In my Pinterest browsing the other day I came across a pin that claimed to be a list of 100 Healthy Snack Ideas. I was massively disappointed when I clicked on the link only to find over a third of the items to involve unhealthy processed junk with lots of low-fat this and that, and calorie counting.
Not at all healthy, in my books.
Here are my criteria for a healthy snack ideas list…
- non-processed (this generally means no “ingredient list”, unless I made it myself)
- NOT low-fat / low-calorie
- limit how often we eat fruit
- not heavily reliant on grains (gluten-free for us)
- includes probiotics, lots of healthy fats, raw, high in protein
So, I made my own list and want to share it with you all, because I often find myself in a snack-time rut. This list is going on my fridge and with my meal planning notes, so that I can plan snacks wisely. Oh, and as a bonus, you can combine any number of these things to together to make an easy lunch. A snack tray for lunch is met with cheers (literally) from the under 3-feet-tall crowd in our house.
Side note: I wrote a breakfast e-cookbook called The Breakfast Revolution which has recipes for lots of the ideas below – you can get your copy here. Muffins, fruit salad, pancakes, eggs, soaked oatmeal breakfast cake, breakfast custard, and much more!
100 Healthy Snack Ideas
- Almonds & raisins
- Air-popped popcorn with butter and real sea salt
- Raw veggies with hummus
- Apples & peanut butter
- Homemade granola bars
- Mini tuna & cheese lettuce wraps (use a lettuce leaf as a wrap)
- Chicken salad lettuce wraps
- Egg Salad lettuce wraps
- Green salad (our all-time favourite dressing is by Katie of Kitchen Stewardship, author of Healthy Snacks to Go)
- Steamed veggies smothered in butter & real sea salt
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Plain yogurt with honey or maple syrup
- Green smoothies (like this Mango-Nectarine Smoothie Recipe)
- Herbal tea or Homemade honey-sweetened lemonade
- Homemade beef jerky – if you aren’t into making your own this one has decent ingredients
- Homemade fruit leather – if you are not wanting to make these at home, this one is a decent alternative
- Applesauce (no sugar added and/or homemade)
- Real sourdough bread with lots of butter and homemade Honey-Sweetened Strawberry Chia Seed Jam
- A piece of (seasonal) fresh fruit
- Fruit salad
- No-Bake Chocolate Coconut Macaroons
- Homemade hot chocolate (like my Honey-Sweetened Hot Chocolate Recipe)
- Blender Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding
- A slice of high-quality cheese (no artificial colors, raw if available)
- Scrambled or fried egg
- Organic corn chips and lacto-fermented salsa
- Homemade pickles (Lacto-Fermented Garlic Dill Pickles Recipe)
- Fresh berries & (honey or maple syrup-sweetened) whipped cream
- Ants on a log (celery with PB & raisins)
- Cherry tomatoes
- Nitrate-free deli meat
- Baked apples (sprinkle on some cinnamon)
- Chocolate avocado pudding
- Blueberry Cheesecake Protein Smoothie
- A cup of homemade chicken bone broth (my kids love this!)
- Homemade “larabars” (get the e-book with tons of larabar recipe variations here)
- Sweet potato fries
- Tuna melts on your favorite bread or bun
- Homemade popsicles (like these divine Strawberry Coconut Chia Popsicles with Nut Butter Drizzle)
- Gluten-free banana-pecan bread
- Mini pizzas (on toast, tortilla, or pita)
- Soaked/baked oatmeal
- Chocolate-Banana smoothie
- Frozen grapes
- Snap peas
- Homemade ice cream
- Coffee Cake
- A mug of soup (like this delectable curried butternut squash soup)
- Homemade granola with coconut/almond milk
- Parfait (yogurt, fruit, granola)
- Grain-free muffins (Double Chocolate Banana Muffins, Coconut Flour Chocolate Muffins, Pumpkin Spice Coconut Flour Muffins)
- Homemade Stovetop Kettle Corn
- Homemade trail mix
- Homemade crackers
- Kale chips
- Homemade brittle
- Roasted pumpkin or squash seeds
- Deviled eggs
- Spinach dip
- Simple herbed avocado
- Dandelion Fritters
- Healthy Peppermint Patties
- Homemade potato chips
- Browned Butter Fudge
- Raspberry Poppyseed Muffins
- Roasted asparagus (topped with parmesan and salt – yum!)
- Steamed spinach
- Homemade banana bread
- Quinoa pudding
- Dark chocolate
- Dehydrated fruit chips
- Roasted chickpeas
- Nachos and cheese
- Homemade crackers & PB
- Banana-Walnut Muffins
- Crackers & pate (grass-fed organic livers are amazing super foods!)
- Organic raw sweet peppers
- Homemade Peanut Butter Cups
- Homemade milkshakes
- Cold lentil salad
- Green apples and homemade caramel sauce
- Chocolate-dipped strawberries
- Cold leftover pancakes (my kids love these!)
