Although there are a ton of store-bought healthy snacks out there, nothing beats a quick and fresh D.I.Y. snack from your own kitchen. Since most of us don’t have time to stress over what’s healthy and what we can get our hands on as quickly as possible, having a handful of go-to snacks can be life-changing. Your confidence in your grocery shopping can increase, your nutrition intake can get a boost, and you can waistline shrink when you avoid overeating by munching on low-calorie snacks in between meals.
Monkey Toast
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What You’ll Need: Peanut butter, banana, honey, bread, chia seeds
Smear a slice of toasted wheat bread with peanut butter and banana slices. Top with a drizzle of honey and a sprinkle of chia seeds for some extra fiber.
Avocado Cracker
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What You’ll Need: Multigrain crackers, avocado, tomato, salt, pepper
Layer a multigrain cracker with an avocado. Option: add ¼-inch thick slice of plum or romano tomato. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Hummus & Veggies
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What You’ll Need: Peppers, celery, carrots, hummus
Using a tiny jar for hummus is great for perfecting portion control—and creating healthy snacks! Simply divide up your portioned servings of hummus and dip fiber-rich vegetables into the protein-packed puree. Together, this combo makes an awesome flat-belly-friendly bite.
Yogurt and Berries
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What You’ll Need: Fresh or slightly-frozen berries, plain Greek Yogurt, carob chips
Mix fresh or slightly-frozen berries with plain Greek yogurt. Sprinkle with carob chips for a guilt-free indulgence.
Oat & Date Energy Bites
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What You’ll Need: Oats, nuts, dates, seeds
These are called energy bites for a reason. Made of healthy fats like nuts and paired with a boost of carbs from dates and oats, you’ll need just one or two of these to feel full. Pulse oats, dates, nuts, and seeds in a blender until it turns into a paste. Season with some salt if you’d like and roll into balls. Keep in the fridge for up to a week.
Spiced Nuts
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What You’ll Need: pecans, almonds, cashews, chili powder, black pepper, cayenne
Toss a combination of nuts—pecans, almonds, peanuts, cashews—with chili powder, black pepper, and a pinch of cayenne. Roast in a 400° F oven for 10 minutes, until warm and toasty. Talk about a soul-warming snack!
Veggie-Tuna Bites
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What You’ll Need: Canned tuna, shredded carrots, pickles, cucumber, olives, Dijon mustard, mayo, salt, pepper, whole-white based cracker
Combine a can of tuna with shredded carrots, pickles, cucumber, olives, Dijon mustard, a touch of mayo, and season with salt and pepper. Use Triscuits, Wheat Thins, or Stacy’s Pita Chips for scooping.
Chocolate and Walnut-Covered Banana Bites
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What You’ll Need: Dark chocolate chips or a bar, coconut oil, walnuts, bananas
These frozen chocolate-covered banana bites are perfect to keep in the freezer for easy snacking during a hot day or even a couple of hours after dinner. Slice bananas into 1-inch sections. Microwave chocolate and coconut oil (it helps to thin the chocolate out) together until it becomes liquid. Chop up walnuts and layout on a plate. Skewer your bananas with a toothpick, and set up your workflow: dunk bananas into the chocolate, let drip as much as possible, then roll in the walnuts. Lay on a sheet of parchment paper. Once you’ve done all of them, toss a sheet in the freezer until they firm up. Once all the individual bananas are frozen, you can store them in a single bag.
Goat Cheese Stuffed Peppers
What You’ll Need: Cherry peppers, goat cheese
Stuff cherry peppers or bottled Peppadew peppers with soft goat cheese or mini balls of fresh mozzarella.
D.I.Y. Trail Mix
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What You’ll Need: almonds, walnuts, cashew, sunflower seeds, dried fruit
Make your own souped-up trail mix: Combine 1 cup almonds, walnuts, or cashew (or a mix of all three) with ½ cup sunflower seeds and 1 ½ cups dried fruit: raisins, apricots, apples, prunes, and/or banana chips.
Ants on a Log
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What You’ll Need: celery, peanut butter, raisins
Slather celery with smooth or chunky peanut butter. Dot with raisins. But find out where your favorite PB falls on our exclusive list of The 36 Top Peanut Butters—Ranked!
