College Grocery Store Essentials

College Grocery Essentials:

Grocery shopping and meal prepping brings me so much happiness. When I started college I had no idea how to cook or even eat a vegetable without my mom telling me to. I had a major reality check when every food I ate began to hurt my stomach. I was in constant pain and knew it was necessary to change my diet to help my gut health/mental health. Shopping for new groceries that are out of your comfort zone can be difficult! Trying new foods at the grocery store makes me anxious because nothing is worse then spending money on something you end up hating!! For example, you want try Kombucha but then the shelfs are a cluster like this….

For me it’s been a lot of trial and error but I’ve got this pretty dialed in.  I wanted to include some of my grocery store essentials because when you’re a busy college student you need healthy snacks that are fast and easy!

1. Kombucha:

I used to HATEEE Kombucha. I thought people who drank kombucha were people who liked the taste of acid. I never enjoyed it until I finally found a brand I liked! Personally, I cannot drink a full Kombucha so typically I try and drink half of one a day. Kombucha is so good for gut health and is super refreshing! My favorite brand is Health Ade, because they have so many flavors and it doesn’t taste like gasoline. This is a great drink to incorporate into your diet!  It helps regulate your gut health and makes you feel balanced. And to clarify this is not a meal AT ALL. I drink these with my meals.

2. Justin Almond Butter:

These are the best quick easy snacks, I swear. If I am on the go and need something to hold me over until I can grab a meal these do the trick. They are so easy to throw in a bag and are surprisingly filling- typically I will eat these with an apple. Nothing is worse than cramming for a test and needing something to hold you over before your next meal. I hide these in my desk, purse car EVERYWHERE. I highly recommend stashing them anywhere you can. There are also so many different flavors and options of nut butter.

3.  Vans Gluten Free Waffles:

I am all about quick and easy food, especially when I have a busy schedule. It’s so important even when you are stressed to make sure you are eating. Everyone deals with stress in different ways, but you never want to not eat because of it. The waffles are super yummy and fast to make. You throw them in the toaster, and they are done in minutes. I love throwing peanut butter and honey on top to make it more substantial. Such a good study break snack!! Waffles don’t need to just be for breakfast. I eat these late at night more than I would like to admit.

3. Hope Hummus:

I actually cannot believe I am even writing about hummus because I hated it all my life. I never understood the hype until I finally found one I liked. Hope Hummus has so many amazing flavors, but the Jalapeño Cilantro is by farrr my favorite. I like to make a plate with carrots, cauliflower, tomatoes and gluten free crackers with this as the dip. Such an easy healthy snack, especially if you have your veggies cut up beforehand!

4. Microwavable Skinny Pop:

I always need a good snack in my pantry whether it’s for the middle of the day or late at night. This popcorn is my absolute favorite!! I ate 2 bags of it every day of my junior year than realized I needed to moderate it just a little bit (that shows how good it is). It’s dairy free and so so yummy. I have always liked microwavable popcorn better then precooked popcorn, so this was a game changer for me!!!!

5. Harvest Snap Peas:

These snap peas are my other favorite snack of all time! My pantry is filled with EVERY flavor constantly. They are addicting and I could eat two bags in one sitting. These are a great healthy snack especially when you want something salty! 

I hope these grocery essentials help you next time you’re at the store! I will probably upload updated lists once a month with my new favorite food because I love trying new snacks!