Whether at home, in a dorm room, or even traveling to sporting events, college athletes usually have little time to prepare for meals and even meal prep. Many times, college athletes resort to eating something unhealthy in the essence of saving time from meal planning. These meals and snacks can allow college athletes to grab a healthy bite to eat, even while on the go. 

Fresh Fruit

As the old saying goes, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”  Fresh fruit is rich in many nutrients and antioxidants and is the perfect snack for an athlete. Perfect for on the walk to or home from class, practice, or a game, an apple, banana, or any other fruit is perfect for healthy eating. 

Whole Grain Cereal

Whether for breakfast or an afternoon snack, whole-grain cereal is a trusted meal or quick bite to eat. With milk, eating cereal will also add calcium to an athlete's diet, but even by itself, whole-grain cereal is beneficial due to its low amount of saturated fat and rich iron and fiber content, among other essential vitamins. 

Related: 9 Portable, Healthy Snacks For Athletes to Bring to Long Competitions

Sandwich

A sandwich with lean meat like turkey on whole-grain bread is a great meal choice for an athlete. This on-the-go favorite has many nutrients like carbohydrates that will provide athletes energy to help them prepare for practice or a game. Adding a vegetable like lettuce and/or tomato to a sandwich can provide added nutritional benefits and flavor. 

Related: The 6 Best Foods for Muscle Recovery

Protein/Granola Bars

A protein or granola bar is a quick on-the-go snack that has many nutritional benefits for an athlete. After a workout, a protein or granola bar has enough protein to help muscles recover. Plus, these snacks are energy boosters, providing an athlete enough fuel to help them continue with the rest of a day's tasks after a workout or even playing in a game. 

Smoothie

If eating regular fruit time-and-again gets boring, a smoothie can be another great option. Plus, by blending fruit with a little bit of milk and ice, you'll get the same level of nutrients from the fruit, but with additional calcium and hydration. As a bonus, smoothies can even be easily made ahead of time and frozen, then thawed in your gym bag to enjoy after practice or a game. 

In all, there are a host of healthy eating options for athletes, but these five foods are quick, on-the-go meals and snacks that anyone can prepare easily. As a college athlete with such a busy and booked schedule, these foods will allow you to be mindful of your food intake while maximizing your time.

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* Originally published on August 5, 2022, by Caleb Myers