Fruit and Nuts
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What You’ll Need: Fruit and nuts
Snacking doesn’t have to be some big thing. Grab a tangerine, a handful of nuts, or a banana and feel satisfied knowing that you didn’t have to stress over another food choice.
Cheese & Crackers
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What You’ll Need: Cheese and healthy crackers
If you’re looking to lose weight, pair these low-fat cheeses with high-fiber crackers and you’ll feel full for hours.
Jerky
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What You’ll Need: Jerky
Jerky isn’t a gas station snack anymore. Grab a bag of the best jerky for a high-protein, low-fat, zero-carb snack.
Hard Boiled Egg Protein Box
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What You’ll Need: Eggs, nuts, fruit, cottage cheese, cucumber
Make yourself a little protein bento box. Choose from the items above — mix and match, or have them all together!
Olives & Cheese
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What You’ll Need: Green olives and manchego or another aged cheese
Snack like the Spaniards. For a high-protein, low-carb snack, pair briney olives with a hard, aged cheese.
Cottage Cheese, Apples, Walnuts & Honey
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What You’ll Need: Cottage cheese, green apple, honey, walnuts
Cottage cheese is a great high-protein food. To eat it on the sweet side, slice up an apple to serve on top. Drizzle on some honey and sprinkle some walnuts or chia seeds for some extra fiber.
Greek Cucumber Salad
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What You’ll Need: Cucumber, tomatoes, black olives, red onion, feta, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper.
We don’t love this because just because it’s so hydrating. No, this light and refreshing snack can be made so quickly. Chop up some cucumbers, tomatoes, black olives, onion, and feta. Sprinkle some olive oil and lemon juice to lightly coat the veggies. Add salt and pepper to taste for a quick and healthy snack.
Apples and Peanut Butter
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What You’ll Need: 2 tablespoons peanut butter, apple slices
This salty and sweet combination does more than remind you of your childhood. This protein and fiber combo will help you remain satiated until your next meal. Feel free to add some cinnamon to fancy things up.
Olive Tapenade
What You’ll Need: Pimiento stuffed green olives, black olives, garlic salt, olive oil, lemon juice
If you have one, add olives into a food processor until they are in tiny pieces — otherwise, chop away. Add olive oil, garlic salt, and lemon juice together until blended, then pour over olive mash. Serve over grain-based crackers and enjoy.
Berry Yogurt Toast
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What You’ll Need: Ezekial toast, Greek yogurt, berries, chia seed
Slabbing a piece of fiber rich Ezekiel toast, with protein-packed Greek yogurt makes this snack of the day so much better. We like to add high-fiber berries, to take the toasts nutrition to the next level. Did you know? 1 cup of raspberries contains a whopping 8 grams of fiber. That combined with antioxidant rich blueberries, and blood-sugar stabilizing chia seeds this epic combo is sure to keep those afternoon tummy rumbles at ease.
Grilled Veggies with Tzatziki
What You’ll Need: Peppers, eggplant, mushroom, asparagus, zucchini, diced cucumbers, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, parsley, salt, pepper.
Place your favorite veggies on the grill until charred, they make the perfect dippers for this Greek sauce. Squeeze as much liquid as you can out of the diced cucumbers, chop as small as possible. Add to a combination of Greek yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, parsley and salt and pepper to make a delicious sauce. Using Greek yogurt provides you with a boost or probiotics, protein and a great source of vitamin D.
Corn & Bean Salsa with Chips
What You’ll Need: Cooked corn, black beans, tomato, bell pepper, onion, apple cider vinegar, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Tortilla chips are optional.
A perfect blend of corn, black beans, chopped tomatoes, chopped bell peppers, red onion, and dressed with a splash of Apple Cider Vinegar & lime juice. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve either with chips or as a side dish! Fiber-rich, protein-packed, and made with fresh ingredients — what else could we ask for,
Sesame-Seasoned Edamame
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What You’ll Need: edamame, sesame oil, red pepper flakes, kosher salt
Boil a few cups of frozen edamame until tender. Drain and toss with a light coating of sesame oil, red pepper flakes, and kosher salt.
