fiber (my favorite was hard boiled eggs and oatmeal). Snacked on yogurt, fruit, etc. Good luck, you'll do fine and then you'll be done soon!

I 2nd the B vitamins - TwinLab puts out a "Stress Formula B Complex" , and I'd also recommend a good multivitamin.

Try also eating small meals more x's/day instead of one or two largeish ones. Take a small baggie of raw almonds with you for munching on, and stick to the mint or ginger teas and fruit juices. It might also help to eat and/or exercise with a friend - a quick jog or some good conversation (sympathetic conversation) can also help relieve stress.

My eating habits got so wacky during exams. Still, I'd make an effort to have a fair amount of protein. Easy stuff, like hard-boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, nuts (cashews, esp.) and cheese.

I'd hit the jar of Nutella hard, too. With a spoon. It's true that the palm oil in Nutella isn't so good for your arteries, but the sugar, protein and chocolate feed the brain.

All the best to you and the other students on your upcoming exams!

During exams, I used to go for drinkable foods (like soups and shakes) and eggs - hard-boiled, soft-boiled, omelettes, scrambled or fried egg sandwiches. Also, fresh berries, if/when available - strawberries and cherries have always been my favourites. Oh, and ice-cream - usually, pistachio or hazelnut:-).

Having *just* submitted my Master's thesis this weekend and having spent the entirety of last week being unable to keep almost anything down because of the associated stress, I totally feel your pain.

Try some chicken noodle soup, but not the canned stuff if you can help it b/c that's a bit too acidic for my tummy. I just boil up some broth (Swanson's Natural Goodness, but I know not everyone here will approve of that...) and toss in some carrots and star pasta or the tiny egg noodles. That and plain yogurt with Honey Nut Cheerios are pretty much the only things I could handle. Mashed potatoes with turkey gravy usually works for me, as do Eggo waffles, and buttered dinner rolls. Not much protein there, but any food is better than none.

A few survival techniques to consider:
- caffeine is more effective in small, spread out doses than in huge mugs downed all at once. Plus, coffee can be a little harsh on my tummy and on my ability to concentrate. When I'm on the long haul I make a big pot of tea and nurse it slowly.

- I know (really I do) how hard this seems to do, but spend 15 minutes doing something totally else every few hours. Resist the drive to cram nonstop. Walk away from the books and stare at a tree.

and a final word of encouragement (from a TA who grades lots of final exams) I hate giving bad grades, and look for any opportunity to give points. I want my students to do well, it means I'm a good teacher. Don't panic.

I worked almost full-time through most of college and grad school. Typically, around my third or fourth caffeine headache at finals time, after nights of skipping dinner to study, I would try and get back into healthy eating habits through meals that were simple and well balanced. When your stomach is in a knot, steer clear of anything spicy or heavily seasoned. I agree with the other serious eaters on eggs...try turkey and egg white sandwiches or spinach omelets. English muffins with all-fruit spread are also good. Remember to stay hydrated! Good luck with your exams.

instant miso soup, oatmeal, crackers+cheese, bananas, and oranges -- what i've been surviving on!

Your brain can only use energy directly from carbohydrates. An excess won't make you think better, but you willnotice a loss of focus if you have too few. Lots ofcomplex carbs too avoiid the sugar rush. Snack on cereal through the exam if allowed.

I lost 25 or more pounds when I was studying for the bar. It was a freaky time, but I ate at least 2 meals a day. I made turkey sandwiches for almost every meal. Chicken soup is good if you're having trouble eating. I also ate apple and banana fruit salads.

It may be hard to believe, but I'm actually jealous you have finals!! I'm on a quarter system, and am just getting started with midterms! After this, I still have five more weeks to go!

Anyways, my favorite fast, healthy, cheap, and tasty stress foods is definitely soup (in a thermos for lunch or dinner at the library). I like to cook my own when I have time, but lately I've been buying a lot of boxes of Pacific organic creamy tomato soup--if you add a little salt and pepper, and eat it with bread and good cheese, it makes a great quick and healthy meal!

I also make sure to eat a good breakfast every day, in case I'm too busy to eat lunch. I know that in this case, I'm definitely in the minority for college students, but I honestly think it's really important. It keeps me focused all day, and prevents me from eating unhealthy food later in the day and night. I also try not to eat the sugary breakfasts that are widely available (pastries, sugary cereal, etc), and instead make myself eggs or have cottage cheese with toast. This definitely keeps me full for longer, and I feel more in control of my appetite and keep a more regular eating schedule all day.

Good luck with exams! Don't stress too much!!

Plain (read: unsauced, but dried spices are ok) chicken or fish, veggies, brown rice, fruit. Stay away from anything spicy, caffeinated, sugary, or fried. If you have any sensitivities to eggs, wheat, dairy, etc., just leave them out of the diet. Go for stuff that's just easy on the system. Make sure you eat enough protein to keep yourself strong and keep your concentration up.

My husband just finished his finals last week. I looked up "brain food" online & found that these foods (among others) help with alertness & overall brain function:
Yogurt
Olive oil
Spinach
Bananas
Blueberries
Nuts
So I made him eat yogurt & a banana for breakfast the mornings of his finals (he usually doesn't eat breakfast at all, so this is a big step), & tried to incorporate as many of the other ones as possible (like pesto or spinach salad or something) for dinner the night before.

Ohh, I feel you! It's exam time too, here at good ol' Penn State.

I've been living on steamed broccoli and veggie burgers for like, a week now.

Also: apples, nonfat yogurt, barley and mushroom salad, pastina cooked in Mushroom Broth, I made some tofu stir fry the other night and it was excellent.

Tonight is my last final and all I want to do is go home to good NJ diners and Mom's mac and cheese. Good luck on the exam!!!!