Snacking gets a bad rap but it shouldn’t! Snacking can be a smart way to help fill in nutrient gaps, keep energy levels up and support weight management. Today I share healthy snack ideas for sweet and savory lovers including homemade snack boxes and grab and go options.
First, what makes up a healthy snack?
A healthy snack should be low in added sugar, fat and sodium and instead focus on protein and fiber which will keep you satisfied and energized between meals.Fortunately, there are many grab and go dietitian approved options for when you need something quick and easy. Such as freeze-dried fruit with a handful of nuts, hummus with sliced veggies or salsa with chips like the new Atkins Protein Chips which have 13 grams of protein per bag and 4 grams of fiber. They come in Nacho cheese and ranch with the salty savory crunch you want in chips but without the carbs – find them at Walmart and Walmart.com.
Next up, we have satisfying sweet and savory snack boxes 4 ways.
To make a Mediterranean snack box add whole grain pita, sliced cucumber and cherry tomatoes, olives, almonds and hummus. I like the new creamy Fresh Cravings Hummus becyse its made with a short list of high-quality whole food ingredients like Chilean Extra Virgin Olive Oil, chickpeas and savory tahini. You can find the classic, roasted red pepper and roasted garlic flavors at Walmart.
For my salsa snack box – add sliced bell peppers, a hardboiled egg, protein chips and salsa – the fresh cravings salsa is refrigerated instead of jarred. You can find the chunky and restaurant style salsa in a range of heat levels chilled in the produce section of Walmart.
If you are craving sweet over savory, simply swap out veggies in your snack box for fruit which just like veggies is a source of fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
To make my chocolate yogurt box, whisk together 1/3 cup of plain Greek yogurt with 1 teaspoon of honey and 1 tsp cocoa powder. Add whole grain low sugar granola, walnuts and fruit – the 100% pure freeze dried fruit snacks by Crispy Green are a fun way to help meet your recommend 1 ½-2 daily servings made with one ingredient – fruit and no added sugar.
For my PB dipper box, add peanut butter, dark chocolate, whole grain crackers and freeze dried strawberry and pineapple crispy fruit. The light and crispy texture makes them perfect for snacking and dipping and they come in 8 varieties including tangerine, apple, banana and mango. Find them at Albertsons and Big Lots.
