If there’s one thing college students are known for, it’s being stressed – but a close second is being hungry. When you’ve got a long day that’s full of classes, work, sports, and an infinite array of other time-consuming activities, it’s hard to find even more time to take care of yourself and make sure you get enough to eat.
However, getting adequate nutrition is a vital part of staying healthy, as are getting enough sleep and drinking plenty of water. There have been plenty of times when I’ve tried to ignore these aspects of self-care, and the results were not good. My failure to address my body’s needs had a huge impact on my mental health, my grades, my relationships... pretty much every aspect of my life. While letting yourself starve might seem worth it at first, it can interfere with your overall health and happiness if it becomes a habit in the long run.
Luckily, one easy solution to the hunger problem is to start carrying around healthy snacks to keep you going throughout your day. I’ve come up with a list of my top fifteen snacks for college students: they're long-lasting, easy to carry, and not too expensive. Admittedly, some of these options do require a refrigerator, and you might not want to eat them if they’ve been left at room temperature for too long. However, most of these foods are ones that you can easily store for long periods of time, no mini-fridge required.
1. Apples
While apples might not supply much in the protein department, they are a great way to boost your blood sugar level in the late afternoons, and they also contain plenty of valuable nutrients such as fiber, Vitamin C, and Vitamin K.
2. Oranges
Like apples, oranges and other citrus fruits are also high in fiber and vitamins. However, they do tend to be a bit messy to peel, so be sure to pack a napkin as well!
3. Oatmeal
As a certified non-morning-person, I often have difficulty motivating myself to make time for breakfast, which usually means I’m hungry until lunchtime. However, I’ve found that portable oatmeal cups are an easy solution: they’re quick to make and you can take them with you!
4. Peanut Butter
While peanut butter on its own might not constitute a stand-alone snack, it’s an easy way to add some tasty protein to other foods such as apples or crackers. And, if you are the kind of person who likes eating entire spoonfuls of peanut butter… who am I to stop you?
5. Nuts
As long as your school doesn’t have any super-specific allergy-related nut policies, packets of tree nuts are easy and delicious sources of portable protein. Plus, there are tons of varieties to choose from: peanuts, almonds, cashews, you name it!
6. Raisins
On a related note, raisins and other dried fruits are tasty snacks that can either be enjoyed on their own or mixed with nuts to make a trail mix. However, do keep an eye on the nutrition labels: dried fruits tend to be pretty high in added sugar.
7. Sunflower Seeds
Another mountainous mix-in! While not technically considered nuts, sunflower seeds contain a lot of similar benefits, including lots of protein and fiber. Plus, they’ll also pair well with raisins or cashews in an easily made, highly nutritious trail mix!
8. Carrots
While they do generally require refrigeration, carrots – especially full-size ones – will last for quite a long time. They are great sources of Vitamin A, and they pair amazingly with dips like ranch or hummus!
9. Hummus
Whether you eat it with carrots, pita, or other fresh vegetables such as cucumbers, hummus is always a great way to get some more plant-based protein in your diet. Stores such as Costco will often sell hummus in single-serving-sized packets, which are great for on-the-go snacking!
10. Yogurt Smoothies
This is another option that you won’t want to leave out of the fridge for too long. However, single-serve yogurt smoothies make a great to-go breakfast option, providing you with plenty of protein and healthy gut bacteria!
11. Popcorn
If you’re looking for a salty snack, consider switching out your chips for some popcorn! Not only does popcorn have a higher fiber content than chips, but it's also lower in calories and unhealthy fats.
12. Applesauce
Here’s another tasty source of nutrients that’s easy to stuff in your backpack, especially if you buy it in a to-go pouch rather than a cup! Just watch out for the sugar content: unsweetened applesauce is generally your best bet when it comes to nutrition.
13. Beef Jerky
While beef jerky (and other kinds of jerky) does tend to be rather salty, it is also high in protein, which can help keep your energy levels up throughout your long and exhausting day.
14. Cheese
I highly recommend pre-packaged cheese snacks like string cheese, cheese sticks, or Babybels! These are another great protein source, which makes cheese both a healthy and delicious pick-me-up.
15. Granola Bars
Last but not least, we have the ultimate classic snack: the granola bar! I actually tend to avoid granola bars if I can, since many contain a high level of sugar. I recommend brands such as Larabars or Rxbars, but any low-sugar granola bar will make a good on-the-go breakfast option.
What’s your favorite to-go snack? Are there any options on the list that you’re especially interested in trying? Feel free to drop a comment below!
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