Healthy Snack Ideas

When I first began eating better and had what I call my “food conversion“, one of my biggest dilemmas was what in the world to give the kids for snacks, it seemed like everything was in the “bad” category. I have a home day care and definitely needed some easy snack ideas. If you have more to add, please leave a comment below and share it with everyone!

One note though, the more nutrient dense foods the kids are eating at mealtime (plenty of healthy fats are key), I definitely notice less hanging around the kitchen wanting a snack…but there are always times we still need some good snack ideas, so here are a few.

photo by anyjazz65

• Kelly’s Healthy Popcorn
• Nitrite free salami – find a farm or meat market that sells all-natural meats: www.localharvest.org or www.eatwellguide.org
• Cheese, preferably raw – read more here about the amazing benefits of raw dairy! (I’m bad when it comes to cheese, though, I love the convenience of cheese sticks, cheese slices, shredded cheese, etc.!)  Just don’t even think about using “American cheese slices” or “Velveeta”!  Sick!  (You can also order raw cheese from farmers online.)
  
• Toast with whole wheat bread & butter, preferably organic (remember butter and other healthy fats help your body absorb nutrients!)
• Yogurt, preferably homemade from raw milk, but for sure whole milk yogurt, never low fat! (This post on healthy milk explains why low-fat dairy is so unhealthy.)
• Organic crackers – my kids like the organic cheese bunny crackers or organic graham crackers, and although it’s better than a lot of snacks, they’re still not the best because it’s in yet another package, which I need to get away from more and more!
• Homemade cookies – preferably with less sugar than the recipe calls for, or at least with more natural sugars like organic cane sugar, honey, maple syrup, and the jury is still out on Agave Nectar – read more about that at the My Dark Secrets post.
• Crispy nuts – an extra healthy, yummy & easy way to prepare nuts.
• Organic dried fruits (raisins, cranberries, etc. – these are great on salads, too) – these are least expensive through my buying club (check your local health food store), at a bulk foods store, or at an Amish store.
• Fresh fruits (preferably organic and local) – Jeanne just gave me a great idea! She will freeze grapes or berries in small baggies and the kids like to grab those for a quick snack on the go.
• Fresh veggies (” “) – try dipping them in this easy-to-make homemade ranch.
  
• Extra healthy Smoothies
• Organic applesauce cups (I buy them from the buying club through our health food store) – again, this is one of my “compromises” that I give the kids when I don’t have any homemade applesauce in the freezer – I have a recipe which is SO good by the way, and from the Nourishing Traditions cookbook – it tastes like the best apple pie you’ve ever eaten.
• Hard-boiled eggs, either “deviled” or just plain with sea salt.
• Chips & salsa/real cheese/guacamole – if you’re not using homemade, check your labels and find some with short ingredient lists, no trans fats, no MSG, etc.  (You’ll have to do some sleuthing to find some half-way decent tortilla chips…)  Also, surprisingly, my kids love a mexican layered dip with refried beans, maybe some cream cheese, possibly a layer of taco meat, sour cream, guacamole, any veggies like tomatoes, peppers, green onions, etc., and then shredded cheese.
  
• This is a weird snack that I LOVE to have for my lunch sometimes: a bowl of grapes or apples (preferably organic), crispy pecans & fresh shredded parmesan – yum! The kids love it, too.
• Even with all the veggies, my kids love this “Texas Caviar”/Bean Salsa dip.
• Homemade pita bread crisps/bagel crisps/tortilla crisps – start with healthy versions of pita bread, tortillas or bagels (no trans fats, high fructose corn syrup, whole grain, preferably organic, etc.), if using bagels, slice into thin pieces and brush with butter, and cinnamon sugar if desired, bake until golden.  Easy.
  
• From Julie: “Honey Bunches of Oats“: use whatever amounts you prefer and mix together peanut butter, honey & dried oats, preferably properly prepared – made similar to Crispy Nuts: mix together 4 c. organic oats, 4 c. filtered water, 1/2 c. yogurt or whey – soak on the counter overnight. In the morning drain and spread onto a buttered cookie sheet. Bake at 150* (or your oven’s lowest temp) for 24 hours or until crunchy.
• Next time I’m going to make the above crunchy oats recipe, only in the morning I’m going to add maple syrup and cinnamon before baking and see if it will come out tasting like a homemade crunchy granola bar, only much more healthy – I’ll let you know how it comes out! Posted later: It was great, here’s the link for homemade oatmeal bars/granola.
• Leftovers of this wildly popular baked oatmeal recipe (even with those who aren’t crazy about oatmeal), are also great for on-the-go.
  
• My kids love beef jerky or meat sticks. (Be sure to get the kind made without MSG – I usually get it at our farm, or you could try homemade.  You can also order healthy meats online.)
• Braunsweiger or Head Cheese – yes, I said it, and I even eat it! It just tastes like sausage and it’s so good for you! Thankfully, and surprisingly, our kids (all but our teen of course) love it. We always call it “sausage”, whatever you do, don’t call it by the real names!
• Update 5/6/09:  My latest favorite snack is a banana sliced and fried in bacon grease – it may sound odd (got the idea from Cheeseslave!), but it’s soooooo good!  Kids love it, too!  (Yes, bacon fat is a healthy fat IF you get it from a farm where the animals are raised on pasture!)
• Homemade Potato Chips – guilt-free!

• Can anything good come from the chips aisle?
• Healthy & tasty waffles and pancakes
• Meatless/Lenten/Vegetarian meal ideas
• All about SUPPLEMENTS
• Coconut for dieting and more!

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