Homemade Granola

As spring term starts, students are starting to get back into the habit of a schedule and waking up early. Spending long hours on campus or heading to the library during one to two hour breaks can leave students feeling hungry. Rather than spending money at restaurants on campus, try making fun snacks before you head out the door in the morning, like granola.

Making granola is easier than it might sound and the taste of the finished product will be well worth it. Serious Eats shares their methods for making granola by providing a coconut granola recipe and savory granola, along with many more.

Making granola is very flexible because so many different ingredients can be mixed and matched. Dried fruit, nuts, chocolates and espresso beans make for tasty additions to any homemade granola. Recipes including these ingredients are available on The Prepared Pantry website.

For a slideshow of various granolas and more recipes, visit this "I Heart Granola" story from the Fayetteville Flyer.

Spring Break Snacks

As spring break approaches, many college students are planning their week long adventures by buying a plane ticket or filling their gas tanks for a road trip. One aspect of vacationing that is sometimes forgotten about is food. What will you eat while driving seven hours or are bored on the plane?

Instead of loading up on unhealthy snacks at the airport convenience store or the gas station store, consider packing some snacks that will be filling and not make your stomach hurt from too much sugar. Cooking Light has created a great video on how to make smart snacking decisions while on a road trip. They offer valuable suggestions about which foods are high in fiber, low in calories and full of nutrients to keep you going (and awake).

The Lodi News-Sentinel also suggests that healthy snacking will encourage our kids to take on good eating habits. The California based newspaper suggests that “perhaps we can forsake soda, chips, cookies, fruit chews and cupcakes for edamame, dried fruit and nuts, sliced veggies and yogurt/bean dips, homemade trail mix, assemble-your-own stuffed pitas and "cracker-wiches" with whole grain crackers, nut butter/cheese, banana/apple slices.” These are all great ways to eat healthy while trying to make it to the next meal.


While on vacation, sometimes it is easier to go to restaurants for every meal. To save money and make healthier decisions, try going out to eat for only one meal and making these simple yet delicious snacks as a “pre dinner.” Real Simple suggests snacks that are easy to make including parmesan pits crisps, cheese melts, cashew-strawberry crunch, dried pineapple and pistachios.

Fun snacks can make the car ride more enjoyable this spring break – and you will also be saving money and eating healthy. Happy Spring Break!