Weight loss doesn’t have to be an emotional, frustrating struggle with deprivation. With Healthy Snacks like these, you’ll nourish your body with nutrient-dense foods and satisfy your taste buds with a variety of flavors! Here are 20 healthy snack ideas broken down into 3 categories – sweet, salty and hearty – so you can find exactly what you’re craving right at this moment! The farther down you get on each list, the more prep time the snack requires. So if you need food NOW, stick with the first few options under each category.
Sweet Healthy Snacks
1. Walnuts & Dark Chocolate Chunks
The best part about this snack is that it requires absolutely no preparation, and you just can’t beat the satisfying combo of the brain-boosting omega-3 fatty acids in the walnuts and the antioxidants in the dark chocolate, [ideally 70%+]. Keep it to a 1/2 cup serving and enjoy!
2. Cinnamon Dusted Apple Slices & Nut Butter
There’s something about dusting the cinnamon on top of your sliced apples that makes you feel like a gourmet chef – despite preparing this exquisite dish in under 2 minutes! As you enjoy your apple slices, you’ll chomp down de-bloating fiber while the cinnamon boosts your metabolism and regulates your blood sugar levels. Every nut has its own benefits, but did you know that pistachios have a higher protein content and lower fat content than most nuts, including almonds? It’s true! Well then, pistachio butter it is!
3. Buzzin’ Coffee Smoothie
When you brew your morning pot of coffee, set aside 1/2 a cup to cool, then refrigerate and save it for a sweet, caffeinated pick-me-up! Blend 1 frozen, peeled banana with the 1/2 cup of cooled coffee, 1/4 cup of oats, 1/4 cup of almond or coconut milk, 1 tsp of cinnamon and 1 tbsp, [or less], of natural sweetener like honey or maple syrup.
4. “Nice” Cream
You’ll be screaming over how easy, versatile and healthy this sweet treat is! All you need is peeled, frozen bananas and some almond or coconut milk. One frozen banana blended with 1/2 a cup of milk makes a single serving, so if you’re prepping for more than yourself, add another frozen banana and another 1/2 cup of milk for each person. The best part about Nice Cream is that you can make any flavor you’d like! Want chocolate? Throw in some Cacao Powder or Dark Chocolate Chips! Want Maple Walnut? If you’ve got Maple Syrup and Walnuts you can have that too! This is such a fun treat because you can be as creative and indulgent as you’d like with a fraction of the guilt.
5. Tropical Green Smoothie
Smoothies are quick to throw together, filling and super satisfying. If you’re craving a fruity-sweet treat, a smoothie is the way to go because you can balance out the sugars from the fruit with fibrous, leafy greens and never even have to taste them! Blend together 1/2 of a large, frozen banana, 1/2 cup of frozen pineapple or mango, 1 cup of lightly-packed spinach or kale and 1/2-3/4 cups of water [depending on how thick you prefer your smoothie]. This is a great way to sneak more energizing, skin brightening greens into your diet without feeling like a rabbit!
6. Chocolate Raspberry Chia Pudding
Chia seeds are an incredible superfood, packed with calcium, antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. Because these seeds expand as they absorb moisture, it’s best to prepare your chia pudding and let it refrigerate overnight so that it has time to absorb the incredible flavor. To make a single serving, mix 1/4 cup of chia seeds with 1/2 cup of almond or coconut milk, 1 tbsp of raw cacao powder and 1 tbsp of honey in a mason jar, then refrigerate. When it’s time to enjoy, throw 1/2 a cup of fresh raspberries into the jar and mix them with the detoxifying chia seeds for a sweet and refreshing treat!
7. Mocha Energy Bites
A bit of chocolate and pinch of coffee should boost your mood, energy and spirits! They do require some prep time, but they’re no-bake, easy to make and you’ll have plenty to snack on for the rest of the week. Throw 2 cups of pitted medjool dates into a food processor until they make a thick paste, then blend in: 3 tbsp of raw cacao powder, 1-2 tsp of fresh ground coffee [depending on how strong you prefer the coffee flavor], 2 tbsp of nut butter and 2 tsp of cinnamon. Once the ingredients are blended together, roll them into 1 inch balls and store them in the refrigerator. While these bites are jam-packed with antioxidants and energizing nutrients, they are calorie dense, so it’s best to stop after 2… or maybe 3!
Salty Healthy Snacks
8. Kale Chips
Kale is another superfood that’s having a moment, and although eating leaves isn’t always the most appetizing, when they’re prepared well they can be extremely tasty and satisfying. Kale chips are another item you’ll find on the shelves at the grocery store, though homemade kale chips will be far more healthy if you have the time to cook them yourself.
9. Sweet Potato Chips
Whether you slow-bake these yourself or buy them at the grocery store, be sure they’re made with EVOO, [Extra Virgin Olive Oil], or a similar ingredient because the addition of a small amount of healthy fat will help your body better absorb the fiber, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and heart healthy nutrients of the sweet potato!
