Eating Well During the Worst Weeks of the Year: A Guide

Here we are, folks. The home stretch. Only a couple of weeks until the end. Some of us are counting down the days, while others (myself included) are dreading the unknown black hole of summer, but we are all eating. So here I am again writing about how you can stay properly fuelled during this gruelling-yet-sunny April exam season.

Below, I have prepared five study packages to keep you fuelled in the arctic climate of McLennan. All of these recipes can be made in large quantities and last you the whole week, so stock up. Also, there is no excuse for gross and overpriced PM sandwiches, because most of my recipes are really just throwing shit in a container. Anything more complicated is just a form of studying for your Chem of Food final anyway, so you’re good any way you slice it (pun intended).

Package 1: Simple Prep

• Berry Parfait
  • 1 cup berries
  • 2 tbsp of chia seed
  • 1 tbsp of flax, hemp or sunflower seeds
  • Handful of sliced almonds
  • Yogurt (if you are vegan add granola or almond milk)

• Dried Fruit Mix
  • Buy pre-made or go to bulk-barn and make your own

• Pesto Salad
  • 1 ⅕ cup pasta (of choice)
  • 8 cherry tomatoes (cut in half)
  • 1 cup kale (shredded)
  • 2 tbsp pesto (buy pre-made)
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • Optional crunch: sliced almonds, pumpkin seeds, and hemp seeds mix

• Banana Split (sort of, lol)
  • 2 rice cakes
  • 2 tbsp nut butter (try Sunflower butter if you haven’t, it will change your life)
  • 1 sliced Banana

Package 2 : The Gluten-Free Vegan Baddie

• Funky Monkey Chia Pudding
  • 2 tbsp chia seeds
  • ½ cup milk (of choice)
  • 1 tbsp of peanut butter
  • As much chocolate (or cocoa nibs) as you need to feel alive
  • 1 sliced banana
    • * note that this needs at least 4 hours to sit, so if oxidized banana grosses you out, just add it in when you eat

• Cold Tofu
  • ½ cup tofu – diced and dry fried in a sauté pan until crispy
  • 2 cups spinach
    • Add it to the tofu with a little bit of sesame oil and cook for 3 minutes
  • ½ cup steamed broccoli
    • put chopped broccoli in a bowl with water in the microwave and let it cook for 3 min, or add to boiling water on stove and do the same
  • Dressing:
    • Sesame seeds
    • 1 tsp of sesame oil
    • 1 tbsp of soy sauce
    • Sriracha (a spicy kick)
  • * Combine all of the ingredients and put it the fridge overnight. It’s so good cold!

• Veggie Crunch
  • Your favourite veggie packed like when you were in elementary school, but paired with a dip because you’re an ~adult~ now

Package 3: A Library Fiesta

• Morning Oats
  • 1 cup of oats
  • 1 cup of milk/water
  • Hand-full of blueberries
  • Sweetener to taste (maple syrup, brown sugar, honey, etc.)
    • *if you are oat free like me – just make Chia pudding again but with a new twist!

• Burrito Bowl
  • ¼ cup Quinoa / Rice
  • Black beans (cooked)
  • Diced tomatoes
  • Corn
  • Avocado
  • Sweet potato (roasted)
  • Ripped Kale / Spinach
  • ¼ of a lime – squeezed on top

Package 4: Green Day

• Smoothie
  • 1 cup (packed) spinach
  • 1 1/2 cup Orange juice or coconut water
  • ½ cup frozen mango
  • Optional: protein powder

• (It’s) An Avocado (thanks) Salad
  • 2 cups of shredded kale
  • Handful of sliced almonds (and other seeds if you have)
  • ½ avocado (give your kale an avocado massage)
  • Lemon or balsamic vinegar
    • ** add protein of choice if you are feeling it (Chicken, Tuna, Tofu, Chickpeas)

• Green Apple and Peanut Butter
  • Just a classic

Package 5: Comfort Foods

• Apple Pie (well, in spirit anyway)
  • Chia pudding (2 tbsp Chia: ½  cup of milk)
  • 1 chopped apple
  • Dash of cinnamon
  • Splash of maple Syrup
    • * if you add a whole apple to the chia mix it really just tastes like apple pie filling

• Popcorn
  • Buy your own kernels or a bag
  • Or, for the ultimate snack: pop your kernels in coconut oil and salt
    • (they will try and sell this to you for $7 a bag, but you can make a better version yourself)

• Roasted Veggie Bowl
  • ***  Drizzle Olive Oil, Salt and Pepper on the following vegetables and roast in oven at 400 for around 35-45 minutes
    • ½ cup carrots
    • ½ cup cauliflower
    • ½ sweet potato
    • ½ cup brussel sprouts
    • ½ zucchini
    • ¼ cup of cooked quinoa
    • 1 cup shredded kale (raw)

• • Tahini Dressing – mix together
    • 1 tbsp sesame paste
    • 1 tbsp water
    • 1 tbsp lemon
    • 1 tsp olive oil

• Pretzels and Dip
  •  I love a good PB and Pretzel Combo
  • Other ideas:
    • Hummus
    • Nutella
    • Sunflower Butter
    • Mustard (idk, maybe you want to feel European?)

Enjoy! See you in the Fall!!!