13 Study Snacks for College Students
This summer, FEED had the pleasure of having a University of Michigan sophomore work with us and provide first-hand knowledge of navigating college life with celiac disease. Read on for her recommendations for study snacks for college students that will keep you full and focused:
Starting Freshman year in college is an extremely exciting, yet very nerve racking experience for any student. It is the first time you are truly on your own and completely independent. This independence brings many new and fun experiences, but also requires a certain level of maturity and preparedness. Some decisions, like ones revolving around food, are not so easy to make.
Snacks are ESSENTIAL and NECESSARY for any college student. This is because you are always on the go, moving from place to place, and you want to make sure you have something healthy on hand to avoid sugary or processed foods as the day goes on. Below are some of my favorite snacks to ALWAYS keep in your dorm room:
Morning Munchies
Oatmeal
Oatmeal is probably my go to breakfast food. I just pour an individual packet in a bowl, add some water, and heat in the microwave for a minute and a half. Make sure to buy PLAIN oatmeal. This way you can save the added and unnecessary sugars and upgrade your oatmeal with your own toppings like fruit or nut butters.
FEED Favorite: We love Bob’s Red Mill’s Classic Oatmeal Cup with 6 g of fiber per serving from oats, chia seeds and flaxseed!
Hard Boiled Eggs
Hard boiled eggs are filled with protein to keep you full and are super easy to store.
Granola or Granola Bars
Granola usually contains tons of added sugars. However, certain granola brands like Purely Elizabeth and granola bars like Thunderbird do not contain refined sugars and still taste delicious. Make sure to always read the nutrition facts panel on granola and granola bars!
FEED RDs recommend checking the serving size on your granola and look for a brand ~5 g of sugar per serving. We also like RXBARs, which contain no added sugars and have ~5 g of fiber per bar!
Portable Protein
Nut Butters
Nut butters are extremely delicious and add protein to your meal and/or snack. Stick to the serving size (2 tablespoons) or buy pre-portioned packets. Also, always check the ingredients to be aware of added sugars and oils and avoid when possible.
Jerky
I have recently become obsessed with turkey jerky! It is so easy to munch on, carry with me, and tastes delicious. It also keeps me full for a long time. Check the ingredients and look for as few as possible!
Roasted Edamame or Chickpeas
Similar to nuts these are packed with protein, so they will keep you full and tide you over until your next meal. My favorite brands are Seapoint Farms Sea Salt Edamame, and Biena Snacks Sea Salt Roasted Chickpeas.
We love Biena chickpea snacks too! Try the savory sea salt, or the cinnamon crunch for a sweet ‘n salty snack.
Savory Snacks
Rice Cakes
Serious life saver. These are the perfect food to satisfy your crunchy craving with very few calories. My favorite brand is Lundenberg Farms. Top them with hummus or nut butter, and your snack is complete.
Popcorn
Popcorn is a great snack to have in your dorm room for when you come back from a night out. When you are looking to munch on something late at night, popcorn provides just that!
DYK popcorn is a whole grain? Whole grains are one of FEED’s favorite high-fiber foods. Read more about the benefits of consuming whole grains and other fiber-full foods HERE.
Single-Serving Nuts
The serving size part is key here. Nuts are filled with protein, but they are also calorically dense. It is so easy to find single-serving packages of nuts at the local grocery store or even Walgreens to carry in your backpack for the perfect portioned snack.
Roasted Seaweed
Another snack that is very low in calories, but has a lot of flavor is roasted seaweed sheets. These also come in single-serving size packages– perfect for on the go!
Dips & More
Hummus
Hummus is seriously one of the best snacks you can have, in my opinion. It tastes great and many brands make single-serving portions that you can carry with you throughout the day! Dip veggies, apple slices, or pretzels in it and you have another perfect snack.
Rather make your own hummus? Try our cucumber hummus recipe with 6 g of fiber per serving!
Single-Serving Guacamole
Just like mini hummus containers, these individual guacamoles are super easy to bring with you and are a delicious snack that’s portioned out to 100 calories!
Fruits and Veggies
Obviously, fruit and vegetables are key to having in your dorm room. However, these can expire quickly so make sure to only buy as much as you will eat that week. Oranges and apples will last a while and are easy to carry in your backpack, and vegetables like carrots and cucumbers are a great crunch with a longer expiration date.