Snacking is one of my favorite parts of the day. Whether you need a mid-morning pick me up or some energy to beat off that 3:00pm drowsiness, a well-balanced snack will usually do the trick! When I choose a snack, I always try to incorporate either a fruit or vegetable, as well as a source of fat or protein. These macro- and micro- nutrients will help to keep you fuller for longer and give you the energy you need to help you make it to your next meal. I usually try to avoid snacks very high in sugar, because although they will give you that “sugar high” immediately after, your energy levels will drop quickly and you will be hungry again in a few hours.
As a freshmen in college, finding healthy snacks to eat was a struggle since I had limited resources to cook and limited space to store fruits and vegetables. When I went to my first farmers’ market I only wished that I had a kitchen available to me so that I could use all the fresh fruits and vegetables I saw at the farmers’ stands to create delicious meals. What I didn’t know then was that I could still buy fresh, local fruits and veggies and use them to make snacks in my dorm room, without even having to turn on a stove.
Listed below are some of my favorite healthy snacks that are super quick, simple and easy to make (and dorm-room friendly)!
Peanut Butter and Mashed Berry Sandwich
Ingredients:
- 2 slices of whole wheat bread
- 2 TBS peanut butter
- Handful of raspberries (I got mine from Apple Crest Farm!)
Instructions:
Spread 2 TBS of peanut butter on one slice of bread. Mash raspberries in a bowl with a fork. Spread mashed raspberries on the other slice of bread. Place sandwich together and enjoy!
Hint: You can make an open-face sandwich, with only one slice of bread, to make this snack a little bit lighter!
Hummus Snack Bowl
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. pretzels (I used sprouted, whole wheat pretzels, but there are many options that could work)
- Your choice of veggies (I used carrots and tomatoes from Riverside Farm!)
- 2 TBS hummus
Instructions:
Add veggies and pretzels around the edge of a small bowl. Place a dollop of hummus at the center. Enjoy!
Tomatoes, Cracker and Cheese
Ingredients:
- Cherry tomatoes
- Crackers (I used Triscuits!)
- Cheddar Cheese
Instructions
Thinly slice cheese. Slice tomatoes in half. Add a slice of cheese and two tomato halves to each cracker. Enjoy!