10 Quick and Simple Healthy Snack Ideas

When having a snack, it is important to choose something that is healthy rather than reaching for junk food. It is very easy to find healthy, quick-to-prepare snacks that also taste great. These snacks will provide the nutrients that your body needs to give you energy and to keep you going throughout the day.

Instant oatmeal is a great quick and healthy snack. Oatmeal without flavoring, prepared with water, has the least amount of calories. However, flavored oatmeal is healthy as well. One of my favorite things to do is add ingredients to make my oatmeal different each time I eat it. Some examples of toppings/mix-ins I love are fruit such as bananas, blueberries, and raspberries. Some other examples include almonds, dark chocolate chips, cinnamon sugar, and a few dollops of yogurt. You can really make it anything you want and add as many or as few toppings as you would like.

Peanut butter apple slices are a fast snack, loaded with flavor. Slice an apple into quarter of an inch disks, spread each disk with peanut butter, and add toppings such as chocolate chips, honey, raisins, or dried dates. This snack provides many nutrients and health benefits. For example, the apple is a great source of fiber and antioxidants and a the peanut butter is a great source of protein.

This snack is extremely simple but very tasty. Gather fresh fruit, put it in a container, and place it in the freezer until it is frozen. It’s really that simple! I love this treat because it reminds me of the texture of a popsicle (but a very healthy one at that), or a fruit pop. This is a much healthier way to go than an overly sugary store bought popsicle or fruit pop! My favorite fruit to freeze are grapes, bananas, pineapple and blueberries. You could eat them alone or mix different kinds of fruit together. Another way to enjoy frozen fruit could be to add fresh fruit to popsicle molds, add water, and place them in the freezer to make your own fruit pops!

Nuts such as pistachios, cashews, and almonds are great snack option with minimum, if any, preparation time. One major benefit of nuts is that they provide healthy fats to fuel your brain, among other things. Almonds contain benefits such as fiber, and vitamins such as Vitamin E. Cashews contain benefits such as magnesium and iron. Pistachios provide healthy fats, fiber, and more. Nuts are a great alternative to junk food such as chips.

This snack is very easy, healthy, and quick. You could make your own guacamole or hummus, or buy it pre-made from the store. I love dipping things such as pita chips, veggie straws, vegetables such as carrots, or any healthy crunchy snack I may have on hand. Guacamole provides benefits such as healthy fats, protein, fiber, and vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin K and several B vitamins. Hummus provides protein, fiber, and vitamins and minerals such as folic acid, and zinc. This snack with simple, healthy ingredients and a great taste makes for the perfect quick snack.

I love cereal, so I really enjoyed coming up with this snack idea. In a bowl, add about 1 cup of your favorite healthy wheat cereal (ex: wheat cheerios, oatmeal squares, etc.), about 1 tbsp of melted peanut butter, a drizzle of honey, and a small dash of cinnamon. Mix this up and enjoy the amazing taste while taking in the health benefits of the cereal, peanut butter, and cinnamon.

Popcorn is another great, quick snack. Air-popped popcorn that does not include flavors or salt is only about 30 calories! One main key is to pop the popcorn at home, rather than buying it premade at the store. As soon as cheese powder, excessive butter, and salt is added, the health factor goes way down. Try substituting popcorn for any junk food you may be tempted to reach for.

This snack is probably not the healthiest on the list, but it is definitely better than a bag of chips or other junk foods. Toast an English muffin (I prefer cinnamon raisin), spread a thin layer of light cream cheese on each slice, and top it with fresh, cold blueberries and sliced strawberries. This snack is definitely my favorite when I want something a little bit more filling.

A favorite snack of mine is definitely a salad. There are so many options to salads. You can add whatever you like, even if you don’t like lettuce! Some of my favorite healthy ingredients are avocado, cherry tomatoes, thin fresh mozerella slices, raisins, and baby spinach. A vinaigrette or olive oil dressing is a great choice. However, you do not even need to add the dressing (I often do not). Other ingredients could include carrot shavings, a hard-boiled egg sliced, raspberries, strawberries, cucumber, and so much more.

Chicken salad is a very tasty, quick snack. Preparing chicken salad with olive oil or light mayonnaise in less amounts than usual can be a good alternative to the large amount of regular mayonnaise that is often used. There are also great recipes utilizing Greek yogurt (click here to see one). I also enjoy adding fillings such as raisins, dried cranberries, fresh grapes, almonds, and walnuts. Once the chicken salad is prepared, spread some on wheat crackers or even on a romaine lettuce leaf.

As you can see, there are many options for healthy snacks. Don't be afraid to get creative and make each recipe your own. Healthy snacks can be quick, easy, and still taste amazing. Rather than giving your body junk food, you will be fueling your body with wonderful nutrients and benefits that will make you feel better and that will keep you healthy in the long run.