You could pack chips, sandwiches and candy to get you through those grueling hours of sunbathing, but why not bring along some yummy nutrition bars that help your figure and make your taste buds happy?

Here are my recommended top 5:

Gnu Flavor and Fiber Bars

Does your mouth water every time you smell the cinnabons at the mall? Do you have a hard time not finishing the whole bag of raisins once you start? If either of those apply to you, then you’ll love the Cinnamon Raisin bar. It’s only 130 calories and gives you 12g of fiber, already half of what you need per day! It is definitely my favorite, with Chocolate Brownie coming in second. The Banana Walnut is good for all you nut-lovers out there, and the Peanut Butter is a great substitute for everyone’s favorite (and surprisingly high calorie) PB&J sandwich. Plus, your heart will be thanking you for the lack of added sugar and artificial ingredients. All-natural, all the way.

Pros: flavor, fiber, and filling!

Cons: The price. And the Orange Cranberry bar. It was very… citrusy.

YouBar

If you like taking the lead and doing things yourself, this bar is perfect for you because you get to be the bar-creator! Just go to their website and pick out the ingredients you want, and voila! A pack of your very own specially-designed bars (or protein shakes too) will arrive on your doorstep. It seems to be the latest new trend in Hollywood, with celebrities like Fergie, AnnaLynne McCord, and even a G.W.W.E. spotted with ‘TheirBars’. Be careful, though, because the wrong mix of ingredients could be disastrous.

Pros: Customized to your own dietary needs, and you are able to pretend you’re a real chef for a few minutes.

Cons: Personalized anything gets pretty expensive. (But, with this CC Exclusive, for the entire month of March you can get 10% off when you enter “collegecandy” during checkout!)

Zone Perfect Bars

Getting your protein has never been easier with these bars, since one of them gives you 15 grams. That’s 30% of your RDI right there! Plus, they are chock full of other antioxidants and vitamins that I didn’t find as much in the other bars, and with more than a dozen different flavors, you’re sure to love at least one of them (I know I’ve found my match: Fudge Graham- mmm…). They’re all-natural too, and actually guarantee that you’ll love their bars; if you don’t, you can ask for a refund! They wouldn’t make that big of a promise if they weren’t really that good. And they are (the Dark Chocolate Strawberry speaks for itself).

Pros: Protein-packed, 19 vitamins & minerals, lots of yummy flavors.

Cons: Not the best choice for the calorie/carb-conscious.

Kashi TLC Bars

We love our friends over at Kashi. They’ve given us all sorts of must-have packaged foods, like their cereal (GoLean!) and dinner entrees. What I didn’t know was they’ve also given us a slew of snack bars! And just like their other products, these were both affordable AND amazingly-good (Pumpkin Pie = heaven). Too bad the bars on the small side; they are so tasty you will want to eat 10. The Crunchy! line (no, I didn’t add that ! there) is a little bigger and the calorie count it a little higher, but the Cinnamon Coffee Cake is so worth it.

Pros: Big in taste, small in price

Cons: Also small in size

Luna Bars

There’s a reason why almost every girl has eaten a Luna Bar at some point in her life. And why it’s sad if you haven’t yet. Because they are so…freaking…good…(*Ellipses required to simulate drooling effect.) These bars are made especially for us women and are tailored to our specificneeds. 35% calcium, 30% iron, and 100% vitamins C, E, AND B in my favorite Iced Oatmeal Raisin? What more could you ask for? Actually, I would ask for a more reduced calorie count, since some flavors are almost 200 calories. I do give them props for coming out with the Mini line, so we can at least try to limit ourselves (because trust me, once I let loose on those Lunas, there’s no turning back).

Pros: Every flavor is yummy plus calcium for stronger bones!

Cons: The calories.

I can’t believe we’ve never talked about them before on CC. Because Popchips are off. the. chain!

I had heard a lot about Popchips, but was a bit skeptical the first time I brought them home. That lasted about 2 seconds.

When I opened the bag, I could smell the deliciousness of the BBQ-flavored chips just waiting for me to devour them. And so I did. And they were awesome, down to the last finger-licking crumb. I found them to be light and airy, kind of like popcorn, but a lot more flavorful and crispy.

The best part is that they’re completely guilt-free! Since they’re not fried in oil, but rather “popped”  using heat and pressure (don’t worry, I don’t get it either) the chips have half the fat of a typical potato chip with no trans fat, no saturated fats, no cholesterol and no preservatives.

Here are the stats per ounce:

Potato Chips- 150 calories. 10g fat. 1g saturated fat.

Popchips- 120 calories. 4g fat. 0g saturated fat.

If that doesn’t make you wanna pop open a bag (teehee), maybe the 5 different and delicious flavors will lure you in. My favorites were the BBQ and the Sea Salt and Vinegar. But the Salt and Pepper, Parmesan Garlic, and, of course, Original were all great too (especially with some salsa on the Original – YUM).

Like they say: It was love. Without the handles. And that’s all the love I need.

But isn’t there a more convenient alternative to carry in your purse or backpack for easy access during less-than-stimulating class? Mornings are hectic as it is – picking out a cute and semi-clean outfit, making sure you grab the right books, and checking the mirror for any potential embarrassments – who has time to grab a coffee?

