Healthy Snack Ideas

Do you struggle to come up with healthy, but convenient snack ideas for busy days?  Do you find yourself choosing convenience over nutrition because you’re out of time?  I recently took a survey on my Facebook page and found that the majority of respondents said lack of fast/convenient food choices is the number one obstacles to healthy eating.  I expected it to be a cost or taste issue, but I’m glad it’s not, because those are a little more challenging to overcome.

I agree, healthy choices can be time consuming.  Especially if you don’t love raw fruits and veggies.  When we started this journey, I found it nearly impossible to find healthy snacks I could carry in my diaper bag to keep the boys happy. I felt like I was making excuses every time I walked into our chiropractor office and handed the boys a snack to keep them occupied while I got an adjustment.  But she always encouraged me and over time we did find things that worked.  Some of it was learning to like new things, some of it was trial and error and some was stumbling upon a few awesome brands that really care and make it easy (or easier) to choose healthy – even on the go.

In an effort to eliminate – or at least diminish – this particular obstacle to eating healthy, I’ve put together a list of healthy snack ideas that are good at home or on the go.  You can download a copy here (Healthy Snack Ideas) to hang on the fridge or carry in your purse the next time you head to the grocery store.  I’ve also listed them below.  If you have other suggestions, please post them in the comments or pin them to pinterest and leave us a link to your board.  You can never have too many ideas for healthy, easy snacks.

Whole Food Ideas

I try to keep lots of fresh fruits and veggies on hand all the time.  They are so easy to grab on the way out the door to TaeKwonDo and they’re pretty filling as far as snacks go.  When I’m heading out to run errands I always grab a small bag of raw cashews and a piece of fruit to carry in my purse so I won’t be tempted to stop for something less nutritious.  If you don’t like plain veggies fill the bottom of an old plastic peanut butter jar with your favorite flavor of hummus, homemade dressing or nut butter and drop in some celery sticks or bell pepper slices. Here are some other suggestions.

•       Apples
•       Bananas
•       Grapes
•       Clementines
•       Bell Pepper Slices
•       Celery Sticks
•       Carrot Sticks
•       Cucumber slices
•       Almonds (raw)
•       Cashews (raw)
•       Pistachios
•       Hard boiled eggs (you’ll need an ice pack for this one)
•       Dried Fruit

Packaged Food Ideas

I try not to make these my first choice, but there are definitely crazy days when I’m so glad to have a super convenient option that requires virtually no effort on my part.  I think of it like this.  There are good choices, there are better choices and then there are the best choices.  We can’t always be perfect, but we can try to make a healthier choice.  Below are some super easy, super convenient packaged snacks that I feel good about feeding myself and my family.

•       Blue Diamond Nut Thins (lots of great flavors and fun to stack when you’re eating them at home.)
•       Raisins
•       GoGo Squeeze (applesauce on-the-go with no added sugar or preservatives)
•       Chobani Greek yogurt cups (you have to keep these cold, but they’re a great option for at home, school lunches or if you have time to throw something in a bag with an ice pack)
•       Three Sisters Honey Oaties (We were big Cheerio fans around here back in the day, but switched to this brand we found at Whole Foods.  It’s all natural, tastes great and eco-conscious.)
•       Food Should Taste Good chips (Everyone should try these chips!  Multi-grain and Sweet Potato are my favorite flavors.)
•       Udi’s Granola (I eat it as a cereal with almond milk on top when I don’t have time to make breakfast.  It’s great in Greek yogurt and an easy snack to carry along in my purse.)
•       Good Health/Natural Foods Veggie Sticks (These are a favorite of the boys in the house.  We pack them for picnics, road trips, and on the go snacks.)
•       Salsa (Make it yourself or buy it and pack it to go…either way it’s a great on the go snack with healthier chips.)
•       String Cheese (We don’t eat a lot of dairy, but I do like organic string cheese for a quick and easy on the go snack.)
•       Hummus (Make your own or try the Sabra individual hummus cups.  They make on the go snacking tasty and easy. I’m a hummus addict so I LOVE this stuff.)
•       Nut Butter/Sunbutter (Sunbutter is our personal favorite.  I always have a few jars on hand to use as dip for apples and celery, to mix in granola bars or to make sandwiches.)
•       Somersault Snacks (Nut free nutrition loaded with protein from seeds.  They come in at least four flavors and they’re all good!)

Homemade Foods That Travel Well

I like to cook so I try to prepare at least a few homemade treats for snacking each week.  These aren’t just for grabbing on the go, but also for saving time at home on busy days.  You can find links to my recipes below or stop by my pinterest page for links to some of my favorite homemade snack recipes from other moms and bloggers.

•       Popcorn (popped on the stove or air popped)
•       Granola bars
•       Fruit Leathers
•       Trail Mix
•       Energy bites
•       Mason Jar salads
•       Muffins (Sunbutter Banana Muffins, Oatmeal Applesauce Blueberry Muffins, Tangy Lemon Blackberry Muffins)

I’m sure there are tons of other options out there, but these are some of the staples around our house that keep us on track.  What do you snack on that’s nutritious, but super easy to grab on the go.

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