10. Hummus or Bean Dip With Cherry Tomatoes & Chopped Carrots
Beans and chick peas, [the base of hummus], are an incredibly nutritious source of protein because they are a plant-based food that provide your body with fiber and a plethora of other heart healthy nutrients. Pair that with fresh, bright and colorful veggies for a crunchy, creamy and healthy snack. You’ll find a variety of flavors and brands of hummus and bean dip at the grocery store, though making your own is ideal because the preservatives and dyes in store-bought brands can counteract the digestive health properties of beans and chick peas.
11. Guacamole With Sliced Cucumbers & Red Peppers
Avocado is having a moment in the health-food craze, and it’s with good reason! They’re a superfood, meaning the ratio of nutrients to calories is, well, super! Avocados are packed with nutrients that promote heart health, brighten your skin and fill you up quickly. Plus, the healthy fats in avocado help your body better digest and absorb the nutrients from the foods you eat along with it, so your body won’t miss out on the immune-boosting Vitamin C in the red peppers and the detoxifying properties of the cucumber.
12. Salsa & Bean Chips
It’s hard to go wrong with the classic Chips & Salsa snack! Bean chips are a more nutrient dense alternative to the over-processed corn and potato options we traditionally reach for. Try to find, fresh, locally made salsas, rather than high sodium options you typically find in the chip aisle, or even try making your own. There’s so many varieties, from Mango to Spicy Jalepeno that you’ll never get sick of this classic!
Hearty Healthy Snacks
13. Almonds & Dried Cranberries
When you’re in the mood for something tart, reach for this combo. The fiber and healthy fats in the almonds will fill you up while improving your digestive health, and the antioxidants in the dried cranberries will boost your immune system – just be sure there are no added sugars or juices!
14. Boiled Egg
In under 20 minutes, you can boil as many servings of this snack as you’ll need for the week, [just be sure to finish them within a week]! Eggs are known for their filling protein content, but they’re also filled with heart, brain and bone healthy nutrients like betaine, choline and Vitamin D. Dip the egg in some dijon mustard for more satisfying flavor and keep it to 1 egg for a snack or 2 for a small meal.
15. Avocado Smash Toast
You just can’t go wrong with avocado! Mash up half an avocado on a slice of toasted whole grain or Ezekiel bread, then zest it up with a little lemon or lime, heat it up with red pepper flakes or even sprinkle on some flavorful goat cheese.
16. Plain Greek Yogurt With Honey & Pumpkin Seeds
If you’re not sensitive to dairy, then plain greek yogurt is a fantastic source of gut-healthy probiotics, the live, healthy bacteria your gut relies on to get and stay healthy.
17. Maple Blueberry Overnight Oats
If eating cold oatmeal doesn’t sound appetizing, you’ve yet to experience the life-altering, healthy snack that is Overnight Oats. It’s easy to prepare, and if you prep several single-serving mason jars, you’ve got your mid-morning snack-attack covered for an entire week! In a mason jar, mix 1/4 cup of oats with 1/2 a cup of almond or coconut milk, 1 tbsp of maple syrup and a tsp of cinnamon, then refrigerate overnight. When you’re ready to dig in, top off the jar with a 1/4 cup of fresh, antioxidant-packed blueberries and enjoy!
18. Citrus Salad
Healthy eating doesn’t get much easier than throwing a couple handfuls of fresh, leafy greens and peeled slices of citrus fruit, like oranges or grapefruit, into a bowl! Add some sunflower seeds to add some crunch while boosting the cholesterol-lowering and cancer-fighting properties of your healthy snack. Rather than using dressing, keep it super clean by squeezing lemon or lime over it and drizzling some EVOO to add some healthy fats that will help your body absorb more nutrients from the greens!
19. Quinoa Toasted Coconut Porridge
If you’re looking for a switch-up from your usual oatmeal, try using quinoa instead of oats! In addition to having more protein than oats, quinoa is an amazing source of iron and magnesium, which keep our energy levels stable. When preparing your quinoa for porridge, switch out 1/4 of the water for almond milk. Once it’s cooked and cooled for 5 minutes, mix in 1/4 cup of shredded toasted coconut, 1/2 a tbsp of honey, and 1/2 tsp of cinnamon for each serving you prepare. Add on any additional toppings you’d like and enjoy!
20. Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
Hot or cold, this salad is nutritious and will curb any cravings you may have for Italian foods that are bound to wreak havoc on your weight loss goals. Prepare the quinoa according to the directions on the package, then add in sun dried tomatoes, chopped cucumbers, crumbled feta or goat cheese, EVOO, and oregano.
Healthy Snacks Conclusion
In choosing the ideal healthy snacks for you, there is no strict rules. You first have to understand your body and tailor your snacks to that which suits you. All of these healthy snacks works perfectly well with the body, however while some of these healthy snacks might be a bit tasteless, they nourish the body and help you lose weight in a more natural way.
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