Despite living in the dorm and being on the meal plan at college, I have made sure that I have not sacrificed my health and nutrition in any way. I truly believe that college is the most fun time in life, but it also is the most unhealthy time for most people. Most students don’t sleep enough, don’t eat properly, are seriously dehydrated, and lacking in daily movement. I want to build a space that promotes change in that area. This is the time in your life to have the most fun, but also take the best care of yourself. The only person you have to worry about everyday is yourself, and without the stresses that will come after graduation, it’s important to focus in and build habits that will take you well beyond your college years. In this series I am going to be breaking posts down into categories of things I do to ensure I am feeling and working my best. Today I want to share what I buy at the grocery store to still be on a budget, but avoid the unhealthy choices that most dining halls offer. If your campus doesn’t have a good grocery store nearby I highly recommend ordering snacks + groceries through Amazon, InstaCart, or Thrive Market!
Trader Joe’s
I think Trader Joe’s is the best grocery store for a college student to shop at. They have the lowest prices on organic produce and have a great selection of healthy items. These are the things I buy weekly + use everyday:
Almond Butter: I buy the dry roasted, unsalted almond butter + use it on top of oatmeal everyday, on a brown rice cake as a snack, or on dates or a banana for dessert
Lundenberg Brown Rice Cakes: Super cheap, great snack with hummus on top, mashed avocado for “toast”, or with almond butter (These are great to reach for if you get hungry later at night)
Organic Berries: I buy all my berries at Trader Joe’s because they are usually cheaper. I use them on top of oatmeal every day.
Unsweetened Gluten-Free Instant Oatmeal: I love these packs because they are super easy to throw in the microwave and will fill you up for hours.
Norweigan Seed Crisps: These crackers are super clean and I love the crunch from them. These are great dipped in hummus or the Trader Joe’s Vegan Kale Pesto! I sometimes will crumble one on top of a salad for a little extra crunch.
Green Goddess Dressing: This is one of my best tips for a college student is to always use your own dressing! Most dressings have bad oils, hidden dairy products or sugars, and end up ruining the purpose of trying to eat a healthy meal. This dressing is awesome, with a super clean, vegan ingredients list and tastes delicious!
Honey Mama’s Chocolate: This chocolate is delicious and totally free of any gluten, dairy, or refined sugars!
Bananas + Organic Honey Crisp Apples: Great snacks for on the go, pre-workout, and they keep well in your room!
Dates: I love to have a date or two with some almond butter for dessert! Seriously tastes incredible!
Nuts: Trader Joe’s is the cheapest place to buy organic nuts and I always make sure I have a bag of raw or dry roasted almonds on hand! Pistachios are also a great snack.
I hope these tips with some of my favorites will help and inspire you to eat a little bit cleaner. There really is no better or crucial time to eat healthy than when you are in school and need to be at your sharpest, and most productive. Be sure to tag me or let me know if you try any of these ideas out!