Uh… yum?

We all know the most important part of the LSAT is your test day snack. It almost goes without saying. This post is going to cover the best, and worst, snack day options. Believe me, not all snacks are created equal — this is serious business.

First, let’s talk about some snacks that you should definitely not bring to the LSAT. I would recommend against bringing Red Bull, Five Hour Energy, or any other energy drink unless you are very used to taking practice tests with the jolt of liquid courage such beverages provide. I brought an energy drink with me to the exam, and it was a mistake. I was already jittery and nervous, so the caffeine just exacerbated my panic. And I definitely would not recommend.

I would also recommend against anything that’s really sugar, like candy or soft drinks. With energy drinks, you can generally count on the energy-high carrying you through to at least the writing section of the test. The same cannot be said of sugary drinks or snacks. You’ll probably crash about halfway into a reading comprehension section, as if those aren’t draining enough to begin with. Last, but not least, I would avoid any of high-fiber products, unless, again, you’re used to getting a lot of fiber in your diet. I don’t think I need to get into the reasons behind this one—you should probably skip the Fiber One bar is all I’m saying.

With those out of the way, let’s talk about what you should bring to the test. First off, bring a bottle of water. Water fountains are generally pretty gross, and usually end up tasting metallic. Plus, they’ll remind you even more of high school — it’s bad enough to take another test with “SAT” in it. As for food, I would recommend trail mix. Trail mix will keep you full, and it has enough sugar to keep you energized without causing a crash. I would also recommend protein bars or beef jerky. Again, both will keep you full and allow you to focus on the test. Also, if you’re anything like me, they’ll help prevent your stomach from singing the song of its people loudly enough to distract everyone around you. Last, but not least, fruit is always a good call. Not only does it keep you energized, but it also gives you a nice sense of accomplishment (you might not know how you did on the LSAT, but you definitely got a whole serving of fruit, so that’s a win, right?).

Those are my recommendations. But at the end of the day, if you’ve been pounding 40-hours worth of energy or taking down a case of Monsters during every practice test, and you’ve been consistently hitting your target score, then go crazy. At the end of the day, you want to be comfortable and relaxed during the test, so stick with your routines. For the sake of your overall health and well-being, I can’t say I recommend this approach for everyday life, but as far as I’m concerned, all bets are off from the time you start studying for the LSAT to the moment you walk out of the test center.