Healthy Snacks For The On-The-Go Student

By Francine Fluetsch on October 14, 2014

image via layaliwebzine.com

As college students, our lives are go, go, go the majority of the time. With all this running around, trying to make it to class, cramming some last minute reading in before lecture, and so on, you’ll need some snacks that are perfect for your hectic lifestyle that will fuel you up, not slow you down.

Before you leave your house in the morning, you’ll want to pack a healthy lunch/snacks to keep you satisfied throughout the day. Here are some of my recommendations of healthy snacks for the student on the go.

Applesauce Crushers:

I buy mine at Trader Joe’s and absolutely love them. They are mess free, since you can just squeeze them into your mouth, and convenient since you don’t have to worry about bringing a spoon on top of the actual food.

image via http://www.clubtraderjoes.com

There are other flavors of the Crushers as well, like the strawberry apple crusher. I haven’t tried that one yet, but it has gotten better reviews than the original, which I love.

You know you’ll only be getting the best ingredients, and it’s perfect for on the go.

To-go fruit:

You want to avoid things that can squish or stink up your backpack. So, in that case, don’t pack a banana unless you’ll be eating it very soon. Especially if it’s quite ripe (so it might have some brown), the banana smell will be really hard to get out of your pack.

Apples, oranges and cuties are always safe bets to bring. The oranges and cuties are the fastest option, because you don’t even have to wash them first! Store them in the fridge so when you eat them, they’ll be tasting fresh as ever.

I also like taking grapes–just make sure they won’t be squished by your books or anything.

Cereal bars:

Protein bars, granola bars, cereal bars, you name it: these little things are a great grab-and-go snack. You just want to make sure you are buying ones that are actually good for you, not just packing on the sugar.

Everyone will have different opinions about which are the best, but I personally get “This Apple Walks Into a Bar” from Trader Joe’s. I prefer them to Nutri-Grain bars because they are less sweet so I don’t feel sick after I eat them.

image via http://skinimini.wordpress.com

My roommate thinks they are really gross, because she prefers Nutri-Grain’s so you might have to try a few and settle the debate for yourself.

Sandwiches:

If you want something more substantial to hold you over, why not prepare a sandwich? I usually make a PB&J, because those stay good for a long while, and whenever I have time for lunch, I know it won’t be all soggy.

If you love avocado (like me) but hate how it gets brown, try squirting some lemon juice on it. It changes the flavor slightly, but it will keep it looking fresh. If you are adding cheese and meat, consider getting a small cooling pack so the cheese won’t get all sweaty.

Try and avoid sauces as well so the bread won’t get all soggy.

Things to munch on:

Instead of buying individually packed things, consider buying a big box of your favorite crackers/chips and filling your own little prepackaged baggies. This way, you’ll be getting more for your money, and by preparing it ahead of time, you’ll still be able to grab something for on the go.

When buying things to munch on, it’s totally fine to get something for a craving, but also consider some healthy options to contrast like rice crackers or veggie straws.

image via en.wikipedia.org

The great part about being on the go is you can actually enforce healthier habits, since once you are out the door you can’t just raid the fridge and eat all the chocolate chip cookies instead of the celery you packed.

While you want some guilty pleasures in your lunch (like a small chocolate bar or maybe ONE cookie) it will help you get on the path to eating well if you have healthy snacks inhabiting your bag.

Smoothies, oh my!:

I actually see a lot of people rolling into 8 a.m. with a Mason jar smoothie in hand. Consider making the smoothie the night before, so you can easily grab it for the morning, or simply get up slightly early to blend it.

You could already have all the fruit washed and cut, so you’d just have to stick it in the blender and let it work its magic.

This is a great way to start your morning right, and since smoothies are filling, you’ll be able to go longer before you sound like a dying whale in class.

Stay hydrated:

You also want to make sure to always have water with you. Did you know that when you feel thirsty, you are already way more dehydrated than you think? The key is to get water in your system even when you aren’t particularly thirsty.

I have a reusable bottle that is always in my backpack, so even if I forget to refill it at home, I can use a water fountain between classes to fill that baby up. Having the bottle in your bag will remind you to drink up, and can actually wake you up if you are starting to nod off in class.

These are just a few ideas for you to fuel your very hectic lifestyle. Good luck!

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