Ricotta Toast & Tomatoes
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!
What You’ll Need: Bread, ricotta, tomatoes, balsamic
Do you have leftover ricotta from your healthy lasagna you made last night? Don’t let it go to waste! Smear it on some toast, top with tomatoes, drizzle on some balsamic, and eat your troubles away.
Chili & Lime Spiced Mango Spears
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What You’ll Need: mango, lime juice, chili powder
Peel a mango and cut it into spears. Top with fresh lime juice and chili powder.
Veggies and Pesto
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What You’ll Need: Pesto sauce, eggplant, tomato, peppers
With these skewers, the more vegetables the merrier! Simply grill a colorful array of vegetables topped with a light seasoning of pesto sauce. Grill until charred and then, devour!
Wrapped Melon
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What You’ll Need: melon (or cantaloupe), prosciutto, (or Spanish ham)
Wrap slices of melon or cantaloupe with good prosciutto or Spanish ham.
Kale Chips
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What You’ll Need: fresh kale, olive oil, salt, pepper
Remove stems and ribs from fresh, clean kale and then tear into large, chip-sized pieces. Toss on a baking sheet with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Bake for 5 minutes at 375° F.
DIY Bistro Box
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What You’ll Need: Toasted whole grain English muffin, cheese’s of your choice (sharp cheddar, Babybel wedge, gorgonzola), 1 Tbsp nut butter (pb2 if you’re really trying!), apple slices, carrot slices, 1 hard boiled egg
Why overpay for a gourmet Bistro Box, when you can make one at home, for less and pack it with better ingredients! The best part about DIY? You can put whatever you want in it. We gave you some of our favorite toppings, but feel free to swap toast for crackers, cheddar for mozzarella, nut butter for hummus, maybe even add in some turkey slices — you get the point, pair up and enjoy.
Quick Turkey Roll-Up
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What You’ll Need: smoked turkey, swiss cheese, hummus, or guacamole
Lay a slice of Swiss cheese on a cutting board. Top with a slice of smoked turkey and a spoonful of hummus or guacamole. Wrap like a jelly roll and enjoy.
Pita and hummus pocket
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What You’ll Need: Pita, hummus, tomato, onion, lettuce
Spread the inside of a pita half with plenty of hummus and top with sliced tomato, onion, and lettuce.
Bean-filled quesadillas
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What You’ll Need: high-fiber whole grain tortilla, low-fat cheese, salsa
Using just one high-fiber whole grain or whole wheat tortilla, sprinkle low-fat cheese on one side of the tortilla. Crack open a can of beans, and spoonful a few on top of the cheese. Microwave for about 20 seconds. After heating it through so the cheese melts, and then letting it cool, cut the semi-circle into slices. Top with a spoonful of salsa (as much as you’d like! it’s a lot of flavor for very few calories) and some avocado slices.
Tabbouleh Salad
What You’ll Need: Quinoa, cherry tomatoes, green onion, cucumber, extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, salt, pepper, mint
Traditionally this salad is made with bulgur, but we suggest using quinoa — a protein and fiber rich grain, that will give you a ton of more benefits than the traditional choice. Mix in with diced cherry tomatoes, green onion, chopped cucumber, salt, and pepper. Toss it in a mixture of extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice. Some people even add in chopped mint for extra flavor.
Instant Oats
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What You’ll Need: unflavored instant oats, walnuts, honey
Take one package of unflavored instant oats and prepare as directed. Mix in a handful of walnuts or pistachios and drizzle a tiny bit of honey.
English Muffin Pizzas
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What You’ll Need: Whole wheat English muffins, marinara sauce, low-fat mozzarella, vegetables of your choosing (we use spinach, green peppers, broccoli, olives, and tomatoes)
Place English muffin halves in the oven at 450, top them with marinara sauce, a sprinkle of cheese and as many vegetables as you like. This will cook quickly, roughly 3 minutes so be sure to keep an eye on the oven to prevent the cheese from burning!