Luckily, a few capitalistic masterminds have exploited our caffeine addiction. No, I’m not talking about those fools over at Starbucks; that’s old news. Enter the world of caffeinated munchies. Red Bulls and Power Bars have nothing on these chemically-enhanced, caffeine-infused snacks.

We’ve all seen the caffeine gums, but, Dorothy, we’re not in Kansas anymore.

Today’s caffeine fiends can choose from lollipops, chocolates, cookies, jellybeans and more. Here’s a rundown of the best indulgences to get you wired without suffering the evil burnt tongue:

BuzzStrong’s Coffee Cookies

Guaranteed to satisfy your inner-cookie monster, these babies are made with Brazilian coffee, Tahitian vanilla, and Swiss dark and white chocolate chips. All natural and carrying 70 calories per cookie, four cookies are equivalent to a one-cup coffee buzz. A 7 0unce, 12-cookie box will only cost you $4.99, which is the eqivalent to a single Starbucks run.

Crackheads

A far better alternative to inviting in the local crackhead off the street (these guys smell better and provide a much better buzz), Crackheads are a great caffeinated snack. White and dark chocolate covered espresso beans? Yum! Each 1.3-ounce box has around 30 beans, for a grand total of 120 mg of caffeine. That will get you through that 8am lecture, fo sho.

Sport Beans

Boasting yummy flavors like lemon-lime, cherry, orange, berry blue, watermelon and fruit punch, these caffeine-free beans packs 25 grams of carbohydrates as well as electrolytes and vitamins B and C. If you truly want to step it up, a second line of “Extreme” Sports Beans carry 50 mg of caffeine a pack. For about a dollar a bag and 100 calories, these small one-ounce bags pack a powerful punch, which far outweighs the chemically after-taste.

Buzz Bites Chocolate Energy Chews

Satisfy your chocolate craving and grab an energy boost to boot. Each chocolate contains about the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee (100 mg!). At $3.99 for an eight-piece tin, this is the clear choice of self-confessed choco/caffeine-aholics.

Jolt Energy Gum

A spin off of Jolt Cola, you can choose between spearmint and peppermint. Toss two pieces in your mouth to feel the equivalent of an energy drink. This also happens to be super cheap ($2.49 for a 12 pack) and you’ll be able to find it in almost any convenience store.

Night Light Caffeinated Chai Mints

Not for caffeine junkies, but a good choice for those seeking a slight bump during midterms…or after a particularly long weekend. Caffeinated chai mints are only lightly caffeinated (1.5 mg per mint) and promise to ‘add a slight hint of alertness to your chai induced peace.’ Bonus: These mints come in super-cute brushed metal tins with the option to go online and design your own!

Javapops

Lollipops aren’t just for the little tykes anymore! These adult-only pops come in 5 java-brew flavors: French Vanilla, Chocolate Almond, Irish Crème, Cappuccino, and Chocolate Raspberry. A pack of ten oversized lolli’s (with 60 mg of caffeine in each one) will set you back $9.99.

Penguin Caffeinated Peppermints


Three of these bad boys are the equivalent to a high sugar, high calorie Coke. Allegedly ‘the original caffeinated mint’, they’re sugar free and their caffeine infused offerings include peppermint, cinnamon and chocolate. For an all-natural buzz, try the Kola or Citrus varieties, both with guarana and ginseng. A $2.99 tin contains 25 mints.

Engobi Cinnamon Surge Energy Go Bites


Love Taco Bell Cinnamon Twists? Wish they would wake you up (instead of making you feel like a fattie)? Your prayers have been answered. These cinnamon sugar puffs contain 140 mg of caffeine in a pack and their taste alone blows the other caffeinated cravings out of the water. Well, that and the promise on the package: “To get wired. I mean really wired.”

I’m not really into drugs and don’t know a whole lot about tripping. However, you mention the words flavor-tripping, and my ears might perk up a little. I am, after all, very into food and cooking, and while I’ve had many meals that make me feel like I’ve died and gone to heaven, I’ve never actually tripped off my food. Is that even possible?

Apparently, there is a berry that will make Tabasco sauce taste like glazed doughnuts and vinegar like apple juice. It’s a West African berry called the miracle fruit and The New York Times reported on a rooftop party last week that featured this little berry. Once you pop it in your mouth, everything you eat will taste sweeter and a bit more delicious.

According to a scientist who has studied the fruit, “The cause of the reaction is a protein called miraculin, which binds with the taste buds and acts as a sweetness inducer when it comes in contact with acids.” So, you’re telling me all I need to do is eat a berry and all those healthy and bland foods will start to taste good to me? I can eat salads and vegetables all day long and make myself believe I’m eating desserts non-stop? I say bring it on. I am so ready to start tripping.

Each berry costs about $2, which could get quite expensive; otherwise bartenders would be using them a lot more. According to one NYC bartender, “It will make all wine taste like Manischewitz.” OK, so it’s not perfect. Also, one taster said it did nothing to the taste of brussel sprouts. Darn it. But still. It makes grapefruit “taste like candy” and makes goat cheese taste like cheesecake.

Reason # 4,593 why food is better than drugs.