Busy times call for quick (and healthy) snacks! As long as you have some pantry staples on hand, all it takes is a little creativity to come up with some wholesome snacks in a pinch. Skip the potato chips and follow these snack recipes that are perfect when you are in a bit of a time crunch and need something healthy to eat – fast!
1. Date spread/dip
In a food processor, add 1/2 cup pitted dates and 1/2 banana and process until smooth. You can add some milk if needed to adjust the thickness to your liking.
Variations: You can use just about any dried fruit for this, and you can use applesauce instead of banana. Try adding some cocoa powder for a hit of chocolate! You can even add some protein powder or nut/seed butter if you want!
2. Stuffed Dates
Yep, dates again! Take some pitted whole dates and stuff with an oven roasted almond. Easy peasy! If you want some chocolate, add a chocolate chip in there. If you want more protein, wrap a bit of ham around the outside
Variations: You can stuff pitted dates with just about anything you can think of – be creative! Other ideas: low-fat cream cheese mixed with herbs, goat cheese, non-dairy cheese, cashews, nut/seed butter, cucumber pieces,…
3. Nut Butter Spread/Dip
If you are watching your fat/calorie intake, this helps stretch out the calories in nut butters a bit by adding more volume to the food.
Mix together 2 Tbsp. nut/seed butter of choice with 3 -4 Tbsp non-dairy unsweetened yogurt, a pinch of Stevia, and some protein powder to your preferred taste and texture.
Variations: You can use 1/2 banana instead of the yogurt, you can mix in cocoa powder, chopped nuts, or mini chocolate chips (for a dessert). Try dipping apples in this, celery, or spreading on wrap bread, whole grain crackers, or brown rice cakes.
4. Snack Wraps
Whole grain wrap bread or tortilla
+ spread (nut butter, or any spread above)
+ filling of choice (meat, banana, veggies, whatever!)
= Yummy snack/dessert!
One of my old favorites was a whole grain tortilla spread with 2 tbsp. nut butter, a little honey, and a banana. Roll it up, warm in the microwave for about 10 seconds, and have a yummy treat! Now that I eat mostly gluten-free and there aren’t too many good allergy-friendly whole grain tortillas around, I spread a bit of nut butter on a rice cake and top it with mashed banana (or applesauce) and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Almost as good, but I still miss good whole grain tortillas. I guess I will have to start working on that…
Please share some of your favorite healthy snacks ideas and standbys!
My snack standbys: nuts, nut butter, fresh fruits, dried fruits
