Quick fuel for the student on the run!

As a nursing student, I know your time is limited, but brain fuel in the morning before school is so very important. It will help you stay alert, retain what you learn, and retrieve that information for test day. The following receipes can be made quickly in the evening (assuming you take day classes) or on the weekend when you need a break from studying. Refrigerate for a quick bite to grab on your way out the door in the morning or freeze for packing a midday snack in your lunch bag in seconds.

Eggs in a Ham Basket or “100 Calorie Pack” found on The Simple Delights at http://thesimpledelights.com/?p=246#comment-15780 . I cooked these for 16 minutes instead of 12 at 400 degrees, which made the yolks more like boiled egg consistency and more convenient for a snack on the run. Very easy, quick, and delicious. Great protein punch for the run down nursing student.

Miniature Crustless Spinach Quiches by The Quince and the Pea at http://www.quincesandthepea.com/mini-spinach-crustless-quiches. Another quick and easy breakfast to grab on the run. Although the nutmeg and feta make this distinctly yummy, don’t feel like you have to run out to the store for these specific ingredients. Whip up a quick batch with your favorite cheese and spice.

Again, these are great made ahead and refridgerated for grabbing a couple or three to munch on for breakfast as you head out the door for a full day of classes or clinical.

Want a healthy, crunchy snack to munch on during study time instead of chips? Then, you gotta try these… my new crack:

Kale Chips! This recipe from Allrecipe can be found here http://allrecipes.com/recipe/baked-kale-chips/. They say 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes, but I like to kick up the temp to 400 degrees for 20 minutes for extra crunch. Make sure to cut the kale off the stalk before washing to save a few minutes on the drying time. I also toss them around in a bowl with the olive oil and spices (my fav is garlic salt and basil) before cooking to get full coverage instead of just drizzling them once on the pan.

Actually, any roasted veggie makes a tasty, quick, healthy snack. Just remember to use olive oil or canola oil, which are good sources of high density lipids (HDL) [remember, you want your high density lipids (HDL) to be high and your low density lipids (LDL) to be low]. Here are some examples:

Roasted Cauliflower from Delighted Momma at http://www.delightedmomma.com/2012/01/baked-cauliflower-poppers.html

Roasted Spring Onions from Country Living at http://www.countryliving.com/recipefinder/roasted-spring-onions-recipe-clx0411

Zucchini Chips from Vittles and Bits at http://vittlesandbits.blogspot.com/2012/03/baked-zucchini-chips.html

And truly my personal favorite – Roasted Broccoli from Food Network at http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/parmesan-roasted-broccoli-recipe/index.html. While this recipe is yummy, the obsessively studying student should just keep a gargantuan bag of frozen broccoli in the freezer to pull out for a snack at any moment. Just pour the portion of frozen broccoli crowns, stalks, or florets you want to eat into a bowl, toss them with a tablespoon of olive oil and a handy spice (even if it’s just salt and pepper), throw them on a roasting pan (covered with foil for quick clean up) and bake at 425 for 30-40 minutes. Heck, eat ’em right off the pan. Who needs to bother with a plate when you have to be an acidosis/alkalosis genius by 8:30 tomorrow morning for the test. Right!

Fuel for Test Day!

The body needs glucose for energy. And on test day you don’t have time for the body to turn fat or protein into glucose so go ahead and go straight for the carbohydrates! My secret Test Day food combines an antioxidant for clearing the mind and carbs for immediate fuel for brain power. What is the best source of antioxidants:

Blueberries!

I’ve added some blueberry sweet recipes below for you to bake from scratch if you want to and they absolutely look scrumptious, however, what nursing student really has time to bake. I had the best test results on the days that I left for school a little early and stopped to pick up a Dunkin Donut Blueberry Iced Donut.

Whatever you choose, the best results occur when you take you blueberry treat all the way to school and eat it right before walking into the test. A cup of coffee to accompany it isn’t a bad idea either. Blueberry for antioxidant, flour and sugar for instant glucose, and you are set for powerful brain enhancement to retrieve all that information you packed into your brain over the last week(s) and the final cramming you did last night.