1. Japanese pickled plums – While pickled plums come in packaging with expiration dates, it is said they will not rot for over 100 years. I learned of this food courtesy of Rachel Okada, who informed me that pickled plums are the most powerful detoxification food you can eat. At first the taste might make you wish you bit a lemon, but after you experience the remarkable increase in vitality that follows your brain learns to accept the flavor.

I get mine in jars of about 30 for $3.79 at Noble Fish (Clawson, MI), but I’m sure you can get them at any Japanese grocery store. I eat two on any morning that I have an exam, business deal, or high-performance event to prepare for. Very worthwhile investment – pick up a jar.

2. Raw oats, blueberry muesli, & soymilk - This is my power-breakfast, eaten daily. Unlike some of the other foods, this combo meal actually tastes good.

The breakdown:

- Raw foods have numerous benefits over cooked alternatives.
- Blueberries are potent antioxidants, slow aging, and control cholesterol.
- Soymilk has evolved to a point where it meets or beats cow milk in every nutritional category. It now tastes better, and the consumption of it is better for the environment.

The low cost of raw oats make this meal surprisingly economical, & if you’ve ever wondered why I have tons of energy to spare on any given day, this meal is a key reason. Give it a try.

3. Raw garlic – Last time I was in St. Louis I read an entire book on the health benefits of garlic. Everyone knows its healthy, not everyone eats it raw. I don’t have any definitive facts on raw garlic as opposed to cooked garlic, but according to a certain insider’s mom, consuming raw garlic is an ancient Chinese secret for health, immunity, and longevity.

Because raw garlic alone can be too much to bare, try nibbling on it as a side dish with other food in your mouth. While I kicked red meat out of my diet years ago, I’m told a bite of garlic improves flavor while helping to hide some of the occasionally wierd tasting meats.

4. Caffeine – I know, I know! Caffeine may not seem hardcore-utility, but hear this out – research in cognitive psychology shows that caffeine enhances the encoding of new long term memories. If you’re attending an event where you want to remember the names and faces of people you meet, drink some caffeine ahead of time. This is also particularly useful before lectures that contain a high proportion of declarative knowledge (e.g. vocab definitions, historical events, etc.).

Some people drink coffee, I prefer tea. More specifically, go with Special Gunpowder. It’ll put hair on your chest, even if you’re a girl.

5. Carbs – Carbs?! Yes – hear this out. Research in cognitive psychology found that carbs are crucial in free-recall memory (AKA accessing your long-term memories). Got an exam at 8:30am? Don’t skip breakfast. Take down a quick bagel and it’ll help you dodge the tip-of-your-tongue syndrome come go-time.

6. Mackerel/Yellowtail – These two fish were a shoe-in to the list for their high DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) content. For those who want to skip the five page overview of scientific evidence showing how good DHA is for your brain, let me just say this: try it for yourself. This is my go-to food for those times when my brain must be at peak performance.

Mental clarity is largely a function of what you eat. Keep this option in mind for those days when you might need it.

7. Miso soup – It’s lightweight. It’s warm. It’s healthy. It’s cheap. & it’s delicious. Good to have on hand.

8. Onigiri – The only possible way to have a top 8 high-utility foods list without onigiri on it is because you don’t know better. These traditional Japanese riceballs are portable, healthy, versatile, inexpensive, and they can fill you up fast without giving you the bogged-down-digesting feeling of most other foods. The filling is of your choice and can be selected based on need. My most common filling (also a traditional one) is the Japanese pickled plum mentioned up top – talk about a power combo! Another common choice is smoked salmon for a more long term protein-energy strategy.

Don’t let the simple design fool you. The sheer practicality of this creation made it the ninja’s food of choice. I was fortunate enough to learn the art of onigiri as the pupil of a Japanese friend’s mom, but I’ve tracked down a stylish recipe for the rest of you. Onigiri is easy to make, and is one of the most useful foods you can have in your life.

This concludes my top 8 list of high-utility foods. Take 10 seconds to skim back over them and solidify your memory so this knowledge becomes your own.