Words of Warriors Top 12 Dorm Snacks

Because the DC has limited hours (and because the college student is eternally hungry), dorm snacks are a must. Here are a list of my top 12 favorite dorm snacks, covering a wide range of tastes and locations. Prices may vary, but the deliciousness never will. :)

1. Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups: These are lifesavers and wonderful pick-me-ups for any study session. You can find them at Trader Joe’s for $4.29. Yes, they are kind of expensive for a college student budget, but trust me: these sweet and salty bites are worth the approximate 12￠ a cup.

2. Carrots: Healthy? Yes. Yummy? Heck yes. While there are many different types of carrots to choose from, my favorite are the whole organic ones from Trader Joes. At only 79￠ a bag, these are a crunchy snack you can eat on the go.

3. Kumquats: These are a favorite free treat at Westmont. In season between November and March (but usually available well into April and May depending on the rain), you can find these small yellow fruits growing along the top row of trees in the formal gardens behind Kerrwood. While incredibly tart, kumquats are chock full of Vitamin C (excellent for fighting off colds) and are an easy grab on the way to class or a sour pick-me-up before chapel.

4. Popcorn: One of my late night favorites. If you didn’t get enough at the DC for dinner, microwave popcorn is an easy and filling carb fix. Vons sells some pretty cheap boxes (price depends on the quality and butter content you’re looking for).

5. Caffeinated chocolate: While it may not look like much, one bar of caffeinated chocolate packs a punch! You can find a dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or caramel milk chocolate bar at Ritchie’s or the Westmont Bookstore for around $1.85. The bar claims to contain the caffeine content of one cup of coffee, but from experience (and being a coffee lover), I would equate it to having two or three times as much. Such a boost is incredibly useful for the ever-tired college student, especially if you don’t like coffee and need a way to get your daily caffeine intake!

6. Roasted Plantain Chips: Salty and incredibly satisfying. I can eat a full bag in one go (even though that’s a really bad idea). These have half the fat of the typical thick-cut potato chip (keeping things a bit healthier is helpful to avoid gaining the Freshman 15)  but taste just as good if not better. You can get them at Trader Joe’s for only $1.69!

7. Clementines: Providing a great boost of Vitamin C and a beautiful smell, you can find these tiny oranges at Vons, but I like the 2 lb. bag at Trader Joe’s for $3.29. You have to be prepared to eat them frequently, because they go bad after 3+ weeks, but they are fresh and their vibrant citrus smell is always a mood booster.

8. Peppermint Hot Chocolate: A Trader Joe’s exclusive that I can only find in the months before and after Christmas, this yummy drink is $4.99 per 8oz canister. While it’s a bit more expensive than I would normally go for, this is the most rich and minty hot chocolate I’ve ever had in my life. Totally worth it.

9. Visually Distressed Apples: Sometimes, the DC apples are a little less than satisfactory. You can find these organic and yummy DC-substitutes on the left side of the Saturday farmers’ market. Because of their less-than-eye-catching qualities, they are only 50￠ a lb. (which is super inexpensive for apples, btw). Pro tip: while these are great on their own, they’re even better if you wanna make a fresh apple pie.

10. Build-Your-Own Trail Mix: There is a small island past the produce section in Trader Joe’s (can you tell I like Trader Joe’s?) that carries pre-made trail mixes, but also tons of dried fruit and nuts to make your own custom batch. Some of my friends’ favorite “fancy” trail mix ingredients include dark chocolate covered espresso beans (an added must—only $4.79 for a full 14oz), almonds (at $4.99, they are expensive but highly rewarding), coconut strips ($1.99, a surprisingly sweet addition), and dried cranberries ($1.99 for an 8oz bag).

11. Honey: While the DC does provide honey by the hot water, you can’t beat locally-sourced wildflower or orange-blossom-flavored honey from the Tuesday or Saturday farmers’ market (check online for location and times, sometimes they change). It tastes super yummy on a piece of toast (DC bread works) or in tea. As an added bonus, eating local honey is helpful for people with allergies because it exposes you to local pollen! My friend found her 80z jar for $8, but prices vary according to the season and vendor you buy from.

12. French Bread: This makes the list because of a little-known deal you can get at Vons. If the french bread at the bakery isn’t warm between the hours of 4 and 7 p.m., you can get it for free! I never got the opportunity to use this tip, but several of my friends have, and as we all know… free bread is fantastic.