Every spring, we make a goal to drop the doughnuts and crunch on kale. For most of us college students, transitioning into a cleansing diet isn’t so easy. Spontaneous cookie baking nights and sneakily placed candy bars at dining complexes on campus give us very little wiggle room. This quarter let’s switch it up! Here are a few snacks that you can prepare in your dorm or apartment that your body will love:
Bleeding Berry Oatmeal
1 cup oatmeal1/3 cup almond milkA handful of strawberries (blueberries and raspberries are great alternatives)1/2 of a banana
Heat almond milk on the stove or in the microwave and pour over oatmeal. Quickly add in fruit and stir, lightly squishing the fruits to release their juices. Let sit for a few minutes and top with a sliced banana.
The piping hot oatmeal pops the berries open and allows their natural juices to bleed through the oatmeal. The slightly acidic fruit juice cuts the sweet creaminess just enough to taste both flavors distinctly.
Blue Cream Cheese Apple Bites5 Ritz Bits crackers3 tablespoons blue cheese spreadHalf of a Granny SmithHoney
Smear an even amount of cream cheese on each cracker. Slice the apple half into smaller triangle chunks and place onto cracker. Drizzle lightly with honey to taste.
These petite bites are a college-friendly play on the traditional fruit and cheese pairing found in European cuisine. Blue cheese is smooth enough to support the tartness from the apple but strong enough to compete with the richness from the honey. Whether you whip them out at picnics or indulge in them after some Zumba at the Rec, they’re perfect for all occasions.
Birdie Bag
Equal parts pistachios, honey roasted peanuts and sunflower seeds.
Spread your wings and fly with this energy super snack. Salty pistachios are meaty and bump up the sugar factor from the peanuts. The contrast dances on your tongue and lets the nutrient-rich sunflower seeds shine through, making you feel like a true health nut. Pop the mixture into a ziplock baggie and you’re good to go.
Little Bowl of Sunshine1 cup frozen pineapples1 cup frozen strawberries1 tablespoon almond milkPinch of sliced almonds
Remove fruits from the freezer and let them thaw slightly for approximately 3 minutes. Place fruits in blender and splash in a tablespoon of almond milk. Blend until mixture reaches ice cream consistency. Spoon out into a bowl with an ice cream scooper and sprinkle on sliced almonds.
You can’t go wrong with a simple sorbet to celebrate spring. Pineapples and strawberries are both rather sour, so the almond milk helps blend together all the competing flavors together into one velvety dessert. Warning, you’ll want to make a large vat of this.
As the sun beats down and the breeze drifts by, make sure to get your fill with these healthy carbohydrates, unsweetened fruits and protein-packed nuts. Remember to eat slowly because these flavors are just too good to rush through. Happy snacking!