10 Breakfast Foods to Help You Ace Your Job Interview

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Your wardrobe is ready, you have practiced the tough questions, and you've visualized the job interview. What else can you do to increase your odds of success? Try eating a balanced breakfast that will keep you alert, provide you with energy, and sharpen your memory. Here are 10 suggestions to start your big day off right.

1. Coffee

Coffee will help you stay alert and focused. The trick is to not over-caffeinate, because that will make you jittery and shaky. One to two cups should be your limit. Not a coffee drinker? Try some green tea, which is also an energy stimulant.

2. Eggs

You'll need protein for energy to get through an interview, which can be exhausting. There are about five grams of protein in an egg, along with iron, vitamins, and minerals. Eggs also contain choline, which may delay fatigue. Choose your preferred way to prepare eggs and get crackin'.

3. A Whole Wheat Carb Option

Sorry, but doughnuts are not what we want to eat on the day of an important job interview. Complex carbs are what you're after, such as a bowl of oatmeal, whole wheat toast, whole grain pancakes, or whole grain cereal. Think of complex carbs as fuel to keep your brain moving, which will be handy when you get the "Tell me about a time when you had a difficult situation at work" query. As a bonus, whole grains release glucose slowly, which will keep you alert for longer.

4. Salmon

Try tucking some smoked salmon into an omelet with a little sour cream. Salmon is an oily, cold-water fish high in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3's will help you with your concentration.

5. Yogurt

Interview questions like "What salary range are you looking for?" can make you downright queasy. If you have a nervous stomach, it's time to make yogurt your new BFF, pre-interview. Good, healthy bacteria found in yogurt will give you a boost of energy and help you digest food. Look for plain yogurt with no added sugar or flavors, which might cause stomach irritation.

6. Blueberries

A 2010 study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry suggests that blueberries may help to improve memory function, so count on those little blue orbs to help with the "What do you know about our company?" question. Sprinkle berries over yogurt, cereal, or pancakes.

7. Avocados

Mash some avocado on whole grain toast, and you'll be better prepared for the tough questions. Avocados contain vitamin K and folate, as well as good fats. Folate helps with cognition, which may help you keep calm under stress.

8. Nuts and Seeds

Nuts and seeds are generally good for you to eat, for all kinds of reasons, but walnuts specifically seem to support "inferential reasoning" ability, which will come in handy if you get a question like "How did you manage to finish that project by the required deadline?"

9. Almond Butter

A super source of protein, almond butter is filled with good fats and less saturated fat than peanut butter. Try spreading it on apple or banana slices.

10. Water

I realize that water isn't a food, but your brain will be all kinds of foggy if you don't keep yourself hydrated. If you're thirsty, you'll have a harder time staying focused. If you're offered a glass of water in the interview, it's not a bad idea to accept, both for hydration and just in case your mouth goes dry.

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