Easy snacks to eat in class

Hunger, it always seems to strike at the worst times. The only thing worse than being stuck in class with a growling stomach and nothing to eat is being hungry in class with food in your backpack that is too loud or messy to eat. There are many ways to make eating in class quiet and efficient if you are prepared. Here is a list of snacks that are good for bringing to class, and the ones you should leave at home.

Good:

Cliff Bars: Cliff Bars and Power Bars are popular and convenient snack for the classroom. The only problem is the crinkling sounds the wrapper makes when  unwrapping or even taking a bite.

To avoid being the person who annoys everyone, try unwrapping the Cliff Bar and putting it in a plastic bag before entering class. The noise of a plastic bag will be drastically quieter and will reduce the stress of eating in class for you as well as your classmates; best of both worlds.

Smoothies: A great option if you’re not in the mood for solid foods but still want to make it through your two-hour lecture without feeling like a zombie. Smoothies don’t produce any noise and you can load them up with tons of nutritional boosts.

With Whole Foods and Jamba Juice less than a block away from campus, smoothies are easily accessible for De Anza students.

Nuts/Almonds: Compact snacks with lots of nutritional value that are perfect for class. High in protein and loaded with healthy fats, they are great for the brain and the waistline.

The two are also easily accessible around campus and very cheap. You can find them at almost any convenient store or gas station as well as at the student bookstore and cafeteria.

Bad:

Chips: Nothing is more annoying than to sit in class and listen to the cruncg and crunching of someone eating Doritos next to you. Chips also have zero nutritional value, so pick something healthier and quieter to suppress your hunger in class. Your classmates and body will thank you.

Spicy Food: As much as you may be looking forward to it, and as good as the restaurant you got it from might be, your classmates will not appreciate having to smell your food during the entire class period. Unless you have enough food for everyone, save your spicy leftovers for between classes or at home.

Salads. I get it, salads are healthy and appetizing.  However, in the classroom, they are noisy and messy. Most students prefer that their lecture doesn’t smell like Caesar dressing and sound like a cafeteria, so save the salad for later.  A great alternative for salad lovers determined to eat their greens in class is a vegetable smoothie or pressed juice from Whole Foods.