Healthy Dorm Room Snacks

By Chase Pattison on October 10, 2011

You’re in the middle of a late-night study session when suddenly, they attack.  Approaching with speed and stealth, they catch you at your weakest moment.  Still have five more pages of that essay to write?  Forget it, you’re a hostage now.

College students everywhere, beware: the munchies just might make you their next victim.  How to avoid their hostile ranks?  Be prepared.  And I don’t mean with Twinkies and Twix bars, because that will simply attract a different monster: the Freshman 15.  Instead, substitute those high-cal snacks for healthier options.  Read on to discover those must-have (and must-skip) foods for your dorm room.

Snacks to skip

Pop tarts – Packed with a whopping 200 calories per pastry (and two pastries per pouch), pop tarts are less of the breakfast item they are touted to be and more of a dessert.

Candy bars – Although sugar intake might seem like just what you need to stay awake for more studying, the result is short-lived and the following crash will be just the side effect you don’t need.

Doritos – These chips, and any other fried chip for that matter, are very high in fat content as well as artificial flavorings and additives.  Just like after eating a candy bar, you’ll crash fast.

Pepperoni pizza – Let’s face it: pizza is a staple food for college students.  But if you have the choice, go for healthier veggie varieties as pepperoni is packed with fat and preservatives.

Soda and energy drinks – Loaded with sugar, caffeine, and calories, these drinks have little nutritional value.

Photo by pmo on flickr.com

Instead, try…

Nature Valley granola bars – The fiber content will fill you up, plus the bars are low in sodium and fat (rare features among packaged snacks).

Whole grain chips and salsa – Unlike processed chips, whole-grain varieties are digested slowly and aren’t accompanied by a following crash.  Meanwhile, salsa is a low-fat, healthy way to spice up your snack.

Fresh fruit – Your body needs five fruits a day.  Keep some on hand in your room for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and anytime in between!

Trail mix – Full of complex carbohydrates, trail mix will give you the lasting energy you need to power through your studying.

Flavored (or plain) water – One of your body’s essentials plus zero calories – what could be healthier?

When it comes down to it, those frighteningly powerful munchies just might be unavoidable.  However, by keeping healthy snacks on hand, you’ll have the tools to combat them (knocking out the Freshman 15 along the way).  Now, for that essay…

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