Living the college dorm room life usually includes late night food runs to the campus vending machines or closest convenience store for something salty or sugary to eat, and regular phone calls to the local pizza delivery service. These eating habits play a big role as to why students tend to gain weight during their first year or two of college, which in turn can affect their energy levels and study habits.

So what can college students do to help prevent this unwanted weight gain from happening? Of course, one of the best steps they can take is to purchase healthier pre-made food, and healthier food that can be easily prepared in a dorm room.

Need some ideas for some simple healthy college dorm room snacks? Check out these recommendations from dietetic technicians across the country…

“It’s not from dorm room days…I always lived off campus, but my favorite go-to snack of all time is plain Greek yogurt mixed with banana and peanut butter. It’s quick, delicious, and keeps me feeling full until my next meal.” Erin Marchefka, NDTR (www.cauliflowerandcupcakes.com)

“Spicy roasted chickpeas. You can make a large batch and munch them all week without guilt!” Mark Dobson, DTR

“At my daughter’s college, they can only have a fridge – there is nothing to cook with. Stock up on apple slices, almond butter, hummus, vegetable dippers – carrot chips are great. Purchase precut veggies to save time and effort. Turkey jerky is a good idea. My daughter is a D1 athlete and finds the training table to be lots of unhealthy choices.” Virginia Harshman, MS, DTR, CISSN

“My favorite go-to for dorm snacking, or even snacking these days, is dry roasted peanuts (salted or unsalted). For the sweet and salty, add a few chocolate chips!” Vera Bartasavich, M.Ed., NDTR, CHES

“Baby carrots are easy to have in hand! Dip in single serve peanut butter cups. Hummus and fresh fruit (bananas, apples, oranges) – also lower sugar granola bars. If they have a fridge, some Greek yogurt & blueberries.” Lori Lewis Koors, CHC, NDTR

What are my favorite healthy dorm room snacks? Popcorn is a great option – it’s simple and quick to make, inexpensive, and it contains lots of fiber – just be careful not to overdo it on the salt and melted butter. Another favorite of mine is Ramen noodles, but they aren’t very healthy straight out of the box due to the flavoring packet being high in sodium – for healthier Ramen options, check out my tips for a healthy Ramen makeover.

And if you aren’t satisfied with the options available in the campus vending machines, consider requesting that they be stocked with more nutritious options.