Hey, you! Get your hand away from that cookie jar. Snacking is synonymous with sweet cookies, salty chips, and buttery popcorn, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Healthy snack options are close at hand.
Seriously, you won’t believe how easy it is to satisfy your sweet tooth with fibre-filled and protein-packed whole food ingredients. Here are eight fuss-free ways to ensure you have clean-eating approved snacks available 24/7. So you can probably put the cookie jar out of reach now.
1. Freeze fruit dipped in chocolate.
A handful of grapes? A good snack. A handful of grapes dipped in dark chocolate? A really good snack. Chocolate-dipped grapes are a sneakily healthy delight that will make you forget all about the chocolate-covered raisins of your childhood. And don’t limit yourself to grapes. Strawberries and bananas go equally well with a (not so) decadent chocolate topping.
2. Stash LÄRABARs in your purse.
This is my go-to snack when I need to fight off a 3 pm slump. (Don’t be surprised to find a box stashed in my office desk drawer and a few bars bouncing around in my purse. Yes, I’m obsessed.) LÄRABARs are full of vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free goodness, with no more than nine simple ingredients per bar and no added sugar. Oh, and the peanut butter chocolate chip flavour is life.
3. Whip up one-ingredient nice cream.
What’s this magical ingredient, you ask? Be warned—once you find out, you’ll be making homemade ice cream every evening. It’s that easy. The secret to silky, melt-in-your mouth ice cream is … bananas!
Churn one to two frozen bananas in a food processor and you’ll be left with something better than ice cream—this glorious creation is nice cream. The best part is that the banana flavour is subtle. This is especially true if you add in one or two delicious extras:
- 1/3 cup (80 mL) strawberries or raspberries
- 1 to 2 Tbsp (15 to 30 mL) peanut butter
- 1 Tbsp (15 mL) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup (60 mL) fresh mint
4. Crush cravings with healthier soda.
Whether you call it soda or pop, it sounds really good on a long hot day. But as you probably know, that sugar and caffeine kick isn’t doing you any favours. Enter: DIY Orange Cream Soda. The only sweetener here is freshly squeezed orange juice. Add a splash of coconut milk, and this drink turns into a creamy treat you’ll want to make all summer long. For bonus points, garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.
5. Make ALL the energy bites.
Repeat after me: energy bites are your best friend. They’re super portable and easy to make. Plus, most recipes feature whole food ingredients and natural sweeteners. Make a big batch of different flavours on Sunday, and you’ll be set for a week’s worth of snacking.
Not sure where to start? Worry not—we’ve got your back. We love these Lemon-Lime Coconut Bursts for their bright citrus flavour. If chocolate is your thing, you’ll want to make Raw Chocolate Hedgehog Truffles with Cacao Nibs. For an epic post-workout snack, opt for Almond Butter Banana Protein Truffles. (Don’t let the word “truffles” fool you; these recipes are quick and easy.)
6. Eat some raw cookie dough.
Not the kind with raw eggs, obviously. I’m talking about addictive DIY cookie dough made from a base of chickpeas (yes, chickpeas). You won’t even notice the chickpea flavour, which is masked by almond butter, coconut oil, and maple syrup. Of course, it wouldn’t be cookie dough without some chocolate chips—mini and dairy free, in this case.
7. Sip on an iced matcha latte.
Matcha lattes are super hot right now. But because the weather is also super hot right now, we suggest giving your latte a subtly sweet iced makeover. This recipe is surprisingly simple, with only four ingredients: antioxidant-packed matcha powder, water, skim or dairy-free milk, and a touch of honey.
8. Nosh on nature’s candy.
If all else fails—it’s 6 pm, dinner is cooking, and you’re feeling seriously hangry—you can make your own trail mix in minutes. A few nuts, some dried fruit (we’re loving dried apricot and mango right now), and something crunchy (pretzels!) are all you need kicking around to whip up this snack.
