As much as I hate to admit this, I am generally a pretty unhealthy eater. When left to my own devices, I indulge in unhealthy snack foods instead of snacks with more sustenance. My parents were honestly worried about me going off to college due to my lack of motivation to eat healthy.
To everyone’s surprise including my own, while living in an apartment this year I have developed healthier habits and started snacking better. For all of my unhealthy snackers, I have found some healthier alternatives that will leave you just as satisfied as the Pringles and Goldfish you know and love.
1) Carrots and Ranch
This has quickly become my favorite healthy snack since deciding to eat healthier. It takes 3 seconds of preparation and it tastes delicious. I enjoy the target brand baby carrots along with Hidden Valley ranch, but any ranch will still taste delicious.
While I prefer dipping my carrots into ranch, my roommates enjoy dipping their carrots into hummus. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys chips and salsa but would like a somewhat healthier version of it.
2) Apples and Peanut Butter
This has become my healthier version of pretzels and peanut butter which was my former favorite unhealthy snack. I love this snack because while I still get to enjoy the delicious taste of peanut butter it is accompanied by a healthier, sweeter snack.
My favorite type of apple is red delicious or fuji but I’ll take whatever I can get at the grocery store. These slices along with some Skippy’s peanut butter (creamy of course) is the perfect snack after a long day of Zoom classes.
3) Clementines
Ok, I know this isn’t a snack per say but, since coming back to college the amount of clementines I eat has increased exponentially. Clementines are a great thing to start your morning with if you don’t feel like eating a full breakfast because they are delicious and filling.
I love the Halos clementines and they are always sweet. While this will never replace Pringles, it has become a great addition to my diet.
4) Cheese and Crackers
This isn’t exactly the healthiest alternative however, it’s much healthier than Goldfish. My roommate introduced me to this cheese from Trader Joes called Boursin and that along with Ritz Crackers has become a staple of my diet.
Cheese is great in that it helps you get protein in a healthy way plus it just tastes really good. This has become my alternative to Goldfish and to anyone wanting to make the switch, I say do it.
5) Avocado Toast
I absolutely love avocado toast and while it takes more preparation than the other snacks, it is worth the effort. Toast some bread and grab an avocado and start cutting it in half.
When the bread is toasted, use a knife to spread the avocado on some bread and then top it with whatever you like. I use everything but the bagel seasoning and sriracha and I highly recommend it. Avocado is super healthy and a great addition to anyone’s diet.
I know starting to develop healthier eating habits is difficult but if I can do it, literally anyone can do it. Maybe one day I’ll cut out my unhealthy snacks completely but for now, I’m fine with enjoying them in moderation. Stay healthy, collegiettes!