6 Healthy Snacks You Can Make in a Hurry:

When hungry between meals we all crave a little snack. But, most store-bought snacks are loaded with sugar, salt and unhealthy fats. If you prepare your own snacks, they might just help you in a pinch. Here are some snacks you can easily make or take along with you for those moments of hunger. Do you have trouble sticking to a healthy snacking plan? One tip, don’t get bored. These ideas all make the grade in terms of nutrition, but they’re a lot more imaginative than a handful of almonds.

Almond butter and apple slices:

Core and cut apple wedges into a bowl of water with a tablespoon of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to keep them from turning brown. Drain and place in small serving sizes in a plastic baggy until you need them. Fill a plastic snack bag with a tablespoon or 2 of apple butter, then, snip bottom corner with scissors to squeeze out onto your apple slices. Or, buy small packets of Justin’s Almond Honey Butter, they’re so convenient to buy.

Chopped vegetables and super-fast hummus:

You can throw together a super-fast hummus dip with a can of garbanzo beans (drained except for 1/4 cup), ½ t salt (optional), ½ of a lemon, juiced, a peeled garlic clove, and a tablespoon or two of olive oil to make it smoother. Just blend in a food processor until very smooth. Carrot slices, chopped celery, or snap peas are easy to prepare in advance, and always tasty with hummus. You can place these into a small mason jar, hummus first, then, follow with vegetable sticks. Or, a couple sliced Kalamata olives added to celery sticks you spread with hummus is easy to make and take with you.

Spicy Honeydew Melon and Pistachios:

Toss 2 cups cut-up honey dew or any melon, with 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice (takes about 1 whole lime) and ½ teaspoon grated lime zest (be sure to zest before you juice). Sprinkle with a pinch of cayenne pepper or cinnamon and 2 teaspoons chopped unsalted roasted pistachios. Serves 2-4.

Whole-Grain Toast with Almond Butter and Pear:

Spread 2 teaspoons almond butter on 1 slice toasted whole-grain bread. It’s easier to spread the almond butter when the toast is hot from the toaster. Then, top with ½ sliced pear.  Sometimes I use a bit of honey to mix with the almond butter. Often I’ll add a dash of apple pie spice or cinnamon on top of the pear slices. And, if you’re making this to eat later place pear slices into a bowl of water with a tablespoon of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to keep them from turning brown. Drain, and continue with keeping toast separate from almond butter/honey, until you’re ready to eat them.

3 Ingredient Fruit, Seed & Nut Energy Mix:

Mix together in a bowl, a combination of 1 part dried fruit, 1 part unsalted seeds, and 1 part unsalted nuts. This can be made in advance and portioned into snack bags to take on the go. Try these favorites like: cherries, almonds and sunflower seeds, or, cranberry, pecans, and pepitas, or, raisins, walnuts and roasted edamame.

The Original Quick Snack; Whole Fruit:

Don’t forget, seasonal fresh fruit is the fundamental snack food. Take some ripe pears, seedless grapes, or apples, along with you. The original and still the ultimate plant-based whole foods!

Hungry for more snack ideas?