Guaranteed Energy How to Keep Going All Day Without Coffe

Author: Caitlin Vaughn and Emily Lord

We honestly can't remember the last time we felt completely alert, functional and eager to attend morning, afternoon or even evening class, and we're sure we're not in the minority. Many students have tried combating morning sleepiness with a big old mug of dining hall coffee, which is really only valuable for half a dose of alertness and then a thorough cleaning out of your digestive system mid-morning.
If you belong to the no-breakfast club, or just grab a quick muffin or scone from Ross (which, if you haven't noticed, have gone from being large sized to munchkin sized as the year progresses, and might be the size of peanuts by graduation) you might feel as though you have been captured by the Lethargins, and become completely unproductive in your comatose state until lunch time.
But then after both lunch and dinner "food coma" sets in full force and everything from class to exercise is strictly off limits until your system launches its digestion crusade and begins to battle your food fatigue. And that will certainly not help you in this last great push to the finish for the semester. In a time of late-nighters (or all-nighters for some), it is especially important to keep your eye on the ball, your nose to the grindstone, and your tummy in check from its more unfortunate dining-hall over-indulgences.
One thing that will definitely help is the sad demise of the panini machine. In search of maximum variety and individual style, we Creative Cuisiners have become increasingly reliant on this hallowed object for our creativity, but along with that great variety comes a temptation to make dishes that are against the long-term interest of our educational enlightenment. In other words, living from the panini machine encourages us to choose ingredients that hinder rather than help our alertness level and brain power. But, never fear! We have explored the brain-food literature and have come up with some helpful suggestions.
First of all, we have to talk about breakfast. That muffin/scone/bagel/English muffin we all gobble in the morning is probably less helpful than the average MiddKid would hope. In fact, loading on the carbohydrates, especially simple carbs such as white bread, has a soporific quality that most of us are trying to avoid before 8 a.m. classes (or worse, that sneak up on us in the post-lunch hours, when we're unprepared). That cup of coffee may have the temporary affect of a caffeine boost, but loading it with processed sugars actually contributes to the sleepiness. Ditto on processed sugars in candy, especially chocolate. Chocolate (though it may be a good stress reliever) is a double no-no because it also has high saturated fat content, which slows down the brain and hurts us when we need to be helped. Another double-offender is pizza, because of its high fat content and its heavy white-bread crust. No wonder I'm always sleepy after I go to dinner!
Well, great, you think, what am I supposed to eat, then? In essence, the key to keeping your mind alert is (shockingly) to eat healthfully. As the Romans said, "mens sana in corpore sano." A sound mind in a sound body. This means eating a lower-carb diet with lots of veggies and high-protein, lower fat options like fish and beans. Fish is especially good because it contains Omega-3 fatty acids, which are supposed to boost brain power (and here we thought that Omega-3 was a term reserved for science fiction TV shows...).
The Tilapia that the dining halls have recently been serving goes great on salads and sandwiches, is a nice, fresh alternative to tuna, and is environmentally responsible. So, you can do good for yourself and for the world. Try substituting fruit like apples for chocolates. Fructose, unlike processed sugars, doesn't dull the senses as much, and a diet high in vitamins and minerals, such as Vitamin C, also boosts the immune system. Since no one can really afford to be sick during the last two weeks of school, it's a good thing to build into your dining hall visits. Thus, even at the moments when we most want to eat comfort foods, we should keep our resolve. It adds up to less stress later, because we'll be more alert and responsive now! Here are several good recipes to make that will hone our brains for the great push to finals. Good luck!
Variations on the Theme of the Tuna Sandwich:
Instead of the traditional tuna salad (tuna, mayo, celery, salt and pepper), try mustard and relish as your condiments. Or, if you are feeling Mediterranean, try hummus. If you like a lighter salad, try a few dashes of white vinegar and a drizzle of olive oil, and add a few chopped red onions. Or, if you're a die-hard mayo fan, try including apple pieces, raisins or broccoli florets along with the celery.
Salad NiÁoise:
In a bowl or on a plate, combine salad greens, tuna fish, green beans, sliced onion, green peppers, olives, sliced boiled eggs (if available) and roasted potatoes cut into small pieces. In a separate cup, combine white or cider vinegar, a scoop of Dijon mustard, a dash of olive oil, a dash of garlic and salt and pepper to taste. Stir with fork and pour over salad.
Super-Duper Veggie Sandwich:
On whole-wheat toast, spread a layer of hummus. Add carrots, sprouts, lettuce, tomato, and whatever other veggies you want. For a twist, add pesto or a thin layer of sliced turkey.
Bean in Your Bonnet Salad:
In a bowl, combine kidney beans, chick peas, green beans (if available), black beans, red onion (diced or sliced) and green pepper pieces. Add a dash or two of olive oil, about 3 teaspoons of red wine vinegar, a dash of garlic powder,a dash of basil, and salt and pepper to taste.