Looking for some convenient and nutritious snack options for your on-the-go schedule? I've got you covered!
In today's modern and busy world, snacking during the day can come with many benefits. It can provide you with energy, mood balance, and brain fuel during stressful and long work or school days. You can also prevent excess hunger and over-consumption during lunch or dinner time due to possible long gaps between meals. If you find yourself having a midday headache or sluggishness, recall the last time you ate or hydrated with water. Choosing snacks that contain a combination of fiber, protein, and healthy fats are a great pick. These nutrients help with appetite control, blood sugar regulation, and energy balance that will give you power through the day.
Check out my suggestions below for convenient and nutritious on-the-go snacks!
1. Flavored Popcorn
Who doesn't love popcorn? This is definitely one of my favorite and easy snacks to pack. Popcorn is a whole grain with great fiber and protein content. I like to take a handful of plain air-popped popcorn and sprinkle over various seasonings for a midday munch. I usually pop organic sprouted popcorn on a stove top with avocado oil then dust over nutritional yeast or drizzle over nut butter. You can pre-pack a handful of plain popcorn in snack sized baggies for another convenient grab-and-go munch.
2. Homemade Trail Mix
A wholesome mix of unsalted nuts, unsweetened coconut flakes, whole grain cereal, cacao nibs or dark chocolate chips along with some dried fruit makes for a perfect snack. My quick and favorite combo includes unsalted almonds, walnuts, coconut flakes with dried fig or apricot. You can pour a quarter of a cup of this mix into small snack-sized bags and place them in a basket on your kitchen counter for a pre-portioned grab-n-go snack.
3. Roasted Chickpeas
My go-to method is to oven roast a can of rinsed garbanzo beans with olive oil and a mixture of spices until they are golden brown and crispy. I can never get tired of homemade roasted chickpeas because I like to experiment with different flavors every time I make this snack. My favorites include tossing the chickpeas in Italian herbs and minced garlic as well as a South Asian spice mix that includes cumin, turmeric, chili powder, and coriander powder. You can try several other options such as a Mexican, Asian, or Mediterranean spices and flavors. This fiber and protein rich snack can easily be pre-portion into snack size baggies or containers.
4. No Bake Energy Cookies
This snack option is fun, convenient, and nutrient packed. You can combine ingredients such as toasted oats, nut butter, nuts, dried fruit, protein powder, seeds like chia or ground flax and shape them into mini balls or patties. These energy bites can be kept chilled in the refrigerator for a grab-n-go snack. They can provide a great dose of fiber, protein, and healthy fats. Check out my
5. Veggies n' Dip
The perfect duo of veggies and dip is a match made in heaven. My favorite snack produce include mini bell peppers, mini cucumbers, sliced carrots, or grape tomatoes. These options are filled with fiber and antioxidants such as vitamin C. I like to pair these veggies with dips such as hummus, guacamole, or a homemade yogurt and herb dip. The water content in the veggies along with the fiber can really make this snack satisfying in between your mealtimes.
6. Yogurt and Granola
Plain, low-fat, or Greek style dairy or dairy-free yogurt topped with granola can be a satiating snack choice. I personally love to pair unsweetened Icelandic or Greek style yogurt which provides higher protein and less added sugars per serving with my homemade No-Bake Strawberry Granola recipe. This fabulous snack duo can also provide a dose of protein, healthy fats, and fiber to fuel your day.
7. Nut or Seed Butter with Crackers
Healthy fats and fiber from this snack will undoubtedly keep you satisfied and fueled till your next meal. I recommend pairing 1-2 tablespoons or a small snack packet of unsweetened peanut, nut, or seed butter with a serving of multigrain crackers, multi-seed crackers, or mini brown rice cakes/crackers. Currently, I have been enjoying flaxseed crackers with unsweetened peanut butter for an afternoon snack.
8. Mini Tortilla Pinwheels
This is a very versatile and easy snack to prepare and take with you to work. I like to take a small whole wheat or sprouted grain tortilla, fill it with savory or sweet ingredients, roll it into a burrito shape, and slice the burrito into small pinwheel-like rolls. I personally enjoy spreading peanut butter and banana slices into the tortilla or a simple hummus and cucumber combo. What a wholesome and fun snack this is!
9. Veggie Chips
This is another simple, portable, and enjoyable snack that'll help you energize midday. This option will also help you achieve a dose of veggies in a way that you'll definitely enjoy. Nutrient dense veggies that are great to oven roast or toss into the air fryer include beetroot, zucchini, sweet potatoes, radish, and even eggplant. You can thinly slice each veggie, lightly spray with oil, sprinkle with personalized seasonings, and oven roast or air fry until lightly crisp. It's good to keep an eye on the chips while they crisp so they don't burn. Check out my Kale Chips recipe!
10. Mini Skewer Bites
If you searching for another minimal effort snack, this is the one to choose. You can simply take a toothpick and stack a combo of ingredients. My usual pick include a stack of grapes, strawberries, and cheese. I also love a combo of grape tomatoes with mozzarella cheese and calamata olives or a small pieces of deli turkey. These ingredients are part of my grocery staples so it's never a hassle to pull this snack together last minute.
So, to save yourself from munching on unsatisfying snacks or hunger pangs during a busy work day, pack one of these convenient choices to fuel your day!
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