Brain food: healthy exam time snacks for your children

Exam time is here and that means hours and hours of studying and of course, constant snacking. In order to help keep your children’s brains in tip-top shape, it’s important to stock up on a variety of healthy, protein and vitamin-rich snacks. Eating the right snacks will help improve your child’s focus and ensure their minds stay sharp.

Here are some ideas of healthy snacks for your children to enjoy during exam time: 

Biltong
Protein helps the brain send messages to the rest of the body and helps create brain chemicals to that improve your mood.
Popcorn
Popcorn is not only a treat to enjoy at the movies, it can also be a healthy study snack – provided you prepare it the healthy way and give the unhealthy flavourants a miss! Buy some plain popcorn kernels from the shops and then pop them in a pot on the stove in your kitchen. You can then add some salt or for want a sweet snack, add some sugar and cinnamon and voila! the perfect study snack that your children are guaranteed to love.
Veggie sticks
You can’t go wrong with veggies because not only are they rich in important vitamins, but they also make an excellent and delicious study snack. Cut your child’s favourite veggies into sticks to snack on while studying. They can dip the veggie sticks in hummus or Greek yoghurt for some extra protein and omega 3 fatty acids (brain food).
Dark chocolate
Just because its exam time doesn’t mean your children can’t enjoy a sweet treat like chocolate, just as long as it is dark chocolate. Dark chocolate is the healthier alternative for any chocoholic and what’s more, it’s packed full of nutrients and antioxidants which are very good for you. Dark chocolate also increases the body’s production of endorphins which will undoubtedly boost your mood in general.
Apples dipped in peanut butter
As the old adage goes “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” and you certainly want to keep the doctor away during exam time. Apples are full of vitamins and fibre and are known to increase cognitive performance. Peanut butter is rich in protein and other nutrients, so combine the two and you have the perfect exam time snack. 
Homemade trail mix
Walnuts can improve your ability to learn and remember. Nuts are one of the best snacks you can have, as they are great for your brain, rich in healthy fats and nutrients and can give your child a much-needed energy boost; while dried fruit can satisfy any sweet tooth. Make your own trail mix by combining your child’s favourite nuts, seeds and dried fruits such as dried cranberries and raisins. These snacks are not only healthy but also a super tasty way to fuel the brain during exam time.

Most importantly – drink water.

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