We’ve all been in the midst of an eight-hour-long study marathon, desperately trying to feel the slightest bit prepared for the four massive midterms coming in the same week, when it happens: you start to lose your focus and your body is aching for sustenance. No, iced coffee does not count as a nutritious snack no matter how you look at it. The caffeine is going to suppress your appetite temporarily, and it may even help you focus for an even shorter amount of time. But what are you going to do when the caffeine wears off? Instead of taking multiple long study breaks to hunt down temporary relief, here are some things you can order to satisfy your hunger and keep you focused.
- Tomato & Mozzarella from Starbucks
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This sandwich is my personal go-to if I find myself hungry in one of the 3 million or so local Starbucks. It tastes amazing and has 15 grams of protein, which keeps me full until it’s time to have another meal. The “Tomato & Mozzarella” comes with the obvious ingredients: tomatoes and slices of creamy mozzarella cheese, along with pesto and spinach all bundled up between slices of focaccia bread. Even though it’s ready to eat straight out of the grab-and-go cooler, say “yes” when the barista asks if you want it warmed up. The extra 90 seconds or so completely changes the flavor and texture dynamic of the sandwich.
- Cheese and Fruit Protein Box from Starbucks
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If you aren’t in the mood for a sandwich, grab one of the protein boxes out of the cooler. The “Cheese and Fruit Protein Box” features brie, gouda, cheddar, multigrain crackers, grapes and apple slices. I never feel weighed down or sluggish after eating one of these. Plus, this is comprised of all finger food, so you can either savor it slowly as you study, or you can eat it how I normally do: by shoveling the whole thing into my mouth in under five minutes. How much more can you ask for? You have a mix of flavors and textures that pair perfectly with each other and add up to 20 grams of protein. While I’m fairly certain the multigrain crackers are meant to be eaten with the softer cheeses in the box, I am not that classy when I’m having an academic-induced breakdown in the back of the Starbucks. My preferred way of devouring the brie is skipping the crackers and opting for the “I’m just going to peel the wax back and eat it in one bite like a heathen” method. Please peel the wax- I made the mistake of not doing so once and I’m still not sure I’ve recovered.
- Iced Coconut Milk Latte from Starbucks
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I could never talk about Starbucks and not include coffee. Personally, I prefer to drink all of my coffees without cream, sugar or flavoring. However, I will make an exception for the “Iced Coconut Milk Latte.” This drink alone is not a meal; however, it pairs well with any of the grab-and-go options from the cooler. Ordering this hot or cold qualifies as a “healthy” option to me because there isn’t a lot of added sugar other than the strike of cascara sugar on top, which I normally prefer to go without. If you want something sweet to go with your food, try this with a scoop of vanilla bean powder mixed in. It will cure your craving for dessert without being too sweet.
- Iced White Tea from Starbucks
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If you aren’t a coffee person, Starbucks still has great tasting drinks that you might enjoy. If I don’t get a coffee with my food, I love the “Iced White Tea.” Personally, I don’t like the sweetness of four pumps of liquid sugar, so I opt for two or three depending on the day. Even if you want all four pumps of sweetener, a grande (16 ounces) only has 11 grams of sugar in it. Not bad, especially compared to most pops like Mountain Dew that have 58 grams of sugar in the same amount of drink.
- Veggie Egg White Sandwich from Dunkin Donuts
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Surprisingly, Starbucks offers a lot more food and drink options that could qualify as healthy, but there are still a few possibilities at Dunkin Donuts.
If you’re in the mood for breakfast sandwiches, opt for the “Veggie Egg White Sandwich,” or if you want a donut option try the frosted maple variety.
- Coffee from Dunkin Donuts
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As for drinks, your best bet would be to stick with hot or iced coffee with one of the sugar-free syrups if you want added flavor.
- Beyond Sausage Breakfast Sandwich from Dunkin Donuts
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For my plant-based readers, Dunkin did roll out a Beyond Sausage breakfast sandwich in 2019 that tastes amazing! Get it without cheese or egg to make it vegan.
Now that my study break is over, it’s time to get back to work with my protein box and iced coffee by my side.