While it can be obvious that grabbing a large juicy apple from the GSU or choosing to pick out pieces of pineapple from the fruit selection in the dining hall are healthy snack options, the right choice might be less recognizable when you are bombarded with aisles of food in the grocery store. There are labels such as “light and fit,” “calorie free,” and “slimming” which may jump out at you and fool you into paying for sugary granola bars and artificially sweetened products that have no actual nutritional value. Hopefully, this article will clear up a few things on what purchases you should be making, when you do opt for that healthy snack.
Check the nutrition sticker on your product! Look beyond the initial label or commercial representations.
Nutritional value to look for:
- high in protein
- vitamins
- minerals
- fiber
- low calories, not no calories
- low fat
- no trans fat
- low amounts of sugar
- low sodium
Don’t skimp out on your whole grains!
“Multi-grain” and “7 grain” granola bar and cereal snack products sound healthy, but look for 100% whole-grain, avoiding refined grains and “bleached” or “unbleached enriched wheat flower.”
Be aware of what “reduced fat” can mean!
Again, read the label carefully; sometimes, a reduced fat product could contain more sugar than the version with the same number of calories, but more fat.
Also, reducing fat is not necessarily always the best option. Products that have “good” natural monounsaturated fats (such as nuts: almonds, cashews, peanuts) are fantastic for your body, and keep you full.
I recommend a spoonful or two of organic “Peanut Butter and Company” product.
Avoid high fructose corn syrup!
Many energy bars that seem perfect to grab from the snack bar after a trip to Fitrec can be filled with high fructose corn syrup and added sugar. Fuel with protein rather than sugar, and be wary of how many calories these energy bars can have (some have over 400!).
Now here are some of the best and healthiest quick snacks to add to your dorm room!
- Kind bars
- Annie’s Oatmeal Cookies
- Lara Bars
- Simple Squares
- Organic popcorn, salted not buttered or all natural kettle corn
- chobani yogurts
- Arctic Zero “ice cream”
- Rhythm Superfood Kale Chips
- Wheat Thins