84 Healthy Snack Ideas

Snacking is a big part of any healthy eating plan, but it can be fraught with problems. First of all, if you rely on store-bought, pre-packaged snacks, you’re going to be spending an arm and a leg—especially if they’re organic.  But if you’re making your own snacks, it’s easy to fall into a rut.

So I’ve brainstormed a list of 84 different snack ideas: some that are easy to whip together at home or at work, some you can throw in your car or bag, and some that need a little extra prep ahead of time. Most of these ideas are very diet friendly: just sub in reduced fat or fat free dairy as you see fit (or like).

Plus, none of these ideas is likely to break the bank. Even by buying organic and splurging on some nice cheeses and things, you’ll still be saving money over pre-packaged snacks.

at home or work: These are pretty easy to whip up if you have a fridge and a microwave or toaster oven available.

1. veggies and hummus
2. English muffin broiled with light cheese and tomato sauce
3. toasted English muffin with nut butter
4. celery with hot wings dip: 1 Tbsp blue cheese, 1 tsp hot wing sauce, 1/2 tsp reduced-calorie mayonnaise, 2 medium celery ribs, washed and trimmed
5. apple with 1 melted caramel
6. banana, sliced lengthwise, with 2 tsp mini chocolate chips, microwave 20-30 sec.
7. Greek yogurt with unsweetened applesauce
8. applesauce with 1 tsp caramel sauce
9. 1 tsp butter spread on rye crackers with sliced radishes and sea salt
10. smoked salmon on lettuce or endive leaves, topped with dill
11. feta and watermelon cubes with mint
12. ants on a log (celery stuffed with nut butter, topped with dried fruit)
13. other ants on a log: celery stuffed with hummus and sliced olives
14. endive spears filled with chopped pears, sprinkle of blue cheese and drizzle of balsamic vinegar
15. blanched asparagus spears with slivers of proscuitto or shreds of romano cheese
16. peaches (fresh or canned) or nectarines, mashed into cottage cheese, served on ginger snaps
17. dip or drizzle rice cakes in melted bittersweet chocolate
18. pineapple and papaya chunks with chunks of fat free angel food cake
19. crushed cocoa nibs over canned pears
20. graham crackers dipped in vanilla Greek yogurt with sliced bananas (think banana pudding)
21. part-skim ricotta with mini chocolate chips and chopped pistachios (think cannolis)
22. sprinkle fresh berries or stone fruit with low fat granola and microwave until warmed (think cobbler)
23. mango slices with cayenne and lime juice
24. halved grapefruit, drizzled with honey, broiled until caramalized
25. frozen grapes
26. sliced turkey peperoni wrapped around string cheese
27. microwave a small sweet potato and then mash a tablespoon or two of orange juice in
28. cut strawberries in half and spread with soft goat cheese
29. pepedew peppers (from the supermarket olive bar) stuffed with goat cheese or feta
30. 1 oz brie, melted and topped with fresh or dried cherries (eat with a fork)
31. baba ghanoush with whole wheat pita
32. instant miso soup
33. split dried figs and stuff with hazelnuts
34. toss halved cherry tomatoes with low-fat pesto
35. sardines on whole wheat crackers
36. heat blueberries (or any berry) in a pan coated with spray olive oil until just about to burst; top with lemon zest and maybe cinnamon and eat warm
37. spread deli slices of roast beef with prepared horseradish and a sprinkle of blue cheese; roll up and eat
38. cubes of mixed melon with a dusting of chili powder, sugar, salt and lime juice
39. chopped strawberries with basalmic vinegar, tarragon and black pepper
40. melon wedges wrapped with a slice of proscuitto (or thin deli ham)
41. slices of angel food cake spread with all-fruit jam or compote
42. top 1 Wasa cracker with 1 tablespoon Nutella and a sliced banana
43. wrap jicama sticks with thin-sliced deli ham and dip in grainy mustard
44. whole wheat pretzels dipped in grainy mustard
45. top half a small whole wheat bagel with part-skim ricotta and sliced strawberries or bananas
46. top half a small whole wheat bagel with neufchatel, a slice of smoked salmon, red onion and capers
47. spread a rice cake with nut butter and top with shredded coconut and dried cherries or cranberries
48. 1 whole grain waffle topped with all-fruit jam or compote
49. low-fat cottage cheese with salsa and baked chips or a piece of whole grain toast for dipping
50. fat free Greek yogurt with walnuts and honey

portable: These are easy to toss in a bag or in your car to have on hand all the time.

1. apple and light string cheese or babybel
2. apple and nut butter
3. sliced turkey and pickles
4. pickled okra—or sour pickles of any kind
5. air-popped popcorn
6. 14 almonds
7. 25 pistachios
8. 4 tsp mini chocolate chips
9. 45 mini marshmallows
10. 1/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries
11. 1 square dark chocolate
12. 1 oz turkey jerky
13. edemame
14. dark chocolate-covered espresso beans
15. Lära bar
16. 1 ounce smoked gouda with 6 dried apricots
17. 1 Laughing Cow Light Babybel, 1 square dark chocolate, 1 peach
18. hard boiled egg with black pepper
19. olives
20. soy crisps

make ahead: These require a little prep ahead of time, but they are SOOOO worth it.

1. baked kale chips, beet chips, carrot chips, or other veggie chips
2. Chickpea Poppers: Thoroughly dry canned chickpeas. Spritz with extra-virgin olive oil, season with dried oregano and garlic salt and roast at 400° until crisp.
3. Stuff pitted prunes or dates with neufchâtel cheese and chopped almonds, then sprinkle with ground cardamom.
4. deviled eggs or egg salad made with Greek yogurt and/or mustard instead of mayo
5. vegetable sushi rolls with brown rice
6. grate peeled beets in a food processor and dress with orange juice; add chopped pistachios or hazelnuts and a tiny bit of goat cheese
7. sliced tomatoes and peaches with red onion dressed with lemon juice, salt and pepper
8. sliced tomatoes and cucumber with reduced feta, oregano and basalmic vinegar
9. shredded cabbage dressed with lime juice and salt; add cilantro and chopped pickled jalapeno if you like
10. cooked, cooled quinoa with cooked black beans, diced tomato, cilantro, and pickled jalapenos with lots of the jalapeno juice
11. cooked kale or other leafy greens dressed with lemon juice and salt
12. cook corn kernels in a hot frying pan sprayed with olive oil until brown and add chili, garlic, salt and pepper; toss with cilantro and lime juice to serve
13. roasted cauliflower dusted with curry powder and tossed with raisins
14. “clean out the fridge” vegetable soup (see my e-book for the recipe)

Like these ideas? I’d love it if you’d share this on Pinterest!

original image by kayepants