lunch on exam day

[Ruby27]

hey guys, this may be a silly question but what are you guys planning to pack, eat for lunch during the exam? I'm trying to figure out in advance what to avoid, etc? Any suggestions on the best things to eat to boost energy?

And good luck to all, I hope that we can all attack this mcat monster with this one try!

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[Kritenoel]

I took it last year but I'd recomend that you take foods you are familiar with - don't try something new because it's said to "boost brain power" because it may or may not agree with you.

I took stuff to munch on and things that didn't contain caffine (the afternoon was long and it's even longer if you have to use the bathroom!) and I'd recomend staying away from foods that can make you feel sleepy (turkey and milk for some people). Also avoid foods that can lead to gas - brocoli and beans - that's just a bad situation.

Be sure to EAT BREAKFAST that morning! Even if you aren't a morning person - it'll get your body going and if you don't it's going to be a looooooong wait until lunch!

 

[rosielo]

On mcat day I had gatorade, trail mix, and an ambrosia mix for lunch and I retained my energy for the remainder of the test. Do not eat anything heavy or you will become sleepy or drink too much water for lunch (no time for bathroom breaks).

 

[AEG]

I agree - pack things that you are familiar with - you don't want stomach suprises!

I brought a sandwich, some fruit and some pretzels - and a soda (i know, caffiene = bad but i am hoplessly addicted to the stuff)

Good Luck!!

 

[phar]

Oh my god....mcat is not the end of the world.

Honestly, during lunch break...i was stressed and so i went to the restroom to jack off and it released alot of my stress.

 

[buggy]

Are we allowed to drink in the test room? Do they start the test anyway even if some people haven't come back from the bathroom break? Ten minute break is really short!

 

[doctorperez]

Originally posted by buggy
Are we allowed to drink in the test room? Do they start the test anyway even if some people haven't come back from the bathroom break? Ten minute break is really short!

HI

No drinking and eating is not allowed in the room. If someone who formally entered the room in the morning has not returned on time after lunch break, an appropriate amount of time will be given for the late testatker, while the whole group awaits. Once the test guides, at their discretion, begin the afternoon session the late test taker will not be allowed to resume the test. Regards.

 

[ShaylaFinn]

No joke, I brought a "little igloo" cooler packed with different food, drink, and ice. I wasn't sure what I'd be in the mood to eat test day (wasn't sure whether I'd still be nervous, or if I'd be tired, famished, etc.) so I loaded the cooler with fruit, pretzels, granola bars, sandwiches, carrot sticks, gatorade, and bottled water. You can't eat or drink during the test itself, but I was chowing down on snacks at every break. The people who didn't bring any food at all had their stomachs growling during the physical sciences section and some folks were driving around lost at lunch trying to find a fast food joint -- don't let that be you!

Also, it goes w/o saying, but dress comfortably and in layers! The a/c was broken in the room I was in, while the a/c was on overdrive in the room next door.

You've spent so long preparing for the exam - don't let little things that you CAN control (your food, clothing) become an issue on test day.

 

[buggy]

Thanks Doctorperez for the info!!

ShaylaFinn, Your snacks sounded really good! I wonder if I can even taste anything that day, with all the nervous twiches there! And my stomach is always capable of make really loud noises when it's empty!

But anyways, good luck everybody!!!!

 

[dpy]

I bought along a big bag of Starburst....which was good cuz I was about to fall asleep while taking the bio section and ate like 20 of them before the test was over to keep myself awake...fortunately the proctors didn't tell me to put away my candy...

 

[Street Philosopher]

bring some powerbars and water. i munched on the powerbars during my breaks. good for some extra sugar for your brain.

take some pepto just in case. i would just have it in the morning even if you feel fine.

take some headache medicine with you. i take advil. sometimes you can get headaches later on in the day, so it's good to be prepared.

for lunch, just have a simply sandwich, like PB&J. don't drink carbonated soda cuz it might give you gas.

 

[BushBaby]

I think I will be taking-

a little homemade salad
gatorade
water
baby carrots
mini snickers bar (already unwrapped, wrapped in saranwrap and stuffed in my front pocket to eat when I feel sleepy)
Alleve
Some sort of powerbar (which one is best?)
Tissue (incase I get a strange cold)

 

[uniqueseraph]

BushBaby,

You sound like you're really prepared! Snickers bar already unwrapped?🙂 You're taking it in April right? Good luck to you!

 

[spumoni620]

I actually thought about this for a long time based on my performance on practice tests after eating different foods...and i figured out a few things re lunch.

