Coffee, galaxy counters and mango juice, my go-tos since GCSEs. But what should we be eating for our exams? The gut-brain link is undeniable – is there a way to bio-hack our revision? I had a friend who used to chew a different flavour gum for each module she took and she graduated with a first maybe there is something in making ourselves into Pavlov’s dog.

Dr Radha says the food groups that help improve concentration are fibre, protein, whole grains and vitamin C. Not coffee, chocolate and juice unfortunately. She suggests snacks like apples with nut butter, or banana on toast – fibre paired with a wholegrain carbohydrate. Other food suggested are pumpkin seeds which are high in zinc which help memory and thinking skills. It’s also vital to remember that the fuel the brain uses is glucose, the substance carbohydrates are broken down to in the body. At this time of year it’s tempting to go on your summer diet, but maybe hold off until after exams so your brain is firing at max capacity. It might even be useful to carb-load the night before a 24-hour exam to ensure those synapses are firing as fast as possible.

Words by Poppy Adams

Toiling through examinations and assessments can be exhausting. Hours of revision and crouching over laptops require tons of mental stamina, not forgetting the lack of sleep that comes with it. Thankfully, this doesn’t last forever! With the perfect snack stash, it’s easier to survive through the season. I’m a sucker for perfectly round, sweet grapes, especially when they’re right out of the fridge. The cold grapes make for a refreshing pick-me-up when I’m low on energy after hours of screen time. Another personal favourite of mine is an Asian-style cucumber salad. Using only a few basic ingredients, it’s quick, easy to prepare in advance, and keeps well in the fridge for several days. It’s the perfect midday snack to bring with me whenever I’m craving something light and savoury during my library sessions. With these snacks by my side, exam season becomes a little less daunting, and more manageable.

Words by Yuxi Lim

My ultimate exam season survival snack is Aero mint bubbles. They are the supreme culinary form; when you break through the milk-chocolate shell and bite into the airy-light mint centre, there is a signature crack of chocolate that creates a sensory delight. Equally, unlike the slap of synthetic toothpaste that its contemporaries such as After Eights, provide, Aero has the perfect balance of sweet, melty chocolate to mint. This experience has only been improved by their transformation from bar to bubbles. It improves the chocolate to milk ratio, avoids the mess of breaking apart chocolate squares and its fully sealable pouch, instead of wrapper, means that it is easily transportable from home to library. Aero bubbles have the magical ability to transform anyone from a grumpy exam-season horror into the epitome of optimism at a highly affordable price during this stressful period. My only problem with Aero bubbles is how moreish they are. 

Words by Yolanda Prince

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