These are the foods you should eat before you have a job interview

These are the foods you should eat before you have a job interviewThese are the foods you should eat before you have a job interviewYouve worked out exactly what youre going to say and how you ought to say it. Your tediously considered outfit is folded at the edge of your bed next to the Norman Mailer book youre gonna pretend to read on the commute. Your printed out resume is already tucked neatly in your bag, and youve given yourself eight whole hours of sleep before the big interview.All you need now is a bit of raw chocolate, and youre all set.Yes, becausechocolate is a delectably merited comfort food, but also because its rich in antioxidants, minerals, and stress-alleviating compounds, perfect for starting a high stake day.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreEverything there is to know about what to wear and say when preparing for a job interview is already floating around in a thousand different forms on the internet, but we dont pay nearly enoughattention to what we should be eating to help us make the best first impression. There are in fact, foods that contain nutrients that play a huge role in mitigating stress and energy levels.Registered Holistic Nutritionist,Peggy Kostopoulosfilled Ladders in on the best foods to keep us calm and focused enough to land the job.The mythsFirst things first, try to limit caffeine intake. Coffee has become so synonymous with productivity, its function has kindof become obscured.Sometimes a good nights sleep is simply unobtainable, and we need a java kick to help us crawl to the finish line. But, if you dont need the stuff, the jittery, gastro menace that accompanies it, is rarely worth the risk, especially when coupled with the inherent nerves of trying to impress a stranger. Consider green tea instead, what it lacks in caffeine, it makes up for in L-Theanine, which is an amino acid that encourages relaxation by affec ting various parts of the brain.Another popular pseudo-productivity booster are energy drinks, like Monster or Red Bull. These drinks are incredibly high in sugar, which can negatively impact blood sugar levels, which in turn leads to brain fog.Similarly, Kostopoulos dispells the myth that sees many young professionalsnot eating anything all before an interview, typically by reason of a nervous loss of appetite. She explains, Not eating anything at all prior to an interview can impair cognitive function, memory, and concentration. Opt for something high in fiber, polypeptid and healthy fats to stabilize blood sugar and optimize brain function. An ideal pre-interview breakfast does a body goodProtein, healthy fats, and fiber.Kostopoulos needed no time to rattle these off. Think whole grain toast, avocados, spinach. Whatever fiber-fats combo, you deem fit make sure you get some eggs in there somewhere. Whole eggs provide a healthy dose of protein and fats which helps to satiate hunger . Plus, the choline found in the yolk helps to improve memory and brain function, Kostopoulos told Ladders. Protein for the brain function, fiber for the charge. Foods like avocados and spinach, contain healthy fats and fiber, which will help stabilize blood sugar levels and keep you energized for hours.Snacks to provide comfort and keep you stress-freeOnce youve got breakfast out of the way and youre on the move, its okay to pack some healthy alternatives to junk foods that will make you feel at more at ease, sans the guilt and a serious crash to boot. As foreshadowed above, raw chocolate contains the same endorphins that suppress pain and stress as regular chocolate in addition to the nutritional boosts. Almonds are similarly loaded with important minerals, nutrients, and vitamins that contribute to a balanced mental state. Almonds contain omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for proper brain function and lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, reducing feelings of stress and anxiety in the body and mind,Kostopoulos told Ladders.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people