As a Go-Getter Girl, oftentimes your day is a non-stop whirlwind of activity—but you still need to eat! Stalking the vending machine at 4 p.m. can lead to a dietary crash and burn, so here are some ideas for healthy, filling snacks that won’t weigh you down (hint: you may have to pack ahead.):

• Handful of raw nuts, like cashews, walnuts, or almonds
• 1 cup dry, crunchy bran cereal with some raisins or dried cranberries
• Drinkable yogurt, like Dannon Frusion
• Sliced apple or banana with a bit of peanut butter
• A hearty nutrition bar from brands like Think, Odwalla, Kashi, or Clif
• 4 or 6 oz yogurt (try the Greek style!) or cottage cheese, with cinnamon
• Low-fat mozzarella string cheese (yes, just like the kind you ate in second grade)
• Small bowl of oatmeal
• Sliced veggies such as carrots, cucumber, or red pepper
• 2 oz of dried fruit, such as dried apples, mangoes or plums
• 1 cup edamame
• 1 oz pkg Flat Earth Baked Veggie Chips Farmland Cheddar (borderline junk food, but cures your jones for something salty/crunchy!)

For many budget-conscious young women, joining a gym can seem like a waste of money: Why pay a fee to sweat, when you can just run in the park for free? Well, that’s fine if you actually do put on your running shoes and hit the pavement. If not, you may need to join a dedicated exercise location. Sometimes, just showing up at the gym makes it virtually impossible to throw in the towel and give up working out that day. How to pick the right spot? A few key do’s and don’ts:

• Do pick a gym that is super clean and has up-to-date equipment. Bonus points for amenities in the locker room, like free razors and nice lotion.

• Do test out the gym before you sign anything. Legit places offer at least one free workout; many offer free two-week memberships or a few trial group fitness classes. (And if it’s not advertised, ask for it anyway).

• Do ask around to friends, colleagues, or acquaintances about what are the best gyms in the neighborhood. Usually people that have lived in the area for a while know where the gems are and can break down what groups of people go where (e.g., stockbrokers are Gym X, stay-at-home moms are at Gym Y).

• Do look for a gym that has adequate facilities for how you like to work out. If you love to swim, make sure there’s a great pool. If you love fitness classes, make sure the studio and teachers are up to par.

• Don’t break the bank. Your monthly gym membership shouldn’t be anymore than, say, you would allow yourself to spend on a great date night top. Depending on your budget, that could be $29, or $150. Also, take advantage of discounts. Many spots offer student or summer memberships for lower fees.

• Don’t pick a place that’s too far from your house and/or office, depending on when you tend to work out. If it takes more than 15 minutes to get there, you know you’re not going.

• Don’t get suckered. If the salesperson pressures you to buy, look elsewhere.

The other day at Pilates class, the lady to my left, the lady to my right, and me each sported a pair of thick-soled, bright-colored plastic slip-ons. “How long have you had yours?” asked one. “Do they work?” asked the teacher. These aren’t Crocs we’re all wearing. They’re FitFlops.

You’ve probably seen or heard of them by now– these “biomechanically engineered” sandals that promise benefits from improved posture and leg muscle tone to reduced cellulite. Something maybe you didn’t know is that the flops are the brainchild of Go-Getter Girl Marcia Kilgore, who founded Bliss Spas… and sold it to LVMH for a reported $30 million. It’s safe to say this gal is a marketing genius.

So, do FitFlops actually work? The website does feature some positive study results from “The Centre for Human Performance” and scores of testimonials.

My unscientific analysis: I think the actual Pilates classes are doing much more for leg toning in my life than the shoes I wear to and from the gym! However, having worn mine for many months, FitFlops are extremely comfy and tons more supportive than the average Havania-flat flip flop. They can be worn all day running errands, hitting up the mall, etc., without arch or ankle discomfort. That’s something.

One little quibble with the shoes: Can’t they make them just a *wee bit* cuter?!

Some days you have time to pack a Ziploc of fresh veggies or raw nuts for a mid-afternoon snack. But other times, you’re grabbing something on the go– and that something is ideally tasty, crunchy, and oh yeah, healthy too.  Over Fourth of July weekend, two Go-Getter Girl friends introduced me to Sabra hummus “To Go” packs– which might just be the perfect summer snack.  It’s a little self-contained package of creamy, tangy hummus (available in classic, roasted red pepper, or garlic flavors), plus a handful-size serving of crispy pretzel chips. And, since the pretzels and hummus are sealed separately, you can choose to opt out of the crisps and enjoy the hummus as a dip for things like (naturally) freshly cut veggies. 

Available at many grocery stores and markets, check Sabra’s website for locations near you.