by David Marshel, Photo by Judi Cahill

Five raw brain foods that go places

Juggling classes, jobs and a social life leaves no time for studying and less for sleeping. Great! When do we eat?

Feed the mind and body with these all-natural snacks that are found on campus, fit in a backpack and can be eaten quickly while on the go.

Apples

Rich in vitamins B, A, C and K, these one-handers bust out 52 kcals of brain energy and are super high in potassium. Also, great for digestive health and maintains eyesight.

Blueberries

‘Nuff said of this king of smart foods. Pop in 3.5 ounces of these little gems for 57 kcals of energy, plus 14 carbs and vitamins C, A, and K. Oh, and the antioxidants run rampant through your bloodstream within minutes!

Carrots

This stick snack is stacked. Loaded with carbs, potassium, vitamins C, A, and lots of K for memory retention and folate, which are being studied for anti-depression.

Nuts  

Meet omegas 3, 6 and 9. No, not a fraternity, but a trifecta of fatty acids needed for brain stimulus. Whether tree nut or legume, they all dish out carbs, B-vitamins, and protein. They’re also free of gluten and saturated fats.

Dark Chocolate

Sweet freedom! Besides a cornucopia of antioxidants for the blood, DC has the fab five minerals the brain needs: magnesium, copper, iron, manganese and zinc. They are also reputed to increase blood flow to lower blood pressure which means less stress. Cocoa content should rise above 70%. Btw, health gurus recommend moderation as DC contains sugar and polyunsaturated fat.