August 25, 2021

10 Healthy Snack Ideas

These healthy snack items can be a lifesaver when morning, afternoon, and night time cravings hit. They are easy to prepare and delicious to eat!

In just a few short weeks we will be entering into a very busy season of school, work, and sports. As a working mom and wife it’s important to me that my family has healthy options to choose from. Having a handful of nutritious items on hand that are easy to grab and easy to prepare gives my family a much better shot at choosing the right foods. Here are 10 different snack ideas my family loves and enjoys!

Popcorn

I can’t think of one person in my life that doesn’t like a bowl of crunchy popcorn. These small kernels offer a ton of nutrition and when prepared right can be low in calories. Popcorn is a whole grain food that is naturally high in vitamins making this a healthy snack option. We like to prepare popcorn with our HotPop. You don’t need any oil or butter, just add the kernels to the bottom of the bowl, pop the lid on, and microwave for perfectly popped corn. You can then add whatever toppings you like. Here are a few of our favorite healthy ways to jazz up our corn.

Taco seasoning
Nutritional yeast (it’s good for you and a good alternative to cheese)
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
Dried or fresh herbs
Parmesan cheese
Chili powder
Cinnamon
Johnny’s seasoned salt

Hard Boiled Eggs

Hard boiled eggs are a great food source to have on hand for so many things. I usually make a batch on Sunday to have throughout the week. We snack on them plain, slice and eat them on toast for breakfast, and make egg salad sandwiches or wraps. Eggs are low in calorie and high in healthy proteins along with many other health benefits. If you’re a food nerd like me, you can find additional information here on how incorporating eggs into your daily diet can be beneficial.

How to cook hard boiled eggs:

Add 6 eggs, along with 2 Tb of table salt to a large pot. Add enough water to cover eggs.
Bring to a boil then set timer for 3 minutes.
Remove from heat and put the lid on for 10 minutes.
Drain hot water and fill pot with cold water and lots of ice. Let set until eggs are cool.
Store in refrigerator for up to a week.

Mixed Nuts

Nuts happen to be a snack that I eat every single day. A small handful can tie me over for at least a couple hours until meal time. They are low in carbohydrates, full of antioxidants, high in fiber, can help with weight loss, and may lower cholesterol and triglycerides… just to name a few. They are convenient, healthy, and delicious!

I like to purchase nuts in bulk so I have a variety to choose from, plus it’s much less expensive to buy in bulk. I also like to keep a stash of nuts in a small sealed container in my car for emergencies. This has saved me and my family many times from veering into the fast food line.

Apples & Cinnamon with 3-Ingredient Dip

An apple a day keeps the Doctor away, right?! 😉 We keep apples on hand in the fridge year round. They last forever, practically, and they are affordable and have excellent health benefits. Apples can support a healthy immune system, along with promoting good gut bacteria, lower the risk of type 2 diabetes and so much more.

One of our favorite ways to eat apples is with this 3-ingreidient dip. It’s easy to make and so delicious. It adds roughly 20 grams of protein with the apple. Disclaimer: This dip is not a low calorie food. Try splitting the batch with a friend or saving the other half for later if you’re concerned about calorie intake.

Ingredients:

1 apple sliced and dusted with cinnamon
2 tablespoons natural creamy peanut butter (I use Adams)
2 tablespoons plain non-fat greek yogurt
1 teaspoon pure honey

In a small bowl mix peanut butter, yogurt, and honey until smooth and creamy. Enjoy!

String Cheese

I am so thankful for the invention of cheese sticks and we are rarely without them in our fridge. It’s a food item that’s convenient to grab when you’re dashing out the door; string cheese is not messy, it’s low in calorie, and low-fat string cheese has a generous boost of protein (6 grams) per stick. It’s also carbohydrate free and can promote bone health. Plus, string cheese is fun to eat and it’s tasty! Grab a handful of nuts to enjoy with your string cheese for a yummy snack.

Raw Veggies

We all know how important and beneficial it is to eat our veggies. Raw vegetables are proven to give you more energy, have better digestion, reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, and many more healthy advantages. And if you have kiddos, starting them as early as you can on raw veggies may possibly set them up for healthier choices in the future.

If you are a parent or have small children living with you, you know all too well that kids always want something to eat right before dinner- at least my daughter always did. Having a container in the fridge with prepared veggies like carrot sticks, celery sticks, and cucumbers slices, was one of the best things I started in helping my daughter eat more vegetables. If she was hungry and dinner was only minutes away, that’s what we offered her, and nine times out of ten, she would grab the container and munch away!

She’s a teen now and loves her veggies, yeah!

I can’t say this works for every kid, but it’s far more appealing to kids AND adults when veggies are ready to eat without having the mess of chopping them up on the spot.

One of the best ways to store carrots and celery sticks is by placing them in a container completely submerged in water with a sealed lid. Place in the fridge and they will stay fresh and crisp for days.

Cooked Chicken

Having pre-cooked chicken on hand is a must in my arsenal of snack and meal prep items. Not only is it ideal when you need a dose of protein, it’s also great to have for salads, sandwiches, quesadillas and more! Using a leaner cut like chicken breast is lower in calorie and fats. I like to roast 3-4 chicken breasts on Sundays and dice in small cubes or shred for the week ahead. It’s super convenient to have a container of cooked ready-to-go chicken in the fridge.

Roast Chicken Breast:

Preheat oven to 400℉.
Place chicken breast on sheet pan lined with foil.
Drizzle with olive oil, salt & pepper on both sides.
Roast for 35-40 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165℉.

Dice or shred chicken and pack in sealed container and keep in fridge for up to 5 days.

Greek Yogurt

Yogurt is great to have on hand for quick breakfasts and snacking. Greek yogurt especially, is high in protein and low in sugar, making this a healthy option. Greek yogurt is also packed with probiotics. This can help boost your immune system and decrease stomach pain. In some cases, even people who are lactose intolerant may find Greek yogurt easier to digest because of the bacterial breakdown of the milk’s sugars.

I make a batch of semi-homemade vanilla bean Greek yogurt at the beginning of the week. Making your own means you get to control the quality and quantity of sweetener that goes in. You can find additional info here on how to make it along with healthy topping ideas.

No-Bake Protein Bars

These no-bake protein bars are my absolute favorite and my family loves them. Each bar has 14 grams of protein and only 8 grams of sugar. They are packed with wholesome ingredients like oats, flaxseeds, peanut butter and honey. Just one bar will keep you full for hours. You can find the full recipe here.

Quick Easy Fridge Pickles

You might be wondering how a jar of sliced pickles made the cut for a healthy snack option. Pickling and fermenting vegetables contain beneficial bacteria. Pickles are also fat-free with very little calories. They contain electrolytes, and are rich in vitamins K and A. They may also control blood sugar. All those years growing up eating pickles and I had no idea they were actually good for me! 😃

Deb over at Smitten Kitchen has the recipe for these Easy Fridge Dill Pickles. They are seriously the easiest and so good! I like to throw in red pepper flakes to spice them up a bit.

There you have it! 10 easy, healthy snack choices I hope you enjoy.

Let’s eat!🤍

AFFILIATE DISCLAIMER:

Please note that some of the links on my website are affiliate links. Meaning, I receive a commission if you decide to purchase through my links at no extra cost to you! The product links at the bottom and throughout my posts are products I’ve used and/or recommend.

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