Sick of eating cereal and Ramen for lunch and dinner? Want to spend less money eating out and finally start cooking for yourself? Put down that frozen pizza, because HC’s Health Editor, Sammie Levin, is here to share her daily eats so you can get ideas for healthy, satisfying meals that are easy enough for any time-strapped collegiette to make. After you read Collegiette Eats, your taste buds, wallet and waistline will thank you.
I haven’t been posting anything that I eat in between meals, so I thought I would share a few of my go-to snacks. I don't always snack throughout the day, but sometimes I need a little something to tide me over, especially when I eat an early dinner and stay up late doing work. These can all be prepared pretty quickly, so before you reach for a 100-calorie pack that will probably leave your stomach grumbling 30 seconds later, fix yourself one of these nutritious, satisfying snacks.
Savory
Healthy Egg McMuffin
I can think of few things better than a fried egg. If you’ve ever looked at runny yolk porn on food blogs before, then you know what I’m talking about. And if you haven’t, then stop pretending like you’re not intrigued and go check it out. The combination of the fried egg with the creamy cheese and a warm, toasted English muffin makes this a divine snack. Definitely one of my favorites.
- Directions: Toast one half of a Fiber One English muffin. Spread with one Light Laughing Cow Cheese Wedge. Top with one fried egg.
- Calories: ~155
Turkey Lettuce Wrap
Sliced turkey is the greatest thing since sliced bread. And speaking of bread, you don’t even need it to make this snack complete. Just wrap your turkey up in cheese and lettuce and you’re good to go.
- Directions: Spread one lettuce cup or swiss chard leaf with one tablespoon of hummus. Top with three slices of turkey, one slice of low-fat cheese, and a few slices of tomato.
- Calories: ~175
Cottage Cheese-Stuffed Avocado
Photo courtesy of fitsugar.com
This may sound like a weird combo, but don’t knock it ‘til you try it. The flavors and textures go surprisingly well together—unless you’re a cottage cheese hater, then I can’t promise anything. This snack is a great mix of protein and healthy fats, so it’ll keep your hunger at bay until your next meal.
- Directions: Cut an avocado in half, remove pit and fill hole with ¼ cup of low fat cottage cheese. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Calories: ~210
Sweet
Greek Yogurt Parfait
- Directions: Transfer one 6-oz container of vanilla Greek yogurt to a larger bowl. Mix in ¼ cup blueberries, ¼ cup raspberries, 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed and 1 teaspoon honey.
- Calories: ~215
Banana Peanut Butter Toast
On the rare occasion that I don’t incorporate banana and nut butter into my breakfast, then I sometimes like to have it as a mid-morning snack or even a dessert at night. You could also substitute the banana for strawberries if you like, which taste really good with almond butter.
- Directions: Toast one slice of Ezekiel bread. Spread with 1 tablespoon natural peanut butter and top with one small sliced banana. Sprinkle with cinnamon.
- Calories: ~280
Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding
Chia seeds are loaded with omega-3's, antioxidants and plant-based protein. When you add chia seeds to liquid and let it sit in the fridge, the tiny seeds soak up the liquid and expand, making for a pudding-esque consistency. This is perfect for those times (aka all the time) when you want something sweet post-dinner.
- Directions: Mix 2 tablespoons chia seeds with 2/3 cup almond milk, 1 teaspoon cocoa powder and 1 tablespoon agave. Store in fridge for several hours until thick.
- Calories: ~160
Lighter Snacks
Homemade Popcorn
Popcorn is one of my favorite late-night snacks, especially if I’m craving something salty. It’s not very filling, though, so it’s better for when I’m not too hungry but just want a little something to eat. I had never stove-popped popcorn before this year, but my housemates got me into it. Making your own allows you to control the amount of salt and butter used, so if you have access to a stove, then I recommend it.
- Directions: Depends on brand; buy popping corn kernels and prepare on stove according to package instructions.
- Calories: ~30-50 per cup
Baby Carrots and Dip
This may not be the best snack to eat in the quiet section of the library, but if you’re somewhere where you can crunch to your heart’s desire, then go for it.
- Directions: Munch on 1-2 servings of baby carrots (about 15-25 carrots) with your dip of choice, such as hummus, tzatziki or salsa.
- Calories: ~35-60 without dip; calories of dips vary
Almonds
Almonds are a great snack to take to the library. It can be hard to control your portion sizes with nuts since it’s so easy to just keep popping more into your mouth without keeping track. Even though almonds are full of healthy fats, the calories can add up, so avoid going overboard by portioning out a serving instead of just continuously reaching your hand into the bag.
- Directions: Enjoy one serving of natural almonds (about one handful, or 20-25 nuts)
- Calories: ~170
These are just a few of the snacks I've been picking this semester. What's your go-to healthy snack? Comment below! I'm always in need of good new ideas to switch it up.