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Dried fruit is a good option. It's quiet and relatively fragrance-free.

Yeah, raisins. That's about it.

Soft sammiches, as simple as cheese or PB & J, or something fancy and ornate...just skip the crunchy lettuce and crusty breads.

Also, cut into small pieces. Imagine a wee party back there with finger sandwiches.

String cheese! Quiet and delicious and kind of fun, too.

I ate granola bars pretty much every day, but they were the soft/chewy kind, usually, and not the crunchy kind - because of crumbs, not really noise. In grad school we ate in every class, sometimes whole meals - it was understood and ok as we were all busy with other work during our "breaks" (in quotes because they didn't seem like much of a break). People often ate fruit, dried fruit, nuts, yogurt, pretzels, and chips. Noisy wasn't generally a problem (although really noisy candy wrappers or chips could be) - just make sure you don't bring something stinky. No one did, usually. All in all, social workers are a polite bunch. :)

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I used to fill travel mugs with noodles or soup.

I like corn tortillas filled with hummus or a sandwich filling. You could also use regular wheat tortillas, of course. They're soft, easy to pack, and if you pick a filling that doesn't require refrigeration, you don't have to worry about spoilage.

I'm also a big fan of Lara Bars. They're essentially dried fruit and nut bars, and while I suppose they are high-ish in calories, they're healthy and keep me full for long periods of time. I used to keep them in my bag all the time when I was a student.

maybe a small cheese, like babybel or even string cheese. grapes or cherries are also good fruits to snack quietly on, since they're bite-sized and not crunchy. just be sure your cherries don't have pits, because it obviously would be disgusting to spit those out during class.

also, when i was in college, i had a packed work and class schedule. this isn't a sure-fire thing to depend on, but i would often be able to quickly fit in a peanut butter & jelly sandwich as soon as i got to class, in that strange five minute period when everyone is straggling in. it didn't interrupt or distract anyone, and it kept my tummy from growling for the next few hours.

I went to a commuter college and pretty much everyone worked full time and was clearly coming or going from work. People understood that you had to eat. Steer away from smelly stuff or things you need to spread out and it's fine.

I remember a classmate who seemed to be in a similar situation and he would bring those (super high-sodium) campbells soups in a cup and microwave them in the student lounge before class. No slurping, just sipping. It didn't seem to bother anyone.

Other things that worked for me - cheese and crackers (packed in a insulated bag w/ blue ice), granola bars, pbj, clif/luna bars, muffins or other baked goods, and lots of coffee...

My other advice would be for someone to eat a really good breakfast. Pre-cooked steel-cut oats and fruit, etc. to fill up. Taking the extra 10 min. in the morning to get some good nourishment can help when the rest of the day goes by in a blur.

Now someone please remind me why I'm putting in an application for grad school again....!

sandwiches are great. I highly recommend oranges sliced or clementines. Just because they smell fantastic in class.
On a side note, I have realized that I may be too messy of an eater to eat anything during class.

p&j sandwiches. low profile, delicious and quiet. I bring these to class all the time.

pb&j*

I've suffered from the same problem -- I'm a full-time staffer at a university, in grad school and teach once a week. It's tough, but you'll make it through!

Depending on your food prep possibilities, I always suggest a soft sandwich or wrap -- anything with peanut butter, hummus or cream cheese is usually a good bet. The nice thing about these kinds of sammies is that you can tear away pieces quietly while the prof is lecturing.

Of course, any excessively crunchy snack, or anything in a crinkly wrapper is a no-no. So, think trail mixes and dried fruit, bananas, pre-peeled oranges or tangerines, and other "poppable" foods -- treats that you can pop in your mouth easily, like pretzels, carrot coins, grape/cherry tomatoes, etc. I try to stay away from dippable foods or those that necessitate a utensil -- you'll probably want to keep a hand free for note-taking.

And don't forget you can sip your meal, too. Whether it's putting a hot, cream of something soup into an insulated coffee mug or Thermos, or throwing together a fruit-filled smoothie, it's satisfying in its own way and can be filling along with a couple of other snacks.

For example, I make a big batch of this curried carrot bisque and premeasure it into mug-sized portions in a container, then freeze them. All it takes before class is nuking it in the microwave and then carefully pouring it into my mug. I've also been known to sip my breakfast in smoothie form during my morning commute and later at my desk, when I don't have enough time to eat at home.

