The Shortcut Chef: Exam-Season Power Pots

Boost focus by cooking one flexible base—like rice, couscous, or pasta—and turning it into different quick meals all week, so you spend energy on studying instead of “what do I eat now?”

Why This Shortcut Matters

During exam season, decisions pile up fast; having a ready base means you only choose toppings, not start a full cooking session every night.

You stay fueled with real food in minutes, which helps with concentration, mood, and not blowing your budget on last‑minute delivery.

Step-by-Step Shortcut

• Step 1: Pick a base that keeps well, such as brown rice, quinoa, couscous, or small pasta shapes, and cook a big batch at once.

• Step 2: Store it in the fridge in an airtight container, slightly undercooked if you’ll reheat in a pan or microwave later.

• Step 3: Prep a few quick “toppers”: canned beans, frozen veggies, grated cheese, boiled eggs, or a simple sauce like pesto or tomato.

• Step 4: When it’s study time, scoop some base into a bowl, add a topper or two, reheat, and finish with something small but fun—herbs, chili flakes, or a squeeze of lemon.

"Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most." – Abraham Lincoln

Extra Chef’s Tip

Keep a “panic bowl” combo written on a sticky note (for example: rice + beans + frozen corn + cheese) for nights when your brain is too fried to be creative.

Shortcut Summary

Cooking one big base turns exam week dinners into a 5‑minute assemble-and-heat move instead of a 45‑minute project.

Your future exam self gets warm, comforting meals with minimal dishes, leaving brain space for flashcards, not frying pans.

Add Your Shortcut Below

Have a go‑to exam meal or study snack hack? Share your fastest “I have 10 minutes till my next revision session” tricks and help fellow Shortcut Chefs stay fueled through finals!