By Michelle Riklan,

Every year at Thanksgiving, many of us indulge in a delicious meal of turkey, stuffing, and pie.

Regardless of how much you eat, I’m sure you’ll have plenty of leftovers for another meal.

A turkey sandwich, perhaps?

That might be a good idea on a regular day but on the day of your job interview-not so much. Turkey contains high levels of tryptophan, which can make you feel sleepy. You need to be on your “A game” during the interview, and drowsiness will drastically affect your mental alertness. Yawning frequently won’t impress the interviewer, either.

Although turkey is one of the most commonly known foods for causing sleepiness, there are many others that you should avoid on interview days to ensure that our eye lids are not getting heavy at an inopportune time.

Here are other foods to avoid before an interview:

1. Rice

White rice has a high glycemic index; according to research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, people who eat jasmine rice will fall asleep even faster than those eating other rice types.

2. Walnuts

Walnuts are a good source of tryptophan. Researchers at the University of Texas also found that walnuts contain Melatonin, which helps control sleep and wake cycles.

3. Cereal And Milk

According to the National Sleep Foundation, the combination of carbohydrates, calcium, and tryptophan from this favorite morning meal is a recipe for dreamland.

4. Bananas

Saundra Dalton-Smith, MD, an internist and the author of Set Free to Live Free: Breaking Through the 7 Lies Women Tell Themselves exclaims “Bananas are an excellent source of magnesium and potassium, which help to relax overstressed muscles. They also contain tryptophan, which convert to serotonin and melatonin, the brain’s key calming hormones.” When grabbing a fruit on interview days, choose a citrus fruit. They are in Vitamin C and can boost our body’s immune system.

5. Miso Soup

If your interviewer is taking you out to lunch for Japanese, skip the Miso soup.  Miso soup contains amino acids that may boost the production of melatonin. Also, research shows that warm liquids like soup may help you sleep better.

6. Onions, Garlic, Shallots, And Spicy Aromatic Foods

Bad breath is probably the worst bad impression you can make on a recruiter.

7. Beans, Broccoli, And Mexican Food

These ingredients can make you feel bloated, and this in turn can upset your stomach, or worse..

8. Too Much Water

It’s important to keep yourself hydrated, but don’t drink an entire bottle before the interview. The recruiter won’t appreciate it if you have to excuse yourself three times just to go to the bathroom.

10. Greasy And Sugary Foods

French fries may taste good, or perhaps your poison is a Caramel Macchiato with an extra shot of syrup. Unfortunately, sugary foods can wind you down after its effects wear out. Aside from that, do you really want to hand in your resume with grease stains and smelling like a fast-food restaurant?

You are what you eat, so what you eat before the interview is crucial to your success. After that, you can eat all the turkey you want.