Hiya Gorgeous!
Today I’m sharing some recipes for easy, healthy snacks that I think you’re gonna love. I chose them because, in times like these, we need simple foods that aren’t just tasty, but also full of fabulous nutrients. And I’m focusing on snacks because I’ve noticed that when it comes to recipe sharing, they often get left behind! Since you’re probably getting lots of healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner ideas from your favorite bloggers right now, I’m hoping I can help fill that hole.
Now, to be clear, I’m not suggesting that you overhaul or get strict about your diet right now (unless you REALLY want to—I’m not here to tell you what to do!). There’s a lot of stressful stuff happening in our world, so I encourage you to make caring for yourself and others the number one focus for the time being. If you find yourself reaching for your favorite comfort foods, it’s ok. You’re doing the best you can under the circumstances, and beating yourself up definitely isn’t gonna help!
But I do know that many of you are looking for healthy recipes that you can make with limited ingredients. Maybe your kids are home, so it’s harder to find time for your normal grocery store run (not to mention that snacks may be disappearing from your home at a much quicker rate!). And while social distancing doesn’t restrict us from going out for essentials, you might prefer to play it safe (especially if you’re over 60 or have a chronic health challenge). Plus, even if you can get to the store, you might find that the shelves are bare and you’re not able to get your go-to ingredients.
The best part about these recipes is that they’re all really flexible. You can easily make adjustments based on your preferences and the ingredients you do/don’t have right now. I’ve included substitution ideas throughout the article, but I don’t know exactly what you have access to, so let your pantry, fridge and freezer be your guide! A general rule of thumb for substitutions is to use ingredients that are similar in flavor and texture to whatever you’re subbing out.
Ok, toots, whaddya say we go raid your pantry together?!
Easy, Healthy Snacks to Make When You Can’t Get to the Store
Satisfying Smoothies
Would any list of mine be complete without a shout out to green drinks? I think not! Smoothies are one of my favorite easy, healthy snacks because I can blend in advance and store them in airtight mason jars (they usually last up to 12 hours in the fridge and a month in the freezer!). Plus, unlike many recipes, the ingredients are usually flexible. If you don’t have a certain ingredient on hand, just sub in something similar or leave it out—voila, your very own creation! For more green smoothie tips, check out this post and this post from my blog archives.
My Body Builder smoothie is great for those times you’re feeling especially peckish because it includes protein-packed peanut butter (or any nut/seed butter you like). And the Raspberry Revitalizer smoothie is a perfect afternoon pick-me-up. You can use any frozen berries in place of the raspberries, and the coconut butter/oil is optional. (Psst… all of these recipes are from Crazy Sexy Juice!)
Delightful Dips and Dippers
Veggies and hummus or apples with almond butter are my go-to plant-based snacks when I’m short on groceries. No recipe needed! When I don’t have fresh produce available, I opt for pantry staples like whole grain crackers or dried fruit with no added sugar.
If you want to make your own dip, this Smoky Southwestern Hummus from my Test Kitchen Tuesday series is a total crowd pleaser (though you might not want to share!). No worries if you don’t have the spices it calls for—feel free to experiment and try different spice combos, or keep it simple with a little salt, pepper and garlic. If you don’t have chickpeas on hand, check out this yummy recipe for Sweet Potato Hummus.
Have a hankering for fries that aren’t deep fried? You only need four ingredients to make these delightfully crispy Oil-Free Rosemary French Fries. Dip them in ketchup for a classic snack, or get a little wild and pair them with your homemade hummus!
Need more snack ideas? Grab this free downloadable cheat sheet to learn about my top 10 recipe-boosting ingredients and how to use them (includes 3 more recipes for you to try!).
Thank you looking forward to your receipts! Joy
I hope you love them as much as I do, Joy. Bon appetit and stay well. Xo!
I combined the basics of the sweet potato hummus with the spices of the smoky southwestern hummus and it was delicious. Thanks for both of these recipes.
you inspire me, thanks Kris. wishing you continued health and happy
Great post! I’m trying hard to stay healthy while working from home with a college-age girl home for the rest of the term and twin boys in 5th grade trying to learn at home until school reopens. I started by making sure I was eating at set times and that has helped, but I love my mid-afternoon snack to tide me over until dinner. I’m trying to make it a healthy snack. I’m definitely making hummus tomorrow! I much prefer it home made to pre-made from the stores. I’ll try your southwestern version tomorrow. We love smoked paprika!
Thanks for both of these recipes.
Love this! Nutrition is a massive part of wellbeing and fitness and healthy snacks like these will definitely keep me going!