- Meatballs with marinara for dipping
- Bacon-wrapped asparagus, water chestnuts, or scallops
- Cold fried chicken
- Dried anchovies
- Chickpea and bean salad
- Vegetable juice
- 20-Minute Peanut-Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Baked beans
- Dried dates with coconut butter stuffed inside (DELISH. This is the coconut butter I have.)
- Egg muffins
- Fried Plantains
- Cream cheese & salsa mini-wraps
- Spiced Crispy Nuts
- Rice pudding
- Sandwich bites
- Guacamole
- Homemade French Fries (Better than fast food!)
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links – thanks for supporting Red & Honey!
Ultimate Bundles Healthy Meal Planning Bundle
Is healthy eating is important to you and your family? If you want to eat well, but you’re overwhelmed with decision fatigue and the busyness of everyday life then the Healthy Meal Planning Bundle is for you!
This amazing collection of e-cookbooks and bonus resources (all indexed and organized to suit your dietary needs!) will help you to simplify mealtimes and help you eat better.
This bundle has
- Over 1000 tried and tested recipes, categorized to help you find what you need
- 38 meal plans that have been made for you to choose from
- 14 cookbooks
- Meal planning resources
- Healthy eating resources
- Nutritional information on every recipe
- Each recipe is indexed by dietary needs & health goals (including gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free, wheat-free, keto, paleo, vegetarian and more!)
- It integrates with the Real Plan app
- And, is backed by Ultimate Bundles 30-Day Happiness Guarantee!
If you want easy plans & recipes to help you plan and achieve your healthiest year of meals then head here to grab your Healthy Meal Planning Bundle and get started today!
Bev
Yogurt used to be the only healthy snack I can handle, but this post has convinced me to level up. Thanks for sharing.
Leona Liz Gonzagowski
Unfermented soy is so dangerous and one of the largest GMO crops. Please especially don’t give this to your children…
Dawn @ PricklyMom
I am completely in love with your blog!
Can you tell me about the dried anchovies? I just looked them up on Amazon, and figure they would have them at my local farmer’s market, but I still have questions. Do you just eat them like chips? Are they the ones that still have eyes?? 🙂 I love anchovies, but have never explored beyond the canned variety.
Beth
Well I have to confess that I’ve never actually tried them! This list is meant to be a list of ideas, but I haven’t necessarily tried every single one (though I’ve definitely tried most!)
When I work up the courage, this one looks interesting to me! http://amzn.to/1e01IJW (affiliate link)
emily
Hey. I saw in your comments that you mentioned maple syrup kettle corn. I was wondering if you could share your recipe. I tried Google-ing it but I mostly saw that people burned it. Any tips would be appreciated.
Beth
It’s actually number 52 on the list 🙂 Here ya go! It’s delish 🙂
https://redandhoney.com/2012/04/homemade-stove-top-kettle-corn-recipe/
Bridget J.
I was with you right up until “dried anchovies” 😉 (but seriously, thanks for sharing clean eating snack ideas).
Kathy@healthy snacks for kids
It’s really an incredible post I have ever seen . Your above list of healthy snacks is truly help us for providing our kids healthy foods. I think all of the above snacks are full of mineral and nutrition which is really helpful for our kids.
how to be healthy
Very nice article. I just located your own blog site plus needed to express that I have truly liked searching your current website discussions. Whatever the case I’ll be following with your feed and I do hope you generate all over again soon!
Joe
WOW! Thank you for this wonderful post. Gonna try every idea listed… This is my homepage now. 🙂
Beth II
There’s a lot of great stuff on this list but I have a question. Not to be a hater, but rather I’m really legitimately curious… how is loading up on butter healthy? I’m familiar with primal, paleo, raw lifestyles etc. so seeing things like bacon, dark chocolate, pure maple syrup, etc. doesn’t make me gasp. But seeing all the butter does surprise me. Would you mind sharing your reasoning behind it? I’m really so curious. Thanks!
Beth
Butter is a traditional fat that is healthy! Check out wapf.org for more info on healthy fats. Here’s one: http://www.westonaprice.org/food-features/why-butter-is-better
I slather on as much butter as I want when I eat bread on rare occasions… I use it liberally for frying my eggs every morning, I use it lots in baking… and I’m 5″4′ and 110lbs, after birthing 3 kids. 🙂
Ashley
Hello,
This seems like a generally good list, I’d probably steer clear of butter and bacon, but life in moderation. i followed a clean vegan lifestyle and felt great, but since being in school have become just a vegetarian, but still think it makes all of the difference. For those remarking on the unhealthy fats on this list, I agree, but I also think Beth is coming from more of a ‘natural’ stance rather than a low calorie/low fat stance. However, I am a huge fruit/carb(gluten free carbs) advocate, but love some of the ideas!
Casandra
Everyone should try avocadoes with a bit of lime juice and salt!!!! It is sooo good and easy!!!!! Also it helps strengthen your immune system!!! It’s a win win!!!!(:
Jessica
I just wanted to say thank you for this list. Sometimes it’s so hard to come up with healthy grain-free snacks. I’m actually posting it on my fridge. I have two toddlers and another on the way… I need snacks throughout the day and just don’t have a lot of time. 🙂 Thanks again!
