Are you a big snacker like me?
Thanks to my fast metabolism, I tend to get hungry pretty fast and so I’m often reaching for small snacks in between meals.
Maybe you can relate.
Unfortunately, for a long time my snack of choice was anything sweet like cookies (big fan of those).
But the older I get and the more I learn about food and healthy life choices, I’m realizing that snacking on junk food won’t really help me in the long run.
What you eat matters A LOT because your gut affects basically everything else in your body. Thanks to the gut-brain connection, the foods you eat can directly impact your ability to concentrate, your mood and your overall energy levels. If you deal with anxiety like I do, you need to take this very seriously.
Healthy gut = healthy mind!
So now I want to add more nutritious snacks to my diet because I realized that when I eat healthier, I feel a lot better.
Buuuut! I believe eating healthy should still be fun AND enjoyable (it makes this whole eating healthy thing so much easier 🤣). So here are some yummy healthy snack ideas I’ve come across over the last few years. I hope these help you nourish your body and your mind as well.
Bon appetit!
1. Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
My latest obsession!
Many of the healthy recipes I love contain oatmeal because not only is it a yummy ingredient, it’s also hella nutritious!
Oatmeal is a great source of fiber and it helps promote good digestion and optimum gut health. It’s an ideal snack because it helps to keep you full for longer so no need to reach out for something to snack on every 5 seconds.
Recipe: Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
2. Apple Chips
Never in a million years did I think I’d be into apple chips but after trying them I was quickly proven wrong!
This snack is the perfect combo of sweet and savory that somehow works.
I discovered them at a grocery store a few months ago and thought it’d be fun to try them at home too.
I also love adding cinnamon to almost everything these days since it has a plethora of health benefits like its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties so I love the ouch of cinnamon in this recipe.
Recipe: Apple Chips
3. Smoothie
A smoothie is always a great option for a healthy, refreshing snack.
I do like to add some oatmeal (haha!) or flaxseed powder to mine because it makes my smoothies a bit more filling. Depending on your health/fitness goals, you could also add a scoop of protein (supports muscle growth) or collagen powder (promotes healthy skin and bones).
Honestly your options are endless here. You can experiment with whatever fruits and veggies you have on hand. But here is a recipe I really like!
Recipe: Watermelon Banana Smoothie
4. Plantain Chips
In West African culture, we eat A LOT of fried plantains.
They’re delicious but not always the healthiest thing to eat so I wanted to find a healthier alternative.
This recipe does the trick and baking the plantains with a dash of olive or avocado oil gives it a healthier twist.
Recipe: Oven Baked Plantain Chips
5. Sweet Potato Crisps
Everyday I become more of a fan of all these different sweet potato recipes and I can now add sweet potato crisps to the list as well!
Sweet potatoes are packed with nutrients.
Thanks to their beta-carotene content (a powerful antioxidant), they can help your body fight off inflammation. They also help maintain your gut health and blood sugar levels (thanks to their high fiber content).
Ever since I found out just how nutritious sweet potatoes are, it’s been fun finding different ways to add more of them to my diet!
And they’re sweet!! Which is a huge plus for sweet food lovers like me haha.
Recipe: Crunchy Baked Sweet Potato Chips
6. Zucchini Chips
I usually make baked veggies (including zucchini) as a side for dinner and I realized one day that they’re pretty good to eat on their own too.
Zucchinis are packed with heart-friendly nutrients and fiber. I like to sprinkle a little bit of cheese on mine!
Recipe: Easy Zucchini Chips
7. Homemade Trail Mix
I’ll be honest. I’m not the number one fan of dark chocolate.
It’s def an acquired taste for me since I prefer sweet foods. But I am committed to eating healthier and dark chocolate is the better option so I have no choice!
All jokes aside, this recipe is the ultimate healthy snack option. The dried cherries and raisins bring antioxidant and heart-healthy properties while the dark chocolate promotes good circulation and brain health.
Tbh the sweetness of the fruits helps to balance out the bitterness of the dark chocolate so it works for me!
Recipe: Homemade Trail Mix
8. Roasted Cashew Nuts
Cashews are one of my fav snack options!
They’re full of omega-3 fatty acids which are great for your brain health and memory. They also contain calcium and magnesium which help fortify your bones and joints.
This is a simple, filling snack for you to munch on!
Recipe: Garlic Rosemary Roasted Cashews
9. Hummus
Chickpea (garbanzo beans) is another top notch condiment I recommend for those who are trying to eat healthier.
They’re high in fiber, healthy fats and protein and won’t cause spikes in your blood sugar thanks to their low glycemic index.
This hummus is so good honestly you can just go through a whole bowl without realizing… or is it just me?
Recipe: Quick and Easy Classic Hummus
10. Fruit Salad
You can never go wrong with a fruit salad!
Any fruit works here depending on your preference but here is a fun recipe to try.
Recipe: Mango Berry Fruit Salad
11. Edamame
Another beautiful healthy surprise!
For years I heard people go on about edamame and how much of a superfood it was but I never understood the hype until I tried it for myself!
In addition to a multitude of other health benefits, edamame is full of probiotics which support the growth of good bacteria in your gut. And as I’ve mentioned earlier, a healthy gut equals pretty much the solution to anything else that might be out of whack in your body
And the spices in this recipe bring the whole experience to another level😍!
Recipe: Spicy Stir Fried Edamame
12. Homemade Granola Bars
Simple to make and packed with nutritious ingredients, this is the perfect afternoon snack (or late night…whatever floats your boat!)
Here is the recipe: Healthy Homemade Chewy Granola Bars
13. Banana Muffin
I’m a big fan of banana oatmeal pancakes so I’m excited to have another excuse to eat bananas.
High in potassium,vitamin B6 and fiber and bananas are great for your digestion and circulation but they also help boost your mood by stimulating the release of serotonin (the happy hormone).
I already loved bananas in general but now you’re telling me I get to have them in muffin form AND they can help improve my mood?? Yes, please!!
Recipe: Healthy Banana Carrot Muffins (No Sugar)
14. Apple Slices and Peanut Butter!
A classic that I just had to include!
I was not a huge fan of this at first (remember, I’m sort of a newbie at this whole eating healthy thing) but it grew on me!
Simple, light and full of heart-friendly ingredients, this is the ideal mid-day snack to satisfy your cravings
I hope you liked this post. If you want more recipe ideas, check out my post on healthy, stress-free breakfast recipes for you to try.
