Breakfast at Wimbledon … and the Bar Exam
If you follow tennis, then you know one of the sport’s most prestigious tournaments—The Championships, Wimbledon from the All England Lawn Tennis Club—is now in its second and final week.
The Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s Championship matches will take place this coming weekend, as last year’s winners Elena Rybakina and Novak Djokovic continue their journey to repeat their respective titles. Djokovic is also seeking his fifth consecutive championship and seventh overall.
One of my traditions for championship weekend isn’t necessarily watching the tennis matches. Rather, it’s watching "Breakfast at Wimbledon," ESPN’s hour-long, on-site, pre-match show.
I no longer follow tennis closely, so watching "Breakfast at Wimbledon" serves as a recap of how the players earned their place in the upcoming matches and helps me better understand what to pay attention to as I’m watching the matches. "Breakfast at Wimbledon" returns for the final four days of the tournament, the Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Semifinals (Thursday, July 13 and Friday, July 14) and the Finals (Saturday, July 15, and Sunday, July 16).
Let’s talk about breakfast on the bar exam.
To increase your retention while studying and maximize your focus on exam day, consider eating a balanced and nutritious meal—especially breakfast.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day (yes, your mother is correct—again!) because it influences practically every facet of our body during the course of the day, including how we perform physically and mentally. The first meal of the day immediately raises the body’s energy level and restores the blood glucose level to normal after a restful (hopefully) night’s sleep.
So, here are some breakfast items that will help you perform at your fullest potential:
Water
Staying hydrated is key to healthy brain function. Without it, your brain will be moving at a sluggish pace during three-hour exam. (Consider maintaining your hydration throughout the exam, too, by taking short breaks and sipping a few ounces of H2O.)
Coffee
You don’t have to completely change your morning routine on the day of your test. Go ahead and drink your coffee, but do so in small amounts. Limit yourself to one or two cups to improve alertness and brain power. Too much caffeine will dehydrate the body and leave you jittery as you’re taking that test. But stay away from those flavored drinks like some lattes, mochas, and chais that can contain up to 25 teaspoons of sugar per serving.
Scrambled eggs with whole wheat toast
The protein from the scrambled eggs will improve focus and satisfy your appetite, making you feel full for hours. The whole wheat toast (or English muffin) provides high-quality carbs for energy.
Fruits
Fruit is always a good go-to breakfast food. In particular, bananas give you energy at a slower rate, making you more productive towards the end of that three-hour exam, while apples contain high levels of vitamins that increase sensory perception and also reduce anxiety.
Oatmeal with berries
Oatmeal provides a source of fiber-rich, slow-burn carbohydrates that will deliver a steady stream of energy for your body and brain as you take that exam. Top it off with fresh fruit, like blueberries or strawberries. Stay away from scoops of sugar. Just leave the traditional strawberries and cream for breakfasts at Wimbledon.
Protein smoothie
Smoothies can be an easy, on-the-go meal for those hectic exam-day mornings. Opt for a fruit smoothie that’s packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Consider adding a shot of energizing protein powder, too, to rev your system and fire up your brain power.
Here are some items you should definitely avoid:
Foods made of white flour, such as cookies, cakes, and muffins, which require added time and energy to digest.
Foods that are high in refined sugar, such as chocolates, desserts, and candies.
