8 easy and healthy snacks for midterms week

Katie Clark, Staff writer

  1. Frozen-yogurt Covered Berries

Pick your favorite berry, as well as a yogurt to create the ultimate flavor explosion.  Berries, such as blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries, have fantastic health benefits.  Blueberries have an abundance of antioxidants to help keep your memory sharp.  Simply dip the berry of your choice into yogurt and freeze to create a cool and creamy study snack.

 

  1. Apple Sandwiches with Almond/Peanut Butter

As fall exams creep up on you, stay in-season by making delicious apple sandwiches! Go to a local market to pick up fresh apples to pair with either almond or peanut butter.  The fat from the peanut or almond butter will help keep you fuller during your long study sessions.  You can even add granola to your sandwiches for an additional crunch.

 

  1. Hummus and Veggies

Gather a bag of your favorite veggies, pretzels, or pita chips and a portable cup of hummus for a protein-packed snack on-the-go.  Hummus, a Middle Eastern dip made of chickpeas, is not only high in protein, but is loaded with heart-healthy unsaturated fats.  You can also make homemade hummus by blending chickpeas, olive oil, and seasonings.

 

  1. Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Throw a batch of pumpkin seeds with seasoning and oil into the oven to roast for 15-20 minutes, the perfect amount of time to make flashcards.  Pumpkin seeds are loaded with zinc for immune support, magnesium for heart health, and the amino acid Tryptophan to aid in restful sleep.  To give the seeds more flavor, they can be seasoned with salt, pepper, cinnamon, and more.

 

  1. Avocado Toast

Avocado toast is the perfect snack for an early morning study session.  Avocado toast can be made by crushing an avocado on toast with an egg, olive oil, salt, and pepper.  Avocados are rich in vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin B or Potassium, to fight of disease and infection and control blood pressure.  The great green berry is also full of monounsaturated fat that lowers bad cholesterol in the body.  The eggs from the toast add six grams of protein per egg, making avocado toast the perfect snack

 

  1. Roasted Chickpeas

Roasted Chickpeas are a new snack that is gaining popularity for its similarity to crunchy potato chips, without the oily, weighed down guilt that follows.  Just one cup of chickpeas has 15 grams of protein and 13 grams of fiber.  Roasted chickpeas can be made easily by spreading a can of cooked beans onto a baking sheet and placing them in the oven for 45-60 minutes.  Once the beans are crunch, they can be taken out of the oven and immediately shaken in a bowl with olive oil and seasoning of your choice to give them additional flavor.

 

  1. Five Ingredient Granola Bars

Granola Bars are a simple, long-lasting study snack that are easy to make in advance.  Just mix sliced dates, oats, honey, almonds, and peanut butter together and pack down the mixture into a pan.  Place the pan into fridge or freezer until they are solid, and then you have homemade granola bars to last the whole week for midterms or finals.  Granola bars with simple ingredients have a plethora of health benefits and are packed with fat, fiber, and protein to keep you full, without the added sugar.

 

  1. Power Bowl

Power bowls are a new craze combining yogurt, fruit, nuts, and seeds to make the ultimate snack.  Simply take a bowl and fill it halfway with a yogurt of your choice.  Top the bowl with fresh fruits, oats, nuts, peanut/almond butter, or even chia seeds.  This easy dish offers a rich source of protein, fat, and antioxidants to stay satisfied during all-night study sessions.

 

It is easy to grab a handful of chips or a soda when focusing on studying, but it is important to make sure your body has proper fuel to excel in the classroom.  A study completed by the CDC, Center for Disease Control, showed that students who skipped meals before tests or had unhealthy eating behaviors were far less likely to do well on tests than student who maintained a healthy diet.  Next time midterms or finals rolls around, make these recipes to stay full, focused, and ready to succeed.