Easy healthy on-the-go snacks?

[Littlemermaidklb]

I'm a grad student so I tend to be in class or working when my mid-meal snack times roll around. I've been having an apple with peanut butter, or string cheese when I can, but when I'm in class I need snacks that are kind of prepacked and don't make lots of noise, lol. (I tried cutting up my apple in class once... not a good idea! And if I cut them up ahead of tiem they turn brown and icky) I've been doing granola bars for the most bar, and sometimes string cheese if it will stay cool long enough, but I'm looking for other very easy, portable ideas that don't really have to stay warm or cold and that won't draw attention to myself in the middle of class.... any ideas?? Thanks girls!

[aeb]

A little bit of lemon juice and water should keep your apple from going brown when cut. If you eat nuts they are easy to pack, cottage cheese if you can keep it cool, or mix up some protein pudding to take.

[Brianne]

ditto on the lemon juice for the cut apple--works great. also, you could get a soft sided cooler and ice pack thing, and maybe some plastic spoons, and toss in the cottage cheese/yogurt type stuff. there are little individual serving cottage cheese containers if you don't want to deal with cleaning containers afterwards.

[hikerchick]

You could make some protein bars, those usually travel well. Almonds, string cheese, or a shaker with protein powder.

[rixatrix]

I eat string cheese after it's been out of the fridge for a while. It's sealed up and a few hours won't hurt you.

Almonds are easy, fast, and delicious (but have something to drink or you might choke on almonds livers in the middle of a mid-term or something).

Boiled eggs/egg whites. Peel them before you leave in the morning.

Beef jerky - either store-bought or homemade.

Homemade protein bars. Yum. Or you could just buy a macronutrient balanced bar. Somtimes I like Luna bars - they're 180 cals and 44% carb/22% protein/30% fat. Plus they taste pretty good. Usually these are sort of like last-option snacks though - like when you're in the mall and starving and the chicken fried rice is calling your name, but you see a GNC first and think, "I'm saved!"

If you don't like your apples turning brown, get another fruit. Bananas are quiet. Pre-peeled oranges, too. A little baggy of strawberries or cherries. Substitute almonds or another nut for peanut butter, and you've got yourself a portable meal.

Or you could try to schedule your snacks around classes/work. I don't know what your schedule is like, but if you only had 2 hours between feedings at one point in the day, and 4 hours between them at another point in the day, you'd still probably be okay. A little hungry, maybe, but okay.

[missjane]

As a fellow college student, I wouldn't break out the eggs in the middle of class!

My rule for in-class snacking -- no noise, no smell! LOL!

[dillytl]

I second the suggestion for the small cooler and ice pack - that way your options are much broader!!!

I posted a couple recipes for homemade protein bars in Stephanie's journal that may fit the bill for you!

LOL at Jane's rules for in-class snacking!! Yeah - I don't think I'd break out the hard-boiled eggs, either!

[missjane]

Or get a Mr. Bento and you won't need the cooler/icepack.