Life can get a little hectic and schedules can get a little busy, but that is certainly not a reason to miss a mealtime. Skipping meals can throw the body out of balance affecting blood sugar balance, which can lead to an increase in food cravings later on in the day. It’s at that moment, when your blood sugar is low, that you enter the temporary rage of wanting to eat whatever you can get your hands on. Hello, hangry! Remembering to pack snacks, and keeping them simple, can help keep you out of that danger zone, so here are some 32 simple healthy snack ideas to help keep you on track.

2. Carrots & Hummus

Hummus is a portable high-protein healthy snack that works well with any vegetable. A few dollops of hummus helps to provide a well-balanced snack of protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats and are the ideal vehicle to help get more veggies into your diet.

3. Piece of Fruit

Handheld and highly transportable,  fruit makes the perfect grab-and-go snack. Toss an apple, pear, or banana into your bag on your way out the door and you will ensure you have a simple snack that doesn’t require any refrigeration.

4. Tamari Almonds

Almonds are one of the nuts with the highest protein content, however, plain almonds can get rather boring after a while. Tamari almonds are roasted with tamari (a gluten-free soy sauce), adding a world of flavor. A small handful of 8-12 almonds will help keep you fuelled and full until your next meal.

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5. Smoothie

Smoothies not only make a great breakfast but an ideal snack. A well-balanced smoothie is filling and can easily be transported wherever you need to go.

6. Avocado Toast

Avocado toast is the new “it” snack, and with good reason, it’s delicious! A quarter of an avocado spread onto a slice of sprouted grain or sourdough toast is the way to go. Add a sprinkle of sea salt for extra flavor, or hemp seeds for extra protein.

7. Hard-Boiled Eggs

So simple to prepare, and can be stored in the fridge for a week of snacks. Hard-boiled eggs are rich in protein and lots of healthy fats making them an ideal snack to keep you fuller longer. Toss them into your gym back for a hit of protein post-workout.

These little pods of peas can be found in the frozen section of any grocery store. Edamame pods are high in protein and very easy to prepare and fun to eat! Lightly steamed or sautéed them with a sprinkle of sea salt and away you go.

9. Mary’s Crackers®  & Salsa

Store-bought crackers can be a real danger zone of refined oils, salts, and sugars, however, Mary’s Crackers are an incredibly clean and delicious option. Dunk them in homemade or fresh-made salsa, just be sure to read the salsa ingredients to ensure there is no added sugar.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”3309″ img_size=”835×557″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

10. Dates with Tahini

The perfect mixture of sweet and salty! Medjool tastes are sweet and creamy making them an ideal alternative to a sweet treat. Dunk them into a little tahini for a salty fix and a little taste of the Middle East.

11. Ants on a Log

A childhood staple, crunchy celery with creamy peanut butter topped with sweet raisins! Peanut butter is the traditional option, but you can also mix things up and use almond butter, cashew butter, or tahini as an alternative.

12. Pistachios

Second to almonds, pistachios are the nuts with the highest protein content. Not only are they delicious, but incredibly fun to eat! Shell on or shell off, they are a welcome snack to mix up the traditional nuts.

13. Can of Tuna

Although it may seem a little 1999, a little can of “chicken of the sea” goes a long way. A simple healthy snack of half a can of tuna is rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids. For added flavor, mix it with a bit of avocado, sea salt, and black pepper.

14. Cucumber & Guacamole

Everyone loves a good nacho, but too many deep-fried chips can pack on the pounds. Try this Super Bowl staple with some crunchy cucumber instead to keep the calories down, while keeping the guacamole up.

15. Energy Balls

A blend of trail mix rolled into a delicious bite-size treat? What’s not to love! Energy balls store in the fridge or freezer for a week and make an ideal pre-workout snack with their balance of carbohydrates and protein. Try my Trail Mix Bites or my No-Bake Carrot Cake Energy Bites, I promise you won’t be disappointed.

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16. Chia Seed Pudding

Ch-ch-ch-chia! Chia seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and fiber, and since they provide a gel-like texture when soaked, make a great pudding. Might sound a little odd, but I promise you it’s delicious. Check out my Perfect Chia Seed Pudding recipe.

17. Apple with Cinnamon

An apple on its own certainly makes a healthy snack, but a little sprinkle of cinnamon goes a long way. Cinnamon is not only a warming spices that help to support inflammation but provides an added natural sweetness to the apples, reminiscent of apple pie.

18. Pumpkin Seeds

These little numbers are so much more than a decorative topping for a Thanksgiving pumpkin pie. Pumpkin seeds are the richest source of zinc: a powerful antioxidant that supports the immune system. Eat them raw or toast them up with a sprinkle of sea salt for added flavor and crunch.

19. Toast, Almond Butter & Banana

There is something so simple but so delicious about this combination. Crunchy toast, salty almond butter, and sweet banana are incredibly satisfying snacks. Grab a slice mid-afternoon to keep you going for the rest of the day.

20. Deli Roll-Ups

Deli meats have got a bit of a bad wrap, but in small quantities are absolutely acceptable. Be sure to choose nitrate-free deli meats whenever you can, and forgo the bologna and opt for turkey, chicken, roast beef, or ham. Add a squeeze of your favorite mustard for extra flavor.

21. Apple Chips

The best of both worlds; where delicious fruit meets crunchy chips. You can make your own apple chips at home by dehydrating thin apple slices, however, there are a lot of healthy store-bought brands available. These Bare Apple Chips are my absolute favorite.

