by Carissa Johnson

Created on: July 10, 2010

College dorm life is a huge transition from the past eighteen years of life at home. Mom won’t be there anymore when you get home from school to fix you a nutritious afternoon snack, so it’s up to you to keep yourself satisfied and healthy at the same time with limited resources. When you find yourself stuck in your room and the cravings start taking over, here are some nutritious and convenient snacks to reach for.

1 .The junk stash

Your stash doesn’t have to be completely junk, mind you. Chex Mix, whole wheat cereals like Cheerios or Mini Wheats, and maybe some baked chips or pretzels are easy and relatively healthy ways to satisfy your junk cravings. Try some string cheese or beef jerky for a good packaged food choice. Granola and snack bars, such as Nutri-Grain and Fiber One bars are good snacks as well. Try sugar-free pudding cups or Yoplait yogurt cups, too. Always have some munchies on hand, and look for great deals and sales at the grocery store instead of the convenience stores.

2. Microwave popcorn

Keeping a few packages of popcorn in the drawer is delicious and will make you a little more popular among your dorm friends. Be generous and get to know a new friend over a bag of popcorn. Try to choose a variety that isn’t too heavily buttered or salted.

3. Fruit

“Eww, fruit?” Yes, fresh fruit can be a great snack to munch on while you do your homework. Pick out your favorites – bananas, grapes, oranges, plums, apples, or nectarines are great to keep on hand in your mini-fridge or even sitting out. This option doesn’t require any preparation, it’s sweet, and you need two to three servings a day.  Remember to buy fruit and vegetables in season to save money. If you need an alternative to fresh fruit, you can find fruit cups with pineapple, peaches, or mixed fruits as well.

4. Veggies

“Okay, if I was hesitant about fruit, I’m even more hesitant about vegetables.” You might think that, but a lot of vegetables make great snacks. Try some raw carrots dipped in ranch dressing or some sugar snap peas.  Canned vegetables are good to pop in the microwave or eat cold for a quick and easy snack.

5. Mini-meals

Sometimes, you’re just not hungry enough for the cafeteria meals but you want a little something to tide you over. Lean Cuisines simply need a little microwaving and you have a ready-made, portion-controlled lunch or dinner. Easy Mac, Spaghetti-o’s or other Campbell's soups, and Ramen noodles are other microwave dishes that only take a little water and microwaving. Try not to live off any of these, however, because of the high sodium content.

 Finding snacks that are cheap, nutritious, and easy is not an easy task, but making wise choices will help students manage four years of snacking without gaining the Freshman 15 ... or more.

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