Trying to eat healthy in college while living in a dorm might just be the hardest thing you ever have to do – especially if you are committed to a diet that doesn’t include dairy, wheat, soy, and sugar. You pretty much won’t find anything that fits all of those needs, although you can read my post, “How to be paleo in college” that will give you a ton of information on how I managed to stick to my healthy diet during my freshman year of college (talking to your school’s dietitian to order grass-fed meats, cost effective food delivery systems, getting the chefs in dining halls to cook special meals for you, and so much more!).
As awesome as the strategies are in that post, I can’t deny that having to go through all of that extra work is inconvenient and more time-consuming (compared to just being able to walk in and eat whatever is offered in the dining halls). That’s why I want to give you guys some options make sure that you can be loaded up with healthy snacks to get you through your long days.
Most of the snacks that I mention here are going to be grain-free, dairy-free, *processed* sugar-free, soy-free – AND absolutely delicious.
Mhmmmm, my mouth is already watering just thinking about all the goodness I’m about to share. Let’s get right into it!
19 Healthy Snacks
1. Simple Mills Crackers, Cookies, Bread, and Pizza
Some of my absolute favorites! The crackers are made of just 7 ingredients (all that you can pronounce and recognize) and are completely paleo/healthy lifestyle approved. Be careful not to snack on them too much though!
2. Siete Grain-free Tortilla Chips and Tortillas
Again, one of my favorites – these chips are 100% paleo, 100% vegan, and 100% delicious.
3. Jackson Honest Potato Chips
4. Fruits, Veggies, Nuts and Seeds
Probably the best and healthiest option on this entire list – sometimes it’s just better to go simple. Make yourself an easy trail-mix or just mix ‘em all in a baggie to take with you.
5. Garden of Life protein bars
These bars of chocolaty-goodness are hard for me to resist. Their great after an intense workout and even better to use as a mini meal for on-the-go.
6. Lara Bars
A newly found favorite of mine, these bars are made from fruits, veggies, nuts/seeds and are super delicious! They’ve got an extremely short ingredient list (which we love to see!).
7. Cado Ice Cream
Ok, so this one isn’t really a snack but I felt it worth mentioning. This is the only *clean* dairy-free, gluten-free ice cream that has no added sugar. It’s to die for….
8. Bulletproof protein bars
These bars are full of good stuff for your body and your brain! They help you stay full and focused and are great for on-the-go or just having around for a little boost during your day. Bulletproof even has a special coffee that is like a super boost to starting your day.
9. Paleo Puffs
I stumbled across these during a trip to Florida and my oh my, I became addicted to them after the first bite. They are by far my number one snack on this list!
10. Hope Hummus and Guac
I almost always pair my chips, veggies, or crackers with a delicious hummus or guacamole. It just adds to the whole snacking experience 🙂
11. Grass-Fed Beef Sticks
I buy mine from PaleoValley on amazon, but any brand that has products that come from local grass-fed beef are just as good!
12. Coconut/Carrot/Beet chips
These aren’t my favorite, but they might just be for you! You can find these on Thrive market and be sure to use my link for 20% off your purchase!
13. Canned Tuna / Canned Salmon / Canned Roasted Chicken
You can’t go wrong with canned meats – well… I take that back. Make sure you are getting only wild-caught fish and organic, grass-fed chicken. I love using these canned meats to make an impromptu tuna or chicken salad with some primal kitchen garlic aoili mayo!
14. Olive Oil “To-Go”
Ok, this one might seem a little weird, but I’m at the point right now where I love healthy fats so much that I can just drink little packets of olive oil like shots – and no, it’s not bad for my skin. Read
“The Ultimate Guide To Healthy Fats” to learn why.
15. Nutzo, Cashew butter, Almond Butter, Sunflower Butter
I’m addicted to this stuff! Although an unlikely combination, these nut butters are great dips for chips and veggies – I also won’t judge if you just eat them from the jar by spoonful (Nutzo was my comfort food in the dorm!).
16. Wei Of Chocolate
Not exactly a snack, but super amazing for dessert or just a little pick-me-up during the day. These chocolates are infused with essential oils and only have like three other ingredients!
17. Purely Elizabeth or Thrive Market Granola
Perfect for anytime of day and on the road! I recommend ordering from Thrive Market to get the best price. Don’t forget to use my special coupon link for 20% off!
18. Bone Broth / Bone Broth Chili
The ultimate primal living geek snack! Bone broth has so many benefits and is by far the most nutritious item on this list! Kettle and Fire has the best bone broth I know of (unless you make you own at home of course!). They also make a delicious bone broth chili.
19. Hu Chocolate Bars and Mushroom Chocolate
Hu Chocolate is like a blessing for those who love chocolate but have also adopted a healthy, clean diet and lifestyle. They are 100% paleo, sweetened with just a little coconut sugar, and are so frickin delicious! Their chocolate covered cashews taste just like puppy chow and their chocolate bars are full of flavor. Four Sigmatic Mushroom Chocolate is always a very good, very clean option.
That’s pretty much everything I snack on – but as I continue to find more and more good options I’ll update this post! So if you do know of any other healthy snack options, please tell me!
In the meantime, let me know in the comments what your favorite healthy/paleo snacks are!
If you’re interested in going paleo, I wrote a tutorial that will explain everything and help you get started right now. In college? I’ve got a super detailed guide on how to maintain your diet and find the resources you need to stay healthy ! Have any questions about anything? I’m happy to help!
