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Lifestyle

9 Healthy, Easy Snacks You Should Always Have on Hand

This article is written by a student writer from the Spoon University at UCLA chapter.

Dorm rooms are tiny, and the fridges are even tinier. However, college students have perfected the art of storing snacks in whatever little space they can find in their room. Here are some ideas of healthy and deliciously satisfying snacks that you should have on hand in case you need a little pick-me-up.

1. Carrots and Hummus

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Photo by Leilani Gaugin-Rosenthal

This snack is one of my go-tos. It’s satisfying and nutritious, and will hold you over until your next meal. If you’re not a hummus fan, try dipping carrots into guac (trust me, it totally works).

2. Fresh or Frozen Fruit

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Photo by Leilani Gaugin-Rosenthal

Apples and bananas are the easiest fruits to have on hand. Plus, they’re delicious. You can even freeze some bananas and toss them in the blender to make some surprisingly “creamy” nice-cream.

3. Dried Fruit

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Photo by Leilani Gaugin-Rosenthal

Dried figs and dates from Costco are the way to go. Apricots are yummy too.

4. Peanut Butter

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Photo by Leilani Gaugin-Rosenthal

Peanut butter is the Holy Grail of snackers. Put it on toast, smear it on fruit, stuff it in dates, spoon it into your mouth. The possibilities are endless.

5. Granola Bars

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Photo by Leilani Gaugin-Rosenthal

Beware, granola bars can be highly processed and saturated with sugar. Opt for minimally processed, all-natural bars such as Larabar or Bobo’s Oat Bars. They’ll fill you up without all of the junk.

6. Bread

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Photo by Leilani Gaugin-Rosenthal

This is also a tricky one. Not all bread is created equal. Choose a bread that’s high in whole grains and fiber such as Ezekiel, Dave’s Killer Bread, or Silver Hills. Avoid bread with too many ingredients and things like unbleached or enriched flour and corn syrup.

7. Yogurt

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Photo by Leilani Gaugin-Rosenthal

In my opinion, Greek yogurt is the most satisfying. Look for one that is unsweetened or minimally sweetened and add your own sweetener. Mix in some fruits and nuts (or peanut butter!) for a well-rounded snack.

8. Chips and Guac/Salsa

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Photo by Leilani Gaugin-Rosenthal

This combination is hands down amazing. Need I say more?

9. Dark Chocolate

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Photo by Leilani Gaugin-Rosenthal

Okay, so this one is not really a snack. It’s the Tamer of the Raging Sweet Tooth. A couple of squares of dark chocolate will satisfy most sweet cravings, unless you’re craving a whole pint of ice cream. In that case,  you’re going to have to have that whole pint of ice cream.

Leilani Gaugin-Rosenthal is a second year at UCLA. She's a vegan health nut with an obsession with making food look and taste amazing. She's also one of those people you see in restaurants frantically snapping photos of her meals. When she’s not drinking coffee and dreaming up her next vegan concoction, you will find her playing electric guitar really loudly, running all over LA, or kitesurfing (because ocean + extreme sport = addicting).