Especially as a busy college student, you want to make sure you stay fueled throughout your day so you can efficiently complete all of your tasks. When constantly on the go, it is hard to find easy, portable snacks to bring along with you that also keep you satisfied and full. I consulted with my dietician what she recommended for quick and easy on-the-go snacks and she responded with the following:
Bars
Bars are such a nifty snack to always have on hand: they are small, prepackaged, do not require refrigeration, and their is usually a flavor or kind for everyone. The bars my dietitian recommend are:
6. PROBAR
PROBAR has an abundance of products from nut butters, to snack bars, to protein bars and more. The Bite bars are the ultimate on-the-go snack to bring along anywhere you go. With 6 flavors, you're sure to find one you fancy. The Base bars contain plant protein and are a great pre- or post-workout snack to keep your body going. Among the 7 flavors includes Coffee Crunch, Cookie Dough, and Peanut Butter Chocolate.
5. Kind Bars
Kind Bars offer a multitude of flavors; I counted 27 on their website. From sweet and salty, to savory and spiced, Kind bars have all tastebuds covered. All of their bars contain 0g of trans fats and are the perfect little snack bars to keep you fueled.
4. Clif Bars
I was told by many people that they should only be used by hikers, intense bike riders, and others of the like. However, these bars pack a lot of punch when it comes to energy. With around 40g of carbohydrates and about 220-250 calories per bar, Clif Bars will definitely give you energy to keep your day going. Especially if you're getting ready for a workout, Clif Bars have a good amount of simple carbohydrates to fuel your workout.
3. Larabar
Although small, these bars are sure to keep you fueled and energized in order to carry out your day. With a multitude of flavors from Apple Pie, to Blueberry Muffin, to Peanut Butter Cookie, and 18 other flavors to be exact, Larabar is most likely to have a bar that caters to everyones liking.
2. Luna Bars
Luna Bars are enough to keep you full, satisfied, and moving throughout your day. Easily stored in your bag, Luna Bars are perfect go-to snack bars when you start to feel hungry between meals.
1. RX Bars
I was ecstatic when my dietician and I bonded over our love for RX Bars. Wholesome ingredients put together to create an easy, delectable snack. Made from on average 5 ingredients, these bars have absolutely nothing to hide. RX Bar also keeps coming out with new flavors, and in my opinion, all of their flavors are worth a shot to see where your heart lies.
BONUS: Other good on-the-go snacks
Although not snack bars, here are some other great easy grab-and-go snacks that you can keep in your bag throughout the day.
Larabar Bites
Like the regular Larabar, the bites are easy to transport and keep in your bag for a quick snack. If you're not feeling hungry enough for a bar, pop a couple of the bites in your mouth to keep you fueled throughout your day. Currently, the bites come in 6 flavors: Caramel Sea Salt, Chocolate Hazelnut, Cherry Chocolate Chip, Mint Chocolate Truffle, Double Chocolate Brownie, and Chocolate Macaroon.
Biena Foods Chickpea Snacks
Combining a good source of protein and fiber with the crispy, crunchy texture, roasted chickpeas make for an easy, nutritious, and delicious snack. Biena Foods currently has 6 flavors of the classic roasted chickpeas, as well as 3 chocolate covered chickpea flavors. If you can only pick one to try, I recommend the Rockin' Ranch, but hopefully you won't have to choose and can just try them all.
Trail Mix or Nuts
Trail mix sometimes gets a bad rep because it contains a good amount of sugar, however, the sugars tend to be from the dried fruits or chocolate (in my opinion chocolate is a necessity, especially dark chocolate). A good tip from my dietician is to portion out your trail mix into snack baggies prior to consuming. Doing so prevents the common mishap of overeating. If you're looking to save some cash (because in reality, the college budget is 100% real), try making your own trail mix with some of these recipes.
Remember, moderation is key with everything. Clif Bars, for example, have been back-and-forth in terms of "good" and "bad" for a while now, but in reality nothing is truly bad in moderation.