It’s easy when you are at college to through caution to the wind and over-indulge in all the wrong types of food. Many sophomore students pick up more than a couple of unwanted pounds during their first year at college and then take the next 2 or three years trying to regain their former figure.
To avoid having to shed the pounds in the first place, you need a plan and some affordable snack options that are friendly to your health, pocket and your figure.
Apples
An apple a day keeps the doctor away, but it also keeps your wallet full. Apples are super cheap and packed with nutrients and fibre that will keep you going during the day.
Depending on your favourite brand of apples, you could get away with paying around $1 per pound of deliciousness. And something equally enjoyable and at equally affordable rates is the paper service that really helps students with a high-quality thesis, dissertation and college essays. Especially when you are in lack of strength and need someone’s help with your tasks.
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Peanuts
Peanuts are cheap snacks and they are some of the best snacks that you can buy. They make excellent study snacks, seeing that they are packed with protein, fats and oils that your body craves.
One of the reasons why peanuts are so great is because they keep you full for longer and you don’t need to eat a lot at a time.
Oatmeal
If you are short on time, then oatmeal is the snack for you. This is one of those foods that defy nutritional laws. It is high in fibre and protein, yet low in fat and calories, which is not easy to find.
Raw oatmeal is super healthy and if you are not lactose intolerant, you can whip up a bowl in no time with some milk and honey.
String cheese
There is no need to stuff your backpack with all kinds of junk food. String cheese is excellent on the go snack that you can pack for those long days on campus. One stick only has around 80 calories and it is packed with protein and calcium.
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Chickpea
The humble chickpea is such a versatile little ingredient that can be turned into several healthy snacks. You could either make your hummus for around $2 and add your flavours, or you could be a bit more adventurous and make your over-roasted chickpea crisps.
Coffee
Although coffee is not necessarily a snack, it is one of those things that no student should go without. Studies have shown that in moderate amounts, coffee improves brain function, reaction time, focus and attention span. To make it a bit easier on the body, take your coffee black and without sugar.
Peanut butter
Peanut butter is an underrated superfood. It is packed with amazing nutrients and you can get a whole jar for around $3. What you do with it is up to your imagination, seeing that it is one of those things that go well with almost anything. Having it on its own is also a great treat.
Trail mix
When you go to the shops, you’ll be tempted to buy trail mix off the shelf, but you are only fooling yourself if you think that it is healthy. If you want a healthy trail mix, you best make your own.
You can’t even screw it up. All you need to do is to buy different nuts and seeds and mix them all. All that is left to do is to apply some portion control and not eat too much.
Air-popped popcorn
The winner of the cheap snacks for college goes to the movie-favourite, popcorn. However, if you want to make a healthy version, you need to air-pop your own and sprinkle a bit o olive oil and salt over it when it is done.
It’s tasty, cheap, healthy and one of the easiest snacks you can make. The best part is that you can consume buckets full because it has next to no calories.
Conclusion
Your diet does not have to suffer while you are in college. Rather, being strapped for cash often helps you be more creative and look for ways to stay healthy on a budget. While you are in college, you could forge healthy habits that could last you a lifetime. Your future self will thank you for thinking out of the box and staying healthy.