1) water: it's very helpful in keeping you awake and much more effective than sugar...most times when you feel sleepy it's due to dehydration. BUT if you usually don't drink water, drinking a ton on test day probably isn't advisable...unless you can get your bladder used to a lot of water by starting this week to drink more. i know it seems like a big deal but it really, really works. (use it all the time to keep awake in class.)

2) no caffeine: makes you jittery. but maybe tea (green tea) if they have hot water around your test site.

3) protein + a little fat + complex carbs (whole wheat/fiber) will keep you fuller longer and keep you alert. but again, if you don't usually take fiber don't start on test day...for obvious reasons.

4) i am personally planning to eat at least something every break i have because if i get hungry i have major problems concentrating.

good luck to everyone and hope that helped!

 

[UTH2003]

I was incredibly worried that I was going to have to use the bathroom during the exam, and everyone had told me that you can't leave after they hand out the test, so I did not know what to do. I asked my roomates what they thought I should do, and we talked about it for a while. Luckily one of the guys I live with has a dad who is a doctor. We went to his dad's house and he gave me a catheter. I worked perfect! I was so relieved throughout the entire test! Now anytime I am going to be doing something that makes me nervous (taking a test, going on a date, interviewing for medical school) I just pop in the catheter and things seem to go my way! Honestly, try it.

 

[Street Philosopher]

tell me you're joking.

 

[steve007]

Originally posted by UTH2003
I was incredibly worried that I was going to have to use the bathroom during the exam, and everyone had told me that you can't leave after they hand out the test, so I did not know what to do. I asked my roomates what they thought I should do, and we talked about it for a while. Luckily one of the guys I live with has a dad who is a doctor. We went to his dad's house and he gave me a catheter. I worked perfect! I was so relieved throughout the entire test! Now anytime I am going to be doing something that makes me nervous (taking a test, going on a date, interviewing for medical school) I just pop in the catheter and things seem to go my way! Honestly, try it.

now that's funny. thnx.

 

[BushBaby]

Originally posted by uniqueseraph
BushBaby,

You sound like you're really prepared! Snickers bar already unwrapped?🙂 You're taking it in April right? Good luck to you!

LOL...yes my prep instructor gave me the idea. I am thinking of switching to M&M's though, because I don't want the snickers to get smuched and melt in my pockets.


UTH2003,

I seriously hope you were joking with that story.... Sounds sorta painful reading it.

 

[DrBravesgirl]

short anecdote...a bunch of my friends and i took the mcat last august here on our campus. everyone was planning on walking the short distance to the student center to buy their lunches (subway, chick-fil-a, etc) during our break, but for whatever reason, i felt compelled to pack stuff along with me..i brought some chocolate chip cookies (soft-batch..mmmmm), pb&j, a bottle of powerade (the ones that are bigger than the 20 oz. ones..i'm not sure what size it is, but it worked great), granola bars, and peppermints (don't ask. kind of a random throw-in saturday morning). anyway, it started POURING during physical sciences section (remember, this is last year, when ps was right before lunch), and continued through lunch..no one could leave the building. so everyone's sitting there, hungry as can be, and i'm munching on my pb&j. the moral of the story? be prepared. it sounds like everyone on this board will be just fine, but you never know what can happen on mcat day. btw, all that extra food came in handy. and the aforementioned combo of sandwich, snacks, and powerade worked just fine. in hindsight, water would have done just as well as powerade, but i guess it doesn't really matter. good luck everyone!

 

[BushBaby]

Don't eat anything foreign tonight....also take some pepto bismol tonight or tomorrow morning before you head out. And bring ur headache medication also.

Eat some pasta tonight, your body will break down the glucose will be made available to your brain by the time you wakey wakey.

G'luck

 

[carrigallen]

Originally posted by UTH2003
I was incredibly worried that I was going to have to use the bathroom during the exam, and everyone had told me that you can't leave after they hand out the test, so I did not know what to do. I asked my roomates what they thought I should do, and we talked about it for a while. Luckily one of the guys I live with has a dad who is a doctor. We went to his dad's house and he gave me a catheter. I worked perfect! I was so relieved throughout the entire test! Now anytime I am going to be doing something that makes me nervous (taking a test, going on a date, interviewing for medical school) I just pop in the catheter and things seem to go my way! Honestly, try it.

Do u reuse the same lucky catheter each time?

 

[oldtown]

I suggest Indian or thai food, or perhaps a burrito from santana's.