Who Said that Snacks and Health Don’t Mix?
While snacking between meals is not recommended, portioning out my meals for the day by making balanced snacks is ideal for tailoring my diet to my needs: ready-to-eat snacks for busy days, homemade snacks to make me feel good and practical ideas to take with me when I’m on the go. With these 18 gourmet and healthy snack ideas, I’ll make sure I never run out of energy, and I’ll be able to combine snacking with good health!
6 Healthy, Quick and Ready-to-Eat Snack Ideas
On days when my schedule is busy, I like to have ready-made snacks on hand:
- We don’t think about it enough, but enjoying a hot green tea is a great way to wind down before a meal! This detox drink is an excellent source of antioxidants.
- Peeling a banana is so easy that it doesn’t count as preparation! This quick, nutritious snack gives me potassium and vitamin A, among other things.
- An apple is the perfect snack at any time of the day! Rich in fibre, low in sugar, healthy and filling, it has it all.
- White ham is a snack to have at the end of the morning when lunch still seems (too) far away, and I’m already hungry. A slice of white ham has good protein content and is low in fat.
- Puffed rice cakes are nutritious and low-calorie and cut my cravings in no time!
- My favourite ready-made snack? 1 or 2 squares of dark chocolate to fill up on magnesium! So as not to overindulge, I only take a reasonable amount with me for the day.
My 6 Healthy Homemade Snack Recipes
Most store-bought snacks are not that difficult to make at home. Here are 6 easy snack recipes that I can make myself to diversify my snack breaks:
- I can cut up small sticks of cucumber, carrot or celery and dip them in homemade hummus or herbed cottage cheese for a fresh snack any time of day.
- Water flavoured with ginger, untreated citrus peel, mint leaves or hibiscus flowers gives me the same pleasure as a snack for those times when I finally feel more like taking a break from eating. Packing a bottle or flask for the day is perfect for resisting the temptation to snack (and remembering to stay hydrated!).
- I can opt for cottage cheese topped with fresh fruit, cereals or seeds for added crunch, depending on my inspiration and what’s in season. Vegan alternatives exist with plant-based ingredients or tofu.
- Cereal bars are very easy to make at home with cereal flakes, dried fruit, honey, dark chocolate chips, shredded coconut and more.
- If I have a few minutes to spare, I make homemade popcorn and customise it with spices for the savoury version or cocoa powder for the sweet version! This snack is nourishing, light and delicious.
- I impress my colleagues and friends with my own fruit mousse: banana mousse on the bottom, red fruit mousse on the top, with 2 or 3 berries to decorate, in a nice airtight glass jar. A blender is all I need, and I can use frozen fruit. It’s also very good with mango!
The 6 To-Go Snacks That will Fit in My Backpack
For the little hunger pangs during the day when I am not at home, I pack a few easy-to-carry snacks:
- Almonds, nuts or mixtures of seeds and dried fruit can be added to my sports bag at any time. I prepare a variety of mixes according to my preferences and goals.
- Energy balls: easy-to-cook gourmet energy balls have a long shelf life. They are specially designed to be eaten in one bite while commuting, on a walk, at the office, etc.
- Oven-roasted seeds are delicious and easy to carry around: pumpkin seeds, butternut squash seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, chia seeds, nigella seeds, etc. Each one provides a good amount of nutrients to fill me up, and this compact snack does not take up any space in my bag.
- To hydrate, recover after exercise and boost my protein intake, I simply opt for a chocolate drink. In a plant-based or milk version, I choose it without sugar or with very little sugar, dark chocolate and ideally in a recyclable carton or in powder form that can be rehydrated in a reusable bottle. I can also prepare it at home and carry it in an airtight mug for a zero-waste snack.
- Diced cheese is perfect for snacking without getting messy: to complete my portable snack, I add grapes and shelled nuts!
- Simple but effective, a hard-boiled egg is a protein-rich snack ideal for filling up on the go, on a hike or on the train, for example. I can even keep it in its shell if I don’t have time to prepare it, so it’s protected until I need to take a break.
