The picture above shows the number of things I juggle on my way out the door when leaving for school in the morning. Packing is a nightmare, and sometimes it’s all I can do to make it to the car without dropping something, much less remembering everything. More often than not, I forget to grab a snack of some kind, which leaves me anxiously awaiting lunch from the minute I leave the house. So, one of my New Year’s Resolutions was to change my ways, and so far I’ve been successful! Read on for the things I’ve learned in my fight to be a successful snacker.

**Tips and Tricks**

Choose Worthy Snacks: Sometimes in the middle of the day, it can get rough. You see a bag of greasy, crunchy chips across the room, and all you can think about is how you want to eat a whole bag right that instant. However, deep in your heart, you know…chips are probably not the best option. A well-chosen snack should be rejuvenating, and leave you feeling energized and satisfied. Check out this list of the 5 Best Foods to Take to Class for some suggestions.

Pace yourself: Not just a big meal can put you into a food coma, big snacks can too. Many experts say that eating 5-6 small meals a day is the most healthy way you can eat, so instead of planning one large snack, plan a few smaller ones. They’ll satisfy cravings and not leave you angry at 1pm that you already ate your one snack for the day at 10am.

Plan Ahead:This post about using slow cookers to plan healthy and delicious meals discusses how to plan a good meal even when you’re busy. The same goes for snacks. By planning out the night before what you may want to snack on throughout the next day, you can organize yourself appropriately. Plastic bags and insulated lunch bags allow for planning warm or cool snacks in addition to dry ones, and you can even plan to make something homemade that could last you all week.

Observe: In class or in the break room on the job, look around you and see what other people may be munching on. Maybe you would’ve never thought to dip pretzels in yogurt, but your classmate did! Try out new things to mix up your snack repertoire and keep your stomach guessing for new treats.

Don’t Forget! In the hustle and bustle of the 20 minutes before leaving the house in the mroning, a lot of things can happen. You’re grabbing your homework, your paperwork, your coat, gloves, water bottle…sometimes snacks can get pushed to the wayside if you run out of time, but don’t let them! Make snacks a priority. If you have some on hand throughout the day, even if you don’t end up eating them, it can prevent you from binging later on a calorie-filled, unsatisfying meal or fast-food stop mid-day.

Shannon Kelley is finishing her Master’s in Education by student teaching at a high school in St. Louis, MO, where she admittedly wishes recess still existed to allow for proper snack-time.