Hey there collegiettes! Hope you all are having a great weekend! It’s admitted students weekend here at Amherst, which means I get to host two propsective students. Because of my Chemistry exam on Monday, it’s hard to find a balance between studying and making sure I entertain my guests. The College has a lot of activities planned for them though, which leaves me a decent amount of free time to spend as I please (procrastinating).
With Spring around the corner (I know it technically already is here, but it’s still pretty cold out), I am realizing how much I miss fresh fruit! Being on a meal plan at a dining hall really inhibits my access to my favorite berries: raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, I love them all! While the dining hall does have a daily selection of apples, bananas, and oranges, these fruits are simply not the same as eating a bowl full of fresh berries. Not only do they satisfy my sweet tooth, but they also are a wonderful healthy snack to munch on instead of those greasy potato chips.
Occasionally I will go with my friend Amanda to the local Trader Joe’s to stock up on some berries, but with a busy schedule, it’s easy to store them in the fridge and completely forget about them. Here are some other great fruit-based snack options!
- Freeze-dried fruit is essentially fruit without its water content. It still has all the antioxidants of fresh fruit and is extremely low in calories, which make it a healthy snack. You can eat them right out of the bag, or add them to your cereal or oatmeal in the morning! Trader Joe’s freeze-dried strawberries are my favorite, but the blueberries, mangos, bananas, and raspberries are all great options as well.
- Fruit pouches basically contain applesauce but in different flavors. Peter Rabbit Organics has a wide variety, from Strawberry & Banana to Peach & Apple to Apple & Grape– there definitely is a combination that fits your taste! You can’t go wrong with this 100% fruit and 100% organic pouch of goodness. Plus there is no added sugar, salt, or artificial flavors!
- Smoothies are a great, healthy way to start the day! The SELF Drop 10 diet includes a great option, the Mochanana Smoothie, and there are so many more recipes out there! The awesome thing about smoothies is that you can literally add any mix of fruit, and the blender will finish the job for you! Here’s a table indicating which fruits are high in which vitamins and minerals, so you can plan accordingly. There are also some great links to recipes!
- Fruit snacks can be a healthy way to satisfy your sweet tooth. Be careful though! Some brands of fruit snacks have an enormous amount of sugar that negate any sort of nutritional value. One of the more healthier choices is Annie’s Organic Fruit Snacks since they have no artifical flavors and are made with real fruit juice. Plus you can get 100% of your daily recommended value of Vitamin C! Regardless, it’s important to eat these in moderation!
- Fruit leathers can be another great low-calorie snack, but again, you have to be cautious. When buying fruit leathers, you should look at the ingredients list and make sure that there are no unnatural ingredients such as artificial colors, corn syrup, or partially hydrogenated oils. All natural leathers typically only include fruit, lemon juice or asorbic acid, and occasionally a little added sugar.
In the bottom left corner is the seasonal harvest fruit blend from Starbucks– only 90 calories, which makes it the perfect study snack! Best of luck this week with any exams you may have! If you get too stressed out, maybe go for a run or walk to collect yourself– great way to stay active and also take a break. Keep up the great work guys!
Until Wednesday xoxo
Nicole