Top 10 On-the-Go Snacks (For Any Commuter and/or Busy College Student)

Do you consume sustenance?  This post is for you.

I too consume sustenance.  However, many times throughout my college career I have not had time for sustenance.  Starving through a full day of classes is part of the college life, but it doesn't need to be.  A little planning ahead is all you need to make it easy for yourself to stay healthy.  Here are my top 10 picks for healthy, on-the-go snacks that can easily last all day in your car or backpack.

P.S.  I'm mildly infringing on the Food Review column with this post--infinite apologies @Jeremy & @Matthew.

10. Honey Straws

First of all, these were an integral part of my childhood.  Maybe it was just my elementary school, but we had beekeepers come do a show and tell every so often and these were always the highlight.  I'm a pure honey kinda gal, but the lemon ones are good too.  Very portable.  Very yum.

9. Nutri-Grain Bars

A classic portable health bar.  Low on the list for its standard, somewhat dry granola bar consistency.  Still on the list for its variety of options and ability to exist in a backpack until needed.

8. Cheez-Its

I'm not sure why I put a picture.  You know what a Cheez-It looks like.  Still a quality snack, and the individual bags are just the right portion for a midday boost.  Also ideal because you can tip 'em back without touching them--a top snack characteristic for the #pandemiclife.

7. Snack Pack Pudding Cups

I'm somewhat of a connoisseur of Snack Pack puddings--I've tried every flavor, and they never disappoint.  They can be room temp.  They can be cold.  They can be thrown in a backpack with a plastic spoon, ready to help you get through a busy day.  Chocolate fudge is my pick, but you do you my peeps.

6. Special K Pastry Crisps

If these flavors look familiar, it's because these things are 100% just a healthy knockoff of Pop Tarts.  I do love a good Pop Tart (brown sugar cinnamon always, dissenters can fight me), but they tend not to be the healthiest and most portable snack in town.  These lil crispy guys are a good compromise.

5. PBJ Granola Banana Wraps

This is one of the most delicious and nutritious snacks you can make yourself.  It's tragically low on the list due to the in-advance effort it takes to make, but it's no more than 5 minutes of morning effort for a quality afternoon lunch.  Just grab a tortilla, spread some peanut butter and jelly on it, sprinkle some granola (not too much, though; granola is way more sugary and carb-y than advertised), place a peeled banana in the middle, and roll up that bomb diggity banana burrito.

4. Special K Breakfast Shakes

If you're like me, always rushing around in the mornings, this is truly the breakfast of champions.  I recommend the chocolate because it tastes good even at room temp, so you can literally just shove one in your backpack and drink it in class to start your morning.

3. Carr's Whole Wheat Crackers

I've recently discovered these things, and I'm hooked.  They're crumbly like a shortbread, slightly sweet, and the perfect snack to prepackage in a baggie for a midday snack.

2. Unsweetened Iced Tea w/ Monk Fruit Sweetener

If you don't always have time to grab a coffee but need a little caffeine in the morning, I'm such a fan of this healthy tea option.  Grab a generic bottle of unsweetened iced tea, premix in some monk fruit sweetener (one of the healthiest sugar substitutes available at your average grocery store), shake it up, and fill yourself a reusable water bottle to take with you to classes.

1. Lara Bars

This is it.  My go-to.  My holy grail of portable, yummy snacks.  Ideally in the chocolate chip cookie dough flavor, but there are literally so many options it's chaos.  They don't crumble.  They're sweet.  They have chocolate.  They're non-GMO, gluten free, vegan, and dairy free, containing only 6 ingredients.  Seriously, get yourself a box.  I hope they get you through as many stressfully busy days as they have for me.

Any other go-to snacks you like to keep around for busy days?  Let me know in the comments!

TL;DR - here are the top ten healthy, on-the-go snacks for your busiest college days.

1. Lara Bars
2. Unsweetened Iced Tea w/ Monk Fruit Sweetener
3. Carr's Whole Wheat Crackers
4. Special K Breakfast Shakes
5. PBJ Granola Banana Wraps
6. Special K Pastry Crisps
7. Snack Pack Pudding Cups
8. Cheez-Its
9. Nutri-Grain Bars
10. Honey Straws

~ Madeline