Doing Physical Training (PT) in the army can be tough.
You could get hungry or crave snacks. Sometimes, you just need to reach for that Oreo to motivate yourself or relieve stress.
Here are the top 5 snacks I bring, as well as observe others bringing. I’ll briefly touch on the price, and where you could buy them.
I’m excluding snacks such as plain crackers as they may get a little boring.
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It Depends On Your Unit or Company’s Stance on Snacks
Image: NTUC FairPrice
You cannot bring any snack you like, especially during Basic Military Training (BMT). It all depends on your unit or company’s policy on snacks.
Some require snacks with healthier choice logos (you know, the red healthy pyramid), some outrightly ban certain food snacks, and some have a limit on how much you can bring.
My company in BMT was very particular about snacks. For us, they must not contain chocolate, mandatory to be put into a container regardless of the snack’s external packaging, and we could only bring as many snacks as we could fit into 2 litres worth of containers.
Apparently, these measures are in place to prevent pests such as rats from entering your lockers. (Yes, it happens!)
Furthermore, we were banned from bringing protein shakes.
If you’re really unsure of what snacks could be brought and don’t want to risk confiscation, I suggest you wait after your confinement week to bring them.
Once you’re done with BMT, you’ll have much more freedom to bring any snacks you like, including instant noodles! (but please do so in moderation)
Top 5 Snacks to Bring For NS
1. Lotus Biscoff Biscuit
I can say with certainty that this is a crowd favourite.
I remember during BMT, when someone brought out lotus biscuits, everyone would request for one!
These Belgium biscuits taste like caramel cookies. The sweetness and toasty flavour blend perfectly.
The downside, however, is its price. It is relatively more expensive compared to other alternatives.
You can find Lotus Biscoff Biscuits in NTUC FairPrice, retailing at around $5.60 for 250g.
An alternative to Lotus Biscuits is Tiger Biscuits. Though not as rich in flavour, it costs roughly $2.50 for 411.6g.
2. Baked Potato Crisp Crackers
Within the packaging, the potato crisp snack by Win2 is further split into 8 individual packets.
It’s extremely convenient to eat and the thin potato crackers are packed with flavour. My personal favourite is the vegetable flavour variant.
And as the name suggests, it’s very crispy. Be careful not to squash them or you’ll end up with bits!
Price-wise, it retails for $2.22 and you’ll get 8 small packets (160g in total).
3. Nuts/Assorted Nuts
Image: Home Stratosphere
Certain types of nuts such as Cashew, Walnuts, and Pistachios may be pricey. (Some brands sell them for more than $10)
Take your time to choose from a wide range of nuts. Different types of nuts have different tastes and textures.
If you’re looking for a quick value-for-money snack, the Mixed Nuts from FairPrice is for you. ($1.12 for 150g)
I always have a packet of it in my locker. It’s delicious and most importantly, it doesn’t break the bank!
FairPrice-branded nuts have different varieties and cost as cheap as $1.12.
As nuts are high in fat (the good kind of fat), it’s high in calories. Your daily PT should be able to burn off those extra calories.
4. Granola Bars/Protein Bars
The Nature Valley Granola Bar goes for $5.96 for 210g (5 packets).
Granola bars will quickly satiate your hunger while giving you a burst of energy. Be careful of the calories though.
If you’re skinny or looking to bulk up, it’s the perfect snack packed with nutrients/protein.
Make sure you’re still eating your daily meals!
Protein Bars can help with your muscle recovery but may not be allowed due to dehydration reasons.
Carman’s Protein Bar goes for $8.90 for 200g (5 packets).
5. Oreo/Hello Panda
My bunkmate loves Hello Panda. Ask him for a particular flavour – strawberry, chocolate, milk, and he’ll probably have it.
However, eat the Oreos and Hello Pandas in moderation. Such processed food may contain high amounts of sugar.
A great way to limit intake is to reward yourself with these snacks after finishing high keys or when you hit certain goals.
These snacks are very popular and can be found in almost any convenience store/supermarket.
FairPrice sells Oreos for $2.25 (264.6g, 9 packets) and Hello Panda for $5.55 (260g, 10 packets).
Bonus: Drink Packets/Sachets
If allowed, you can bring drink packets such as Milo powder, Pocari Sweat, Coffee powder, and so on.
You can use your army green mug, water canteen or even eat the powder straight (not recommended).
The downside is, you may have trouble finding hot water in tekong! Again, don’t drink too many sweet drinks. You know what they say – health is wealth.
Conclusion
Personally, I find myself bringing nuts to camp all the time. Other than it being delicious, I eat the snack to put on a little more healthy weight.
I suggest you visit your nearest Value Shop to find these snacks first to save more money. Who knows, you might discover new interesting snacks.
Keep in mind what snacks you are allowed to bring. I once got my snacks confiscated and it was only returned after a long time!
Try not to skip meals to save room for snacks. Snacks can make your time serving National Service (NS) more enjoyable, but eat in moderation!
Share your snacks with your bunkmates and make good memories!
What’s your go-to army snack?
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