Regardless of what you do, I hope these tips keep you fueled. Good luck this semester!

PB & J is a nice idea, but it SMELLS...remember some folks have allergies & cant be around those smells. Stick with stuff that doesnt reek & wont bother your (hungry) neighbors.

Nutrigrain Bars work like a gem, as long as you open the package before class.

Also fantastic:
A banana
grapes
string cheese
baby bel cheeses

I've gotten away with a chickpea salad with shredded vegetables, olives, and a little feta, with a little vinegar and olive oil. Most sandwiches are inoffensive and noise-free. Honestly there are so many people in my classes who bring in nasty-smelling McDonald's and crunchy crackers and carrots that I thought I was alone in trying to avoid them. Thanks to everyone who realizes that a classroom is no place for smelly, crunchy food!!

During the winter, i always keep a few clementines in my bag. They're portable, easy to peel, and though they do smell, who's gonna complain about a lovely citrus-y aroma?

I also keep a few packets of Emergen-C on hand. Mixed w/ some water, the vitamins give me a nice burst of energy that keeps me going until I get get some solid food.

Those 5 - 10 minutes when everyone is just coming in, before class really starts, are a good time for eating. I'll echo sandwiches, nuts, fruits, etc. Hard boiled egg? Veggies, like carrots or celery. Anything that's relatively portable should be good. Bento communities would be a good place to ask for more ideas. Biggie at lunchinabox.net would have some good ideas, I think.

Trail mix was my snack of choice. One of my professors used to grab a handful when he walked by my desk. It makes me wonder if I only got an A because I fed him twice a week...

Interesting that people are concerned about this. I can see where everyone is coming from of course, but at my university, everyone ate everything imaginable in every class. It was never an issue. Some professors did have issues with certain foods or eating in general, and students would respect that, but not without griping behind thier backs!

I'm in college, and it's TOTALLY normal to eat in class. Almost all of the time it's bagels with cream cheese and a cup of coffee. It's quiet, doesn't smell, not messy, and (at least at my university) there's coffee shops in a lot of the buildings.

oh I am SO GLAD to see this :) I go to a school that is a commuter campus - no dorms, no restaurants anywhere nearby, the caf. is gross - so eating in class is pretty much expected at my college.

From a teacher's perspective: bananas, yogurt, clementines.

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Trader Joes has some soup and pasta bowls that you fill with water, microwave 3 mins and mix, if you're like me and need warm food. I carried a small container of parmesan, and it hit the spot!

(Perhaps I should add, though, that I have witnessed many a silent episode of pretzel consumption, during which the student in question somehow manages to just gum the pretzels without making a sound. Impressive!)

A big thing for me is not just the food, but the food CONTAINERS. Even if you have a quiet snack to chew on, if your bag crinkles every time you reach in for another bite, it's just as conspicuous. Now i buy in bulk and pre-package and -portion everything into thinner plastic baggies or sturdy lidded containers--no matter what you're eating it's much less offensive and can be reused.

Almonds and peanut butter balance bars and horizon chocolate milk.

The horizon milk comes in little prepackaged boxes that can be stored at room temperature but i pack mine in with a cool pack since room temperature milk just feels wrong.

Blueberries are great, string cheese, any deli meat as a rollup, pear slices with almond butter. I buy the kind at trader joe's in individual packets. Squeeze onto a pear. delicious.

As someone who teaches college classes, I strongly suggest food containers and not things in crinkly plastic bags for things like sandwiches or chips/crackers. And no loudly crunchy foods. That drives people (esp. your professor) nuts.

I worked full time and went to school full time for a while, and I got by with a clif bar for breakfast, packing a turkey and cheese sandwich in tuperware for lunch, and having peanut-butter filled pretzels as a snack throughout the day (not during class, too noisy!). Oh and lots of water!

And Emergen-C is great. It really gives me a boost of mid-afternoon energy.

The smell of oranges and clementines, particularly the rind, make me incredibly nauseous. I would say stick to low aroma options.