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22. Roasted Chickpeas

Chickpeas not only make great hummus but an unreal crispy and crunchy snack. Grab some roasted chickpeas instead of your standard salted peanuts for a snack that is higher in protein and lower in sodium. These Spicy Roasted Chickpeas are so easy to make at home.

23. KIND® Bar

There are lots of granola bars on the market, however many of them are loaded with added sugars. KIND Bars are sweetened naturally with honey or a little brown rice syrup, and their mixture of nuts and seeds makes them a healthy snack choice. The Cashew & Ginger Spice and the Chocolate Sea Salt are the best options.

24. Plain Yogourt & Fruit

A little cup of yogurt makes a great snack, but only when you opt for the plain unflavoured kind. Fruit or vanilla-flavored yogurts are often over 50% sugar, so you are always much better off opting for the plain versions and sweetening them naturally yourself with some berries.

25. Square of Dark Chocolate

This list would not be complete without a little bit of chocolate! A square of chocolate has a welcome home in this list, but only when you opt for the dark stuff. Look for brands that are over 70% cocoa to ensure they are low in added sugar.

26. Mixed Olives

This snack might not be for everyone, but Mediterranean food lovers will certainly appreciate it. A few olives make a great afternoon snack and can help to satisfy a salty craving. Fear not of the high-fat content in olives, these healthy fats will help keep you fuller longer.

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27. Sweet Potato Toast

Although it might sound a little odd, it absolutely works. Sweet potato toast (exactly as the name implies) is made by simply toasting thin slices of sweet potato and adding any desired toppings you like. Check out my post on Sweet Potato Toast for some inspiring recipe ideas.

28. Beef Jerky Beef

Jerky is no longer just for grown men, astronauts, and camping trips, a few little slices of beef jerky can make an ideal snack for anyone. If possible, opt for grass-fed beef jerky and chemical nitrate-free. Keep a few slices in your bag as an emergency high-protein snack.

29. Kale Chips

Just another way to get more greens into your diet, kale chips can be made at home or found in stores. Making your own is simple, and merely requires an oven, oil, salt, and a baking sheet. Plus they can keep in the cupboard for a few days.

30. Banana & Walnuts

Everyone seems to go for a banana and almonds, but walnuts are not to be forgotten. Walnuts are the highest nut source of omega-3 fatty acids, an essential fatty acid that is incredibly important in brain function and concentration.

31. Plain Popcorn

Although the movie theatre stuff is delicious, it’s unfortunately really high in calories and sodium with all of the added artificial butter and salt. Making your own popcorn at home, on the stovetop is always best, and add a little flavor yourself with coconut oil, paprika, and sea salt.

32. Figs & Goat Cheese

Sometimes found as a fancy appetizer or dessert, a fresh dried fig with a spread of goat cheese is not to be outdone as a healthy snack. The natural sweetness of the fig and the creaminess of the goat cheese can help to satisfy any sweet tooth.

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Butter

Brand: Organic Meadows Unsalted

Ingredients: Cream

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Cooking Spray

Brand: Pam Original Cooking Spray

Ingredients: Canola oil, modified palm oil, coconut oil, soy lecithin, rosemary extract, dimethylpolysiloxane, propellant (isobutane and propane).

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]Nutrition (Per 10g serving):

• Calories = 70
• Saturated = 8g
• Sodium = 0g
• Vitamin A = 10%
• Vitamin D = 0%

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]Nutrition (Per 10g serving):

• Calories = 70
• Saturated = 1g
• Sodium = 70g
• Vitamin A = 10%
• Vitamin D = 30%

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]Nutrition (Per 10g serving):

• Calories = 8
• Saturated Fat = 0
• Sodium = 0g
• Vitamin A = 0%
• Vitamin D = 0%

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Looking quickly at the comparison above, here are some of the key takeaways.

• Butter is made of 1 ingredient, while margarine and cooking spray are made of a long list of ingredients.
• Margarine is made of several vegetable oils (canola, sunflower, and palm) that are all liquid at room temperature. In order to be solid at room temperature vegetable oils must be hydrogenated or refined to remain shelf stable.
• The vitamins in margarine are synthetic and have been added to help compensate for the fact that they are not naturally occurring in the product. Vitamin A and vitamin D are naturally occurring in butter.
• Butter and margarine contain equal calories, while cooking spray contains none. This is because the cooking spray is more chemical than food. Dimethylpolysiloxane, an ingredient in Pam, is the same ingredient used to make silicone products including contact lenses, Silly Putty, and RainX.
• Butter contains the most saturated fat, and contrary to popular belief, this can be beneficial as part of a well-balanced diet.

Butter has many nutritional benefits, especially when compared to it’s processed alternatives.

• Butter is rich in naturally occurring fat-soluble vitamins A, which is essential for vision, the immune system, and cell growth, as well as fat-soluble vitamins D, E, and K.
• Butter contains healthy saturated fats, including short and medium chained fatty acids that are beneficial for energy, metabolism, as well as CLA which has been shown to have anti-cancer properties.
• The fats present it butter help us to absorb fat-soluble vitamins in other foods such as vegetables, so adding butter to your steamed vegetables can help increase vitamin absorption.
• Butter contains a good balance of essential fatty acids, containing more omega-3 than omega-6 fatty acids. In excess, omega-6 fatty acids (found in vegetable oils) can increase inflammation in the body.
• Butter is a real food, made from real ingredients.

I don’t know about you, but I trust Mother Nature more than I trust chemists when it comes to my food.