With midterm exams coming up for Marlborough girls, now is the most important time to be eating the proper breakfasts and study snacks in order to keep the brain functioning and alert!

As all Marlborough girls know, the long hours of studying can be exhausting. To keep yourself going, you’re probably going to reach for a Red Bull or venti Starbucks frappuccino. But there are other options or additions you should try for long-lasting energy. Here are some examples of good snacks that are easy to prepare:

• Apples and peanut butter/almond butter

• Carrots and hummus

• Avocado on toast with salt and lemon

• Rice cakes with peanut butter/almond butter

• Mini watermelon salad:

  • 1 cup diced watermelon tossed with 1/4 cup crumbled feta and 1 tablespoon chopped mint leaves

• Turkey and cheese on crackers

• Trail mix

• Toast with hummus and chopped peppers

For breakfast, you should eat protein and grains in order to fuel your brain! It is also very important to drink water before a test and bring water with you. We need to drink water every hour in order to keep our brains functioning properly. There are studies that show that just one cup of tea helps your ability to solve mathematical and foreign language problems, and two cups of black tea have been shown to enhance work performance, reduce tiredness and improve clarity and energy. So try drinking some tea in the morning before a test! Below are some good breakfast options for the morning of your exams:

• Greek yogurt with honey and granola

• Hard-boiled egg and toast

• Smoked salmon on a bagel with cream cheese

• Toast with peanut butter/almond butter and banana slices on top

• Oatmeal with strawberries, bananas, raisins or walnuts

• Scrambled egg whites and turkey bacon

Good luck studying!