I really don't feel that it's rude to eat in class if the class is scheduled at an incredibly inconvenient time. For example, my Monday class is 8-11. I'm sorry, but I'm just not hungry at 7 in the morning. Many professors voice their opinions about this early, and I feel that they should; said Monday morning class allows for "food, but not a buffet". That said, a 2-5 class, you should be able to go without eating.

My favourites for the classroom:

Breakfast:
Yogurt
Berries
Granola
Whole Grain Cinnamon Buns (made at home)
Hard-boiled eggs (eaten quickly...the smell can be a bit rank)

Lunches:
Cucumbers, mushrooms, broccoli and other non-crunchy veggies with hummus or baba ghanoush
Mini-pitas
Bean, veggie and sharp cheese salad.

Dinner is the one meal I can't bring myself to eat in class.

While PB&J sounds ideal, as someone mentioned above, peanut butter smells. And there are enough people walking around with peanut allergies that that's probably a bad idea. My MIL is allergic to corn, and just talking with someone who's recently eaten popcorn gives her a reaction (from the corn on their breath). I'll bet there's at least one person on campus who has that severe of a peanut allergy, and for all you know they may be sitting next to you.

Avoid oranges/clementines, too. Most people aren't allergic to the smell or anything, but it is extremely noticeable. If you're trying to be discreet, citrus fruits are a really bad idea.

I'd recommend what other have: Soft sandwiches or wraps, dried fruit, boiled eggs, string cheese, chewy granola bars, soups, etc.

Take a whole wheat wrap, spread peanut butter on it (make sure you stir up the peanut butter a bit so its easier to spread). Cut up some bananas (or any fruit you like!) put them on top of the peanut butter then roll up the wrap! It will defiantly be a quiet snack and its nutritious!

eating in class was always a serious pet peeve of mine. it's one thing to discreetly sneak some dried fruit at the beginning or end when everyone is moving around, and I can deal with a cup of coffee as long as there's no slurping. however, when I was in school, some people would go to the dining hall right before class and bring take out containers and have a full on meal during the lecture! I found it extremely disrespectful to the professors, (as in, their lecture doesn't really need your full attention-- and just imagine trying to keep a train of thought when everyone around you is eating), and distracting for myself and the other students, (both for the noise and the food smells that make those of us who waited until after class to eat hungry).

I get that people are busy, but really, eating a sandwhich only takes a few minutes. make time before or after class for that. if you get hungry before you have time for a full meal, have a quick snack during a break or as you walk between classes to tide you over. I also think students should keep meals in mind when scheduling their classes and make accomodations. Besides the fact that it's better not to work while you eat, I think it's important to learn early to prioritize taking care of yourself, i.e. eating proper meals and getting sleep. You will always have time to eat if you make time.

also, if you simply must eat, please, no boiled eggs, peanut butter, or other very fragrant foods! that's worse than noise! (though do chew with your mouth shut!)

bagel sandwiches, turkey/cheese roll-ups, bottled odwalla drinks, i used to bring cold pasta with just a little salt on it and it tasted fine.

please please please don't bring tuna fish or sushi/seaweed. or curry. especially in a hot/stuffy classroom... that's just mean.

Why is it rude exactly? It's not like the person's sitting there pissing in a corner and yelling at the other students. In fact, there's no interaction at all. I have never understood this. People need to eat, yet it is often a social taboo to do so. Wtf?!

To answer the question: sandwiches seem nice and easy. If you bring pasta or yogurt, remember a utensil (I frequently forget)!

these are all great suggestions, and (as indicated by the fact that it is after twelve) i'm in the middle of midterm exams and papers. Sooo, i'll probably be using these tips over the next few days.

I must reiterate that breakfast is the best way to get through a full day. Eating a whole bowl of oatmeal, 1-2 pieces of fruit and a hard boiled egg in the morning while getting dressed is the easiest way to maintain your blood sugar through out the day.
Also, pbj, is easy, well balanced (especially if you use sugar free jam or real fruit) and caloric enough to keep your tummy happy for a few hours. I like apples for eating on the way to class b/c they are portable, non messy, require only one hand and no peeling
when i can, i pack rice salad or couscous for lunch, but often all i manage is a quick sammy and fruit.
As far as snacks go, cheese and a softer nut, like cashews or pecans (raw, nothing toasted or with a crunch) and dried fruit are great for keeping energy up!