Top 3 Healthy Snacks for College Students

By Danielle Wirsansky on March 24, 2017

This article is brought to you by Kaplan, the leader in test prep for over 90 standardized tests, including the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and MCAT.

Food is one of the best parts of life. From breakfast, lunch, and dinner, to in between, students cannot wait until their next meal. Stopping to eat, especially snacks, makes great little breaks between the hubbub of school, work, homework, studying, and socializing that all college students engage in.

Snacking can be especially easy to do, with students mindlessly munching all the while without realizing just how much they have eaten. It can be tough to curb snacking — the freshman 15 is not a saying for no reason! But a great way for students to help themselves out is to substitute their regular snacks with healthier snack options.

Read on to learn some of the top healthy snacks for college students!

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Nuts

There are such a variety of nuts that no matter what kind of flavor you are craving, whether it be sweet, bitter, salty, or savory, you can find a nut to suit your needs. If you want a sweet tasting snack, try almonds!

According to One Green Planet, almonds are “a great nut variety to eat when you’re stressed. Almonds are rich in natural proteins and healthy fats, not to mention they also have more fiber than other nuts. All of these factors help your body crave less sugar.”

A nut that helps decrease stress and helps with sugar cravings? What more could you ask for in a snack?

If you are more interested in a savory tasting nut, you might consider the pistachio. They are a particularly healthy option for students as they help control body weight and help you to lower the risk for any heart-related problems.

SF Gate says, “If you like snacking on nuts, you can control your weight by limiting your portions. The fiber content of the nuts may make them more filling, helping you to eat fewer calories later on in the day.”

Nuts are widely carried in most grocery stores and are usually affordable even for students on a budget. However, many students might have food allergies. Bringing nuts into class may not be recommended (or even be banned for safety reasons). If this is the case, you can try our next option …

Hummus

Hummus is a Mediterranean dip comprised of ground chick peas that makes a creamy, thick paste. It has boomed in popularity lately, especially among the younger generation. It has become a trendy food item, so you can be in style and eat healthy! It has high fiber that will keep your digestive system in good shape, high amounts of protein to help your skin stay clear (or clear up as the case may be), and the chickpeas it is made from are full of antioxidants.

You can also use other vegetables, generally raw, to dip into it which will help you get more nutrients and vitamins in while filling you up. Pita and pita chips are certainly delicious. But why eat a carb when you can easily substitute it with a veggie to dip with? Cucumbers, carrots, pepper slices, and more are great options to eat with your hummus.

Hummus is also really eater friendly. By that, I mean it is gluten-free, nut free, and dairy free. It’s a perfect snack for anyone whether you have food allergies or not, and whether you are an omnivore, vegetarian, or vegan!

According to Dr. Axe, eating hummus “can help to lower cholesterol and triglycerides levels, to reduce symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, and to lessen the chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.”

It is also an easy snack to share with friends. If you feel bad eating your snack in front of your friends, invite them to share! Everyone can partake in eating the hummus and stay healthy (as long as no one double dips). However, the next snack is something much less likely to be shared.

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String Cheese

You might remember string cheese as more of a childhood snack, but you should definitely try it again as a college student! The same reasons that you loved it as a child and what made it such a great choice still stands: you can eat them on the go, they can go for a couple hours without refrigeration, they are healthy, and they taste good! No utensils are necessary to eat them as they are individually packaged for your convenience, and they make virtually no mess.

There is nothing to spill out into your backpack or purse to make a gross mess and get on your homework or laptop. You can also pair this cheese with fruits or veggies, even crackers in order to make them more filling and fit the flavor taste you are craving.

According to Self, “String cheese is the perfect snack. You get carbs for energy from the milk it’s made from and you also get a good dose of protein and calcium.”

Learn more about Kaplan’s test prep options and start building the confidence you need for Test Day.

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