Egg Salad Wraps
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What You’ll Need: hard-boiled eggs, diced pickles, olive-oil mayo, spicy mustard, cayenne
Chop two hard-boiled eggs and mix with diced pickles, a spoon of olive-oil mayo, spicy mustard, and a pinch of cayenne. When you’re ready to eat it, spoon the egg salad onto large romaine or Bibb lettuce leaves and eat like a burrito. If you’ve gone low-carb, note that this is one of our go-to keto-friendly healthy snacks.
Nachos & Guacamole
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald
What You’ll Need: guacamole, tortilla chips, bla
Mix equal parts of cooked brown rice and drained canned black beans. Top with leftover chicken or steak, salsa, corn, and guacamole. Eat with a small handful of tortilla chips for extra crunch.
Avocado Toast with Smoked Salmon
What You’ll Need: whole grain toast, avocado, chili pepper flakes, olive oil
Toast a whole grain or flaxseed piece of bread and top with chunky, mashed avocado. Sprinkle chili pepper flakes and very lightly drizzle with olive oil. If you’re seeking more healthy snacks with avocado, check out the The 29+ Best Avocado Recipes for Every Meal (Even Dessert!)!
Stuffed, Wrapped Dates
What You’ll Need: dates, almonds, blue cheese, bacon
Remove the pit from dates, stuff with an almond and blue cheese and wrap tightly with half a strip of bacon. Secure with toothpicks and bake at 350° F until the bacon is crisp. Love bacon? Satisfy your top three cravings (can you guess the other two?) with these 30 Guilt-Free Snacks for Your Biggest Cravings!
Bean Dip
What You’ll Need: bean-dip, (or low-fat refried-beans), salsa, scallions, jack-cheese, pickled jalapenos, toasted pita
Fill the bottom of an oven-safe bowl with bean dip or low-fat refried beans. Top with salsa, scallions, and a thin layer of Jack cheese. Bake until the cheese is melted, then crown with chopped pickled jalapenos. Serve with toasted pita or black bean chips.
Watermelon Skewers
What You’ll Need: watermelon, cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil
Thread chunks of watermelon, cherry tomatoes, pieces of fresh mozzarella, and leaves of basil on wooden skewers.
Simple and Savory Cheese Dip
What You’ll Need: goat cheese, garlic, fresh herbs, olive oil, black pepper
Place 4 ounces of fresh goat cheese in a small glass baking dish. Add some chopped garlic, fresh herbs, a drizzle of olive oil, and lots of black pepper. Bake until the cheese is bubbling and enjoy with warm pita bread.
Tomato Bruschetta
What You’ll Need: Tomatoes, garlic, salt, pepper, basil, balsamic, fiber rich toast
There’s nothing better than the addictively delicious Italian treat. Simple chop up tomatoes — try to remove as many seeds and juice as possible so the toppings aren’t too wet — throw in some finely minced garlic, basil, salt, and pepper, and a touch of balsamic. Refrigerate while you toast and break apart bite-sized pieces of fiber-rich bread. Then top each golden bread-bite with the toppings. Take a bite and enjoy!
Salmon and Cucumber Roll-Ups
What You’ll Need: Cucumber, salmon, herb-goat cheese
This simple yet fancy combination creates a creamy, crunchy finger food that’s just irresistible. Roll up all three together to create a protein-packed snack — that’s appealing regardless of the time of day.
Spinach Quiche Cups
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What You’ll Need: 5 eggs, fresh spinach, mini-Bella mushrooms, salt, and pepper. Cheese optional
Whisk together eggs, as if you were going to make a scramble. Toss in spinach and sauteed mushrooms, add in cheese if desired. Evenly divide mixture among 12 muffin cups. Bake for about 20 minutes, at 375 degrees F, or until it’s set and nothing comes out after inserting with a toothpick.
Caprese Skewers
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What You’ll Need: fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, balsamic
Bored of cheese and crackers? For a yummier healthy snack, cut fresh mozzarella into ½-inch cubes. Skewer on toothpicks with fresh tomatoes and basil and drizzle with balsamic. For a more shelf-stable snack, sub the fresh tomatoes for sundried tomatoes.
Burrata and Fruit
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