What to eat on day of MCAT?

[Melomare17]

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so i was wondering what foods/types of foods people ate or recommend eating the day of the exam?? the test next week is at 1pm, so was just wondering in terms of breakfast and lunch (if you would eat both before the test--not get food coma? lol)

 

[SN2ed]

Whatever you normally eat. Just don't stuff yourself.

 

[muhali3]

do not induce postprandial somnolence

 

[stsa84]

PB&J, fruit, crackers, water. Nothing that could possibly upset your stomach.

 

[Melomare17]

PB&J, fruit, crackers, water. Nothing that could possibly upset your stomach.

thats all you ate before your MCAT??? before, not during breaks.

 

[stsa84]

Lol yeah. I just kept thinking how terrible it would be to have stomach problems on the day of the test...for two days before the test I kept my diet light...basically sandwiches, fruit, crackers, cereal...I ate as much as I needed to get full, but stayed far away from anything greasy, fatty, or heavy. You'd probably be fine eating whatever, but for me, it was one less thing to worry about on test day, and one more thing to reward myself with (a nice unhealthy meal) after it was over.

 

[salim271]

You'd probably be fine eating whatever, but for me, it was one less thing to worry about on test day, and one more thing to reward myself with (a nice unhealthy meal) after it was over.

Yuppppp if I think I did well (unlikely,) I'm going to head straight to where they treat me like a King... and if i think I did poorly, I'll go back home and get a slipper thrown at me, and no doubt I will be told that I'm gonna be fronting the bill for the next attempt 🙁 lol.

 

[SeminoleVesicle]

Here's a funny story about what not to eat. I ate two hot dogs before mine, and I was ****ting my brains out an hour before the test. I agree with SN2ed, just eat whatever you normally eat.

 

[stsa84]

Here's a funny story about what not to eat. I ate two hot dogs before mine, and I was ****ting my brains out an hour before the test. I agree with SN2ed, just eat whatever you normally eat.

This was my nightmare scenario. You stayed fine throughout the test though?

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

Normal breakfast, nothing new, but I took a bag of twizzlers and granola bars with me to the test. Also some ice tea just incase I felt sleepy, I stayed away from too much coffee because it would make me pee too much.

 

[SeminoleVesicle]

This was my nightmare scenario. You stayed fine throughout the test though?

Yeah man, I was good. I got to the test site early, so I was able to chill in the commode for a while and get myself together. I don't know why, but I really wanted Nathan's Hot Dogs that day.

The bigger issue was the fact my testing center's AC was at like 46 degrees, and I had no sweatshirt. I had diamondcutters the entire time.

 

[btown8908]

Whatever you do, don't eat Kashi...

 

[stsa84]

Whatever you do, don't eat Kashi...

Lol.

Did anybody else even stop to think about what they'd eat on test day or the previous day? I did, and the thread starter obviously did...I just can't imagine not taking that into consideration. But it sounds like most people don't think about it, and just eat whatever?

 

[SN2ed]

Lol.

Did anybody else even stop to think about what they'd eat on test day or the previous day? I did, and the thread starter obviously did...I just can't imagine not taking that into consideration. But it sounds like most people don't think about it, and just eat whatever?

It comes up often.

 

[bajastapler]

complex carbs for the win!

🙂

 

[Brit10]

Food is important of course! I had a 1pm exam as well so I ate a late breakfast, lots of protein. Snacks are interesting, you really don't have long to eat as they take your fingerprints etc when you go in and out. On top of the restroom gives you 10 minutes. Bring a power drink and something you can eat and digest quickly. I brought power bars and for before the VR some skittles. I actually saw someone asleep in the room so obviously it happens.....

 

[Melomare17]

wow awesome advice, thanks a ton!

 

[illinichief89]

Steak an Potatoes like Michael Jordan before every game

 

[notbobtrustme]

protein, MCT and nicotine baby.

 

[user003]

so i was wondering what foods/types of foods people ate or recommend eating the day of the exam?? the test next week is at 1pm, so was just wondering in terms of breakfast and lunch (if you would eat both before the test--not get food coma? lol)

eat bacon 😛

 

[shushumiga]

eat bacon 😛

eat dark chocolate 😀
will keep you focused...at least it does that to me 😛

 

[sha15]

I don't normally eat breakfast and if I do, I usually after to take a slam not too long after. So I didn't eat anything but drank some cheap OJ from the hotel continental breakfast.

Some dude was dropping the kids off hard after verbal.

 

[Cardio_4_Life]

Some dude was dropping the kids off hard after verbal.

Sha,

I literally am tearing up from laughing so hard..... I have never laughed out loud at something I read on a computer until now that is.... Thanks for the comic relief.

 

[DrDotooMuch]

I recently discovered "Backcountry Bars" at Winco. They're a bar made of crush sunflower seeds, nuts and dried cranberries. They're filling and energetic. I'm defiantly taking a few of those with me for breaks.

 

[merde]

I had an 8AM MCAT and needed to wake up at 5 to get there. I had my normal breakfast of fruit and yogurt with a large coffee from Dunkin' and packed a water bottle and a few Cliff bars for the breaks. My testing center was super crowded that day so I barely had time to use the bathroom and stuff down my snack before 10min was up. Prometric checks fingerprints, pockets and wands you every time you leave and enter so if there are a lot of other people it takes time.

 

[desi0chick]

Starbucks 🙂

 

[sha15]

Sha,

I literally am tearing up from laughing so hard..... I have never laughed out loud at something I read on a computer until now that is.... Thanks for the comic relief.

Ha no problem; I must admit I heard someone use that phrase a good while ago. It is definitely a good one; pass it on

 

[mitchlucker]

Don't eat anything you wouldn't eat on a date...

If you're worried about it...don't do it.

You know yourself well enough not to eat a tacobell 4th meal, then wake up to mcdonalds and starbucks for breakfast before your 8am test.

 

[centrigeugle]

You know yourself well enough not to eat a tacobell 4th meal, then wake up to mcdonalds and starbucks for breakfast before your 8am test.

Eh. I had to travel a long way for my MCAT and lived for about four days on what I brought in my cooler, and (lots of ) fast food.

I didn't have a stroke or fall asleep or pee myself during the test or anything. As usual, I think SDN is way, way, way overblowing the importance of MCAT-centric food.

The big thing is just to make sure your blood sugar stays level, and that you find something palatable enough to actually get calories in the day before. McDonald's cheeseburgers did it for me.

Seriously. Just...eat food. Not something ridiculous, and stay on top of your calorie counts since you'll be so anxious that your appetite probably won't work right. I've found stonefruit is good for nervous tummies, as is any aromatic fruit, really. I destroyed some lychees during my terminal studying. God those things are awesome.

I will however shamelessly plug those awesome cheddar cracker with peanut butter things. Nicely calorie dense, and also delicious as ****. If you're like me and never get hungry when you're nervous, they're also easy to shove into your mouth wholesale and force down with some water.

That's what I did between verbal and the essays. It didn't make me feel like superman...but once again, no strokes or psychotic breaks or anything just because I didn't pasta-carb-load for a week beforehand.