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Is ramen an acceptable breakfast food? Asking for a friend….

Getting yourself all set up for college life takes A LOT of effort. You’ve got to buy a super-long list of (expensive) textbooks, figure out your class schedule, and find time to make friends while also learning how to live on your own for the first time ever. Like I said, it’s a lot! Hence, the importance of stocking up your dorm room with the best possible snacks. It’s a pretty straightforward way to make the transition a bit easier.

Just think: It’s late at night and you’re cramming for a big exam in the morning. You need some energy to get through a few more art history slides, but you don’t want to head over to the dining hall and completely interrupt your focused ~flow~. Or what about when you come home after chilling at a party off-campus and need a lil snacky before hitting the hay? The vending machine on your floor can only do so much.

You get the idea. Basically, proximity to a quick nosh is the key to a successful college experience—you know, in addition to having a supportive group of friends, a helpful financial aid office, engaged teachers, a cozy dorm room, a safe campus, and choosing the right major. Here are 25 of the best college snacks to keep in your mini fridge/apartment/backpack.

Rice cakes are the unsung heroes of dorm life. Spread a little peanut butter on ’em and BAM, you’ve got breakfast. Put some avocado on ’em and voilà, there’s lunch. Super versatile and super low-maintenance, since they don’t need to be refrigerated and they pretty much never get stale.

A great source of protein and fiber, hummus is a solid match with carrots, pita chips, and pretzel chips. Really, hummus goes with anything. Hummus for president, TBH.

Ah, yes, hummus’s aforementioned love interest, le pretzel. This salty snack is also fine plain, or if you have a sweet tooth, there’s always (whispers) Nutella.

Popcorn is a college necessity, period. But you don’t want to be that guy who uses the communal microwave and makes the entire floor smell like mouthwatering buttery deliciousness (especially because then, uh, you’ll have to share), so pre-popped it is.

Raise your hand if you’ve got a sweet tooth that can’t be tamed, ’cause same. Chewy, sweet dried fruit is a pretty good substitute for candy, although make sure you brush extra long after polishing off this sticky snack, because it can stick to your teeth and lead to cavities.

Protein-packed peanut butter AND a serving of fruit. Your parents will be so proud!

Okay, fine, the idea of a poor college kid subsisting on instant ramen is pretty cliché at this point. But the thing is, ramen gained its reputation as a dorm-room staple for good reasons—it’s super tasty, very cheap, and wildly easy to prepare.

True story: I once ate cereal for dinner every night for a week straight in college. Don’t judge me! As a student, you have more important things to worry about (final projects, spring break plans, etc.) than preparing yourself a gourmet meal. A bowl of Raisin Bran Lucky Charms it is!

Not everyone needs caffeine to get through a long night of studying, but, well, some people do. Enter: these chocolate-covered espresso beans from Trader Joe’s, which will deliver a burst of energy so you can keep burning the midnight oil.

When you’ve got an 8:30 a.m. class on the other side of campus (and you might have stayed out a little too late the night before, oops), the last thing you’re in the mood to do is wake up early so you can grab breakfast at the caf. A cup of yogurt = a lifesaver.

And if you want to get a little fancy with your yogurt, mix in some granola and you’ve got yourself a bougie coffee-shop-worthy parfait.

My dear baby carrots, you have been underrated for far too long. Crunchy, a good source of fiber, and plays well with others? Don’t even get me started on what these lil guys can do for your eye health.

Oatmeal is one of those easy DIY concoctions you can throw together when you’re half asleep. All you gotta do is soak a bowl of oats with a little water or milk overnight, and by the time you wake up, top it off with cinnamon and fruit and breakfast is served.

Not just for hikes! Also for when your stomach gets a bit grumbly even though you’ve already had dinner!  

Similar satisfying crunch as a potato chip but a bit nuttier in flavor. Quick lesson—because you’re in college to learn, after all—plantain chips are a popular snack in lots of places around the world, including Africa, Peru, and Ecuador.

May I venture to say that the jerky category has been going through a bit of a renaissance as of late? Nowadays, you can buy turkey jerky, beef jerky, even vegetarian jerky! Good if you crave salt and are trying to eat more protein.

A cup of mac and cheese just hits differently when you’re spooning it up in bed after a long day of class. Ask your mom to mail you some more supplies, cuz this eight-pack won’t last long. 

Bananas are super cheap, hella filling, and perfect to grab on your way to class. Your library coffee shop definitely sells these bad boys, so you can stock up without ever having to find a ride to the grocery store.

Protein bars are a “duh” snack for college kids, but most versions are packed full of suspicious unpronounceable ingredients and loads of sugar. The nice thing about RxBar protein bars is that you can see what’s in them right there on the packaging.

Chances are you won’t have access to a stove, so these microwavable little soup cups will come in clutch when it’s a freezing-cold night and you don’t want to venture outside to the dining hall.

Wow, you’re fancy. No, but seriously, if you’re having a glass of wine, it’d be a sin *not* to nibble on cheese and crackers at the same time.

These crispy chickpeas are SO. DAMN. GOOD. They come in a variety of flavors (buffalo? Korean BBQ? Yes plz to both) and they’re full of protein—a win-win in the tasty-and-good-4-u department.

Chips and salsa turn any regular night sitting on the floor of your dorm into a party. It’s just science.

Not just for sushi, y’all. These little sheets of roasted seaweed offer tons of health benefits (hi, antioxidants), including a whole bunch of vitamins and minerals.

If you’re gonna squeeze a pint or two of ice cream into your mini fridge (it’s inevitable, don’t fight it), you might as well try a high-in-protein option. Halo Top makes dairy-free treats *and* keto treats, by the way.