“Hmmm do I want some Snickers, Skittles or maybe some chips? I’m starving!” we often think to ourselves when those late night cravings creep up on us. With the college lifestyle, we are all faced with those long nights of studying and writing papers into the early morning hours.
A significant amount of time has passed since your dinner time, and you feel your stomach start to growl with hunger in your late night pursuit to get work done. You can only go so long before you must satiate and control the hunger. Many college students dread these cravings because it can be one of the contributing factors to weight gain in college. But don’t fret! Here are eight healthy snacks that should leave you feeling anything but guilty. And they are supposed to be indulgent or otherwise, you will go in search of something else that is.
1. Water
Throughout the day and evening, we often think to ourselves, “I’m hungry, it’s time to eat.” We tend to make the mistake of grabbing accessible, ready-to-go foods or heading to a vending machine for an immediate snack, especially when we are preoccupied with schoolwork. Some symptoms of dehydration are similar to those of hunger, so it is easy to confuse the two signals. Remember to ask yourself if you really are hungry or if it is actually thirst. Water is refreshing, calorie-free, and has numerous health benefits with metabolism regulation and waste elimination as only a few!
2. Kashi Chewy Granola Bars
What’s great about these bars are that you’ve got both chewy and sweet together in a bar! They have 4 grams of fiber, and 5 g of protein, all of which are essential components of a healthy diet. They are also made with real nuts and whole grains. Plus, they are only 130 to 140 calories. Not bad at all!
3. Fruit
All types of fruit are delicious and super healthy treats. You can give your senses a thrill by having a combination of fruits such as bananas, grapes and mangoes. Fruits increase volume, while decreasing calorie density. More simply put, it you can eat a lot of fruit and still consume a relatively small amount of calories. You can give your fruit a kick by eating them with yogurt or fat free whipped cream. Yum!
4. Yogurt
Low-fat and Greek yogurts are another great snack option. Theyaid in digestion and are a great source of calcium. The flavor options are endless! You can try anything from black cherry to key lime pie. So in a way you are getting the taste of splurging without having to feel bad about what you are eating. Yogurt, especially Greek, contains a good amount of protein. For example, Oikos Non-fat Plain Greek yogurt has 22 grams of protein per serving.
5. Licorice
We’re not done chewing yet! Licorice is a wonderful if you are looking for something flavorful that will leave your sweet tooth bursting with joy. It has an active ingredient called glycyrrhetinic acid, has been proven to aid in reducing body fat mass. It is also known to reduce appetite. However, I’m not talking Twizzlers here; go for the real thing with licorice extract as one of the ingredients. A single handful is around 150 calories and will keep you busy chewing something tasty that is satisfying for twice the time it takes to down a package of Skittles.
6. Popcorn
One of the best healthy snacks for weight loss and maintenance is popcorn. It is very high in fiber and super easy to prepare. Popcorn can be eaten in place of something salty-such as potato chips as long as you do not put butter or too much salt in it, neither of which contribute to nutrition. So do not forget to check the information facts and labels of any packed popcorn before you buy. If you want to give it a boost, add cinnamon for sweetness or a bit of sea salt if you’re feeling salty.
7. Nuts
Nuts contain mono-saturated fat (the good kind), vitamin E, fiber, magnesium, folic acid, iron and zinc. Sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds contain nutritional benefits similar to those of nuts. Be sure to choose those with low salt or no salt to steer away from too much sodium. If plain nuts are too boring for you, you can make your own trail mix with nuts and some dried fruits such as raisons.
8. Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is very rich in protein, which keeps you feeling full longer. It’s also a great source of potassium. You can eat it alone or add it to fruit or crackers, you name it! Just be careful not to eat it an excessive amount because is a higher calorie, health food option.
Each of these savory snacks that should do just the trick when you can’t bear the late night hunger anymore. All of these snacks are easy to prepare and very accessible. You can find these snacks at the “Sexchange,” Bloom or Wawa. But remember these are just better snack options if you are looking to go the healthier route. There is absolutely no problem with treating yourself to a splurge. Everyone needs those nights every now and then, and after all, we are only human.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at WM chapter.