Beth
You are totally welcome! I hope it helps you out. I understand being pregnant and always hungry 😀
Tara Lynam-Bornilla
Love the frozen grapes! I snack on those all summer long. Refreshing and healthy! Enjoying your list, I’m making a few copies to give to friends, and family members to post on their refridgerators and desks! Thanks again for this list, I’m looking forward to trying a few of these a week. Actually I’m getting ready to make baked apples and have a cup of hot cocoa with cinnamon while they’re baking!
Beth Ricci
How fantastic! I’m so glad you enjoyed my list. Thanks for passing it on, too! 🙂 Your snack sounds yummy!
Amanda Jenks
I am so glad I came across this list. I am trying to become more fit and healthy and this has given me some great snack ideas! Thank you so much 🙂
Beth
Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Sarah Asay
This is super helpful! Thank you. My husband and I just switched to a gluten free/zero processed foods diet about 5 weeks ago & while it’s very easy to do at home and in our city (Portland), we had a lot of trouble when we traveled out of town two weeks ago. If anything it was encouragement to keep doing what we are doing because after two days of not eating how we have been it took us about 3 days to feel “normal” again! I will be referring to this list for our next trip!!
Rebecca Campbell
Thank you Beth,It’s always difficult coming up with a healthy snack that’s from the norm’….I have two boys and they always say i’m hungry no matter what time of day or what they just ate for Breakfast,Lunch or dinner….hahaha Children.
Beth Ricci
Yup! My 4-year-old son has a t-shirt with a picture of a shark, and it says “always hungry”! haha!
Stefanie
@twitter-395454626:disqus , EXACTLY MY THOUGHTS. As a registered dietician, please for everyone’s sake, refrain from making these lists. For your own health sake, lay off the butter, bacon, and refined sugars & stop trying to give fruit such a bad rap.
Anna
While I do not disagree with you Beth, I am just curious why you find “lay off the butter, bacon, and refined sugars & stop trying to give fruit such a bad rap” government propaganda? I think what she’s trying to say is that you don’t need to jump on the bandwagon of all these fad diets, but rather just make better choices when it comes to food! More plants (yes, fruit), less processed junk and deep fried anything.
As a graduate student in clinical nutrition and health promotion and education, yes, I know what the research is regarding fat types and no, saturated fat is not such the bad guy we once thought. But, as “polite” and “mature” as you’re trying to make yourself seem, you should also realize that you seem to have also fallen for some health “information” popularized by today’s society. Be sure to do some solid research on the gluten-free diet, taking into account the confounding factors (you’re eliminating nearly all processed, restaurant and fast food by going gluten free — of course you’re going to feel better and potentially lose weight!) and the strength of the research (double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over clinical trial?).
Also, purely my own personal opinion, good list. I’m a huge believer in “all foods fit”, in moderation, so I like seeing butter and bacon on the list 🙂
Renee
I’m definitely also a fan of healthy fats and grass-fed and pasture-raised sources of beef and dairy – basically of *real food* 🙂
…just curious what you recipe for the fried chicken you serve cold for snacks!
Rhonda
Beth, I have recently been reading many articles that tell us the best fats are coconut oil, butter, lard and olive oil. I also read that the thyroid needs real sugar to function properly. Also I have seen that bacon is good for you…like anything if we don’t indulge. If we just look back at our grandparents and greats, we would see that they lived long healthy lives eating all those foods.
Danielle
seriously, in what world is bacon and “smothered in butter” EVER healthy??? unless you’re a registered dietitian or licensed nutritionist with some weird new findings, I’d probs lay off writing lists of “healthy” snacks. some of the things were awesome and definitely healthy, likewise a lot of it needs to be axed
Beth Ricci
Danielle – if you want to learn the truth about healthy fats and protein, feel free to check out the link I posted to another commenter below – Why I Eat a High Fat Diet, then feel free to come back and share your thoughts.
Elff
Butter is good. Just don’t live on the stuff. We DO need salt in our diet, as well as sugar and certain fats. People have associated these things with weight gain and stuff like heart disease but if you eat them IN MODERATION as part of a well balanced diet they are good. And we need meat, we are OMNIVORES. I don’t care what you say, going vegetarian will not make you healthier. Also, let me state this again: IN MODERATION as part of a WELL BALANCED DIET things like sugar, fat, salt and yes, bacon are a part of a good diet. I am a young woman, I am about 5 ft 7″ and am slim. Not skinny, but slim, I am not fat or even chubby. I eat salt foods, bacon, meat, bread, butter and fruit and veges all in the right amount and play tennis once a week. Perfectly healthy person. Butter, salt, sugar, bacon…so long as it’s not part of every meal, it’s fine!
Manny
This is a great list. I like how it runs the gamut from quinoa pudding and lettuce wraps to cold pancakes and chocolate dipped strawberries. Something for everyone!
beth@redandhoney
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Manny
I really did. I even dropped a link into my latest post:
http://www.mannythemanny.com/post/29052137452/ask-manny-where-do-i-start-with-my-stepsons-video
Lv2Read
This is a GREAT list. Thanks for posting!