Healthy On-The-Go Eating at LIU Post

Julia Musacchia

As busy college students, most of us rarely have time to sit down for a meal. Instead we grab a quick bite to eat, usually some prepackaged food loaded with salt and lacking anything that can keep your energy going throughout the day. However, here at LIU Post, there is an abundance of food options that are provided at many of dining locations.

First, everyone should eat breakfast before his or her first class. Eating breakfast can help your concentration and increase your problem-solving skills, hand-eye coordination, and alertness in class.

Try to start off your day with protein. At Hillwood, you can get two hard-boiled eggs for around $1.40. One egg contains six grams of high-quality protein and all nine essential amino acids, which can only be obtained from your diet because your body doesn’t make them naturally. Eggs contain the right kind of fat. One egg contains just five grams of fat and only 1.5 grams of that is saturated fat. Eggs are one of the only foods that contain naturally occurring vitamin D.

If you’re craving something sweet, instead of grabbing a cookie or a brownie, grab some fruit. You can find fresh apples, bananas, pears, berries, melons, and grapes at any of the dining locations on campus. Fruits are naturally sweet, but are packed with the nutrients you need that you aren’t getting when you snack on cookies and brownies. Fruits are great sources of numerous vitamins, minerals and other natural substances that may help protect you from chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Be sure to look in the refrigerated sections or in a fruit bowl at the dining locations to find fresh tasty fruits.

LIU Post does sell some pre-packed foods that can be a healthier alternative in comparison to a bag of chips or a candy bar. In the P.O.D, you can purchase Fiber One Chewy Bars Oats & Peanut Butter.  At 150 calories per bar with nine grams of fiber, this nutty bar contains about one third of your day’s recommended fiber intake. Eating fiber can help you feel full, which can help control your appetite when you’re in a three-hour biology lab.

At the Humanities Café, you can grab a KIND Bar. KIND Bars boast that they are all natural whole nut & fruit bars that are loaded with nutrients like fiber, protein, calcium and iron. Just the other day I enjoyed the Almond & Apricot variety, which is packed with whole almonds, apricots and coconut and only 190 calories and 5 grams fiber and 4 grams of protein. It was absolutely delicious, and way more satisfying than any candy bar I’ve ever eaten.

Be sure to be on the lookout for KIND Bars in all different types of flavors and varieties on campus. Remember, when it comes to On-The-Go eating, try to get the most “bang for your buck” by eating foods that will help your get the most nutrients you need.