Put Down The Pizza: Comfort Foods To Help You Survive Finals Week Healthfully

It's 1 a.m. The fluorescent lights are beaming down onto your textbook. Your eyes are crossing and your words are running together. Essentially, you need a break. When stressed or sad, folks often turn to munchie snacks to soothe and revitalize.

Comfort Foods to Help You Survive Finals Week Healthfully

Being the college student that you are, your brain automatically goes to the collegiate staples: pizza, tacos, and chips. While we totally get the satisfaction of biting into a delicious slice of pizza, we can't necessarily condone it in this situation. After all, you are definitely not going to be able to return to your studies after indulging in carb-loaded foods.

You are a smart person, so it is time to start snacking intelligently. What is even cleverer is snacking intelligently without compromising your cravings. There are plenty of healthy and delicious substitutes you can swap in for your collegiate comfort staples.

For instance, you can thwart that late-night Taco Bell run by putting together a vegan quesadilla! Or silence your craving for sweets with a strawberry stuffed with cannoli cream. These simple swaps and healthy ideas make for perfect finals week comfort foods.

Avoid Chinese-Take Out

We all know how tasty and comforting a late-night egg roll can be, but Chinese take-out is not going to do anything for your last-minute cram session. You need brain-boosting power food, not bad carbs laden with thick sugary sauce. Try a homemade alternative like this Asian Peanut Broccoli Quinoa to help keep you full, focused, and satisfied.

Ditch the Take-Out Pizza

From late-night study sessions to totally raging parties, pizza is a constant. But when you are cramming for finals, stress-eating pizza will only make you feel sluggish and sleepy. Try making a healthier version of this fast food by mixing up a pizza crust made of cauliflower for an equally comforting, less calorie-filled dinner.