Simple, quick, nutrient dense snacks
Healthy snacking is an important aspect of daily nutrition, helping to regulate hunger, moods, and stabilize blood sugar. This collection of healthier snack ideas is meant to inspire healthier satisfying snacks without health compromising effects.
Dried fruit
Dried fruit can be the perfect satisfying crunchy or chewy snack. Be sure to select products with no additives. The only ingredient in dried fruit snacks should be the fruit itself.
- Apple Chip Duo – Trader Joe’s
- Organic Dried Mango – Trader Joe’s
- That’s It Fruit Bars – Target
- Almond Date Rolls – Sprouts/ Lunds
Parm crisps
Parmesan crisps are a higher protein snack option with a satisfying salty crunch. With only parmesan as an ingredient (and sometimes added seeds for flavor), parmesan crisps can be a good minimally processed snack option. I also love to add these to salads as a replacement for heavily processed croutons.
- Oven Baked Parm Crisps – Whole Foods
- Parmesan Cheese Crisps – Target
Smoothie/ smoothie bowl
Smoothies and smoothie bowls are a great way to pack in nutrient dense foods. Frozen fruit, spinach, chia seeds, hemp seeds, nut butters, dates, avocados, raw unfiltered honey, cucumbers, ginger, etc., are just some of many nutritious ingredients that can be combined into smoothies. Incorporating fiber and protein will help to ensure satiety from the smoothie or bowl.
- PB & J Smoothie – The Wellness Craft
Fresh fruit
When looking for a heathy and refreshing snack, fresh fruit is the perfect choice. Add chia seeds, hemp seeds, nuts or nut butters to increase satiation through added fiber, omega-3’s and protein. Below are some of my favorite fruit combos.
- Apple slices and almond butter
- Berries with honey and chia seeds
- Berries with nut butter
- Blueberries with honey and sliced almonds
- Bananas with peanut/almond butter
Veggies & hummus
Veggies and hummus are a great nutrient dense snack. Hummus, traditionally made of blended chickpeas, tahini, garlic and citrus, is a fiber packed, flavorful dip. Unfortunately, many store bought hummus contain inflammatory oils, additives and preservatives. Although I prefer homemade hummus, if purchasing store bought, look for brands that use extra virgin olive oil (or none at all) without any additives. Serve with veggies such as cucumber, red pepper, carrots and snap peas for a refreshing and filling snack.
- Avocado Hummus Recipe – The Wellness Craft
Homemade trail mix
Homemade trail mix can be super nutritious and catered to your specific interests. Combining your favorite nuts, dried fruit, chocolate and more can be a delicious and easy snack to always have on hand. My trail mix ingredients of choice are pistachios, sliced almonds, sliced dates, dark chocolate morsels and coconut chips. The most important part to making this nutritious is to source your food correctly. When using chocolate, I recommend Hu Chocolate for the best ingredients. Below are some ingredient ideas.
- Dates
- Figs
- Gogi berries
- Organic, unsweetened coconut chips
- Sliced almonds
- Pistachios
- Peanuts
- Hu chocolate chips
- Hazelnuts
- Walnuts
Leave a Reply