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Snacks That Won’t Slow You Down During Finals Week

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Rutgers chapter.

Studying can be difficult, especially when you’re working on an empty stomach. Instead of reaching out for a bag of Cheetos or a tub of Ben & Jerry’s, consider snacking on something that is not only more filling but will also give you the boost that you need during these late night study sessions. Here are some snacks we think you should try bringing with the next time you hit the library:

  1. Hummus and Vegetables/Pita Chips

A classic no-brainer. You have your protein and your fiber all in one delicious snack. Either eat hummus with celery or carrots, or try new vegetables like bell peppers, cucumbers, or snap peas (spring seasonal)!

2. Smoothies

You can create your own smoothie bowls without shelling all that money! Just buy frozen fruit and milk of your choice and blend! Feel free to top with fresh fruits, coconut shreds, and other fun snacks! Aesthetics and health all in one bowl.

3. Fruit

If you’re too lazy tired to make a smoothie or smoothie bowl, consider bringing a Ziploc bag of fresh berries with you for your next study session. If you want to get a little fancy, you can pour honey, Nutella, or chocolate into the bag, but don’t forget to bring a fork with you when you leave. If that’s still too much work or preparation, then snacking on an apple, banana, or an orange is perfectly fine as well.

4. Pretzels

If you don’t have much of a sweet tooth, pretzels are definitely the way to go. Try not to have more than a handful of pretzels though, as they have a lot of sodium. 

5. Dark Chocolate

Don’t have much of a sweet tooth and not too crazy about salty snacks? Sounds like you need some dark chocolate in your life. Dark chocolate can help boost the number of endorphins your body produces, which increases your productivity and boosts your mood. 

6. Peanuts

If you want something filling that won’t make that much of a mess, go and get yourself a bag of peanuts. Peanuts are a lot more filling than other snacks because they’re full of fats that are good for you. They’re also a pretty cheap source of protein too. 

7. Trail Mix

Trail mixes are fun, however, not all trail mixes you find on the shelves of convenience stores or grocery stores are as healthy as they attempt to look. Go ahead and make your own trail mix bag by combining healthy nuts and dried fruits and berries. It’s an easy snack to bring along with you to class or office hours, so take the time and make your own personalized bag of trail mix.

Part grandma who enjoys baking, knitting, cats, and scarves while also part child who still can't handle anything remotely scary and always needs a blanket.
Keoni Nguyen is a former undergrad student at Rutgers University and the former Co-Campus Correspondent of Her Campus Rutgers (2018-2019).