If you want to drive better results in your training classes , there are many effective training methods you can try. But you might be surprised to learn that there’s one easy way to improve your outcome every time. Serving the right food at your next training can have a big impact. When your trainees are well-fed, it increases their concentration and retention, and boosts their mood and motivation.
How Food Helps You Learn
Diet affects mental function and has the ability to enhance cognitive capabilities, according to UCLA research. The human brain makes up only 2 percent of your body’s total mass, but it uses a whopping 20 percent of the energy you take in, as noted by Scientific American. Giving the brain the energy it needs leads to better concentration and performance. Not only that, when you eat the right things, you can actually supercharge that performance. And couldn’t every training session benefit from that?
But just providing your class any food at all misses an opportunity to put them in the best state of mind for learning. Certain foods release chemicals in the brain that affect how we operate. Lean proteins, like the ones you find in chicken, prompt the brain to make norepinephrine, which promotes alertness and activity, notes Psychology Today. On the flip side, the complex carbs found in white bread and pasta produce serotonin, which makes you feel tired. Would you rather have alert or tired trainees in your next session?
Meanwhile, foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon or certain types of nuts, can have positive effects on learning and memory. Similarly, fruits and vegetables foster the production of dopamine, which encourages curiosity, motivation, and engagement. They also contain antioxidants that can improve memory and enhance your mood, according to the Harvard Business Review.
Serving the right foods at the right time is one of the easiest and most effective methods you can use to enhance your training and make sure your trainees get the most out of it.
What to Serve to Improve Brain Power
It’s not just what you serve your trainees that boosts their productivity and learning, but also when you serve it. Smaller, more frequent meals help maintain glucose levels and avoid the spikes and dips that come with fewer, bigger meals. For that reason, you should offer food at least every three hours during a training session. Consider providing self-serve healthy snacks like fruit and nuts to keep people going throughout the meeting. You should also serve plenty of water, along with herbal and decaffeinated teas and coffee.
You may want to serve different foods for meetings at different times of day. Here are a few tips to help ensure you get great results no matter when you’re conducting your training.
Breakfast
To prepare for a morning session, go easy on anything made with white flour or sugar, like bagels, rolls, and pastries. Even though they’re tasty, these foods will give your trainees a brief sugar rush, followed by an even bigger crash. And that causes anyone to lose focus. Instead, serve foods like whole grain breads or oatmeal. Protein also slows down sugar absorption, so try eggs, yogurt, or a selection of low-fat meat and cheeses.
Potential foods to serve:
- Breakfast sandwiches with turkey bacon or sausage
- Yogurt with fruit
- Scrambled or poached eggs with whole grain toast
- Oatmeal
Lunch
It’s important to not fill up too much at lunchtime. Digestion requires a lot of energy, which depletes oxygen going to your brain. A high protein, low-carb meal keeps the brain stimulated rather than relaxed. Lean chicken, fish, and vegetables will do the trick here. And to keep your trainees engaged, offer fruit.
Potential foods to serve:
- Roasted chicken or grilled salmon
- Greek or garden salads
- A variety of fresh fruits
Afternoon break
Brain fatigue can set in when it’s been a long day. To replenish mental fuel, serve up healthy treats like mini quiches, wheat crackers, and proteins like cheese and nuts. Fruit is always a feel-good food, so incorporate it here, too. Cakes and cookies may seem like a good idea, but remember that they’ll only work against you in the long run.
Potential foods to serve:
- Assorted cheeses with wheat-based crackers
- Cashews and almonds
- Mini Quiche Lorraines
Better Foods Increase Effectiveness
Offering the right kinds of foods may not seem like the most obvious way to improve your next training session. But, even so, it can be a very effective training method. Steer away from sugar-heavy carbs and serve healthy alternatives to boost brainpower. Your attendees will get a lot more from the experience, and they’ll feel better too
Are you ready to plan your next training? Find a caterer who’ll provide the food you need to make it a success with ezCater.