Simply deciding to eat healthier is never that easy. It’s a choice you make every time you step into your kitchen. For many, it can be a struggle to keep up with and it’s rarely convenient because let’s face it… eating healthy is hard work.
I stick to the 80/20 rule most of the time, but where I slip up the most is definitely snacking. I always seek that afternoon nibble, but healthy and convenient snacks can be pricey. And we all know convenience is key to sticking to a healthy diet.
Instead of racking up that grocery bill with overpriced nutrition bars, find out some more affordable and healthy snacks to try.
Criteria for healthy snacks
So, what counts as “healthy”? This answer might be different for everyone, but there are a few key things I like to keep in mind when planning out snacks.
- Whole food ingredients – I put this one at the top because, for me, it is the most important. These are snacks that are made with whole or minimally processed ingredients like fruits, nuts, vegetables, or even homemade granola.
- Nutrient-density – Opt for snacks that provide you with nutritious ingredients that fuel you up instead of bringing you down. Smoothies that are packed with spinach, berries, chia seeds, or avocados are a great example of a nutrient-dense snack.
- Balanced macronutrients – I believe snacks should have a balance of protein, carbs, and healthy fats. Find snacks that contain a good amount of protein, because the goal is to satisfy your craving without ending up in the kitchen again. We all know how that goes… 😅
- Low added sugars – Avoid a sugar crash by choosing snacks that are low in added sugars or are naturally sweetened with honey, maple syrup, or fruit puree. I try and swap granulated sugar for honey whenever I can in snacks like granola bars or protein bites.
- Moderate portion size – I think almost everyone knows the feeling of munching on a bag of chips only to realize you’ve practically eaten the whole thing. I love using divided containers for portioning out snack packs you can grab out of your fridge whenever you’re feeling snacky.
Just remember that there is no “perfect” way to eat healthy, and there are no “right” criteria. What I consider important, might not be what you consider important when it comes to choosing a healthier snack. And that’s okay! This is meant to be a guide to help you learn what works for you.
Tips and tricks for healthy snacking
Eating healthy might sound easy, but in practice, not so much. And let’s be real, it can be time-consuming too. Chopping up veggies is a chore! This is why it’s so important to take as many shortcuts as possible when choosing affordable and healthy snacks! 😉
Freeze that sh*t
Let’s start by talking about one of my best friends… the freezer. Okay, maybe I’m being a little dramatic, but I do love the thing. And funny enough, when my boyfriend first approached me to buy a little chest freezer, I rolled my eyes and gave a big ass sigh because I thought it was gonna be a waste of money.
I was wrong… and he knows that, but I won’t be the one to tell him haha! We initially bought it because we decided to buy a quarter cow and we needed the extra space, but now I use it for everything!
There are tons of recipes out there for frozen snacks, but that’s not what I’m talking about here. How many times have you worked your butt off to make a recipe, just for half of it to end up in the garbage because you didn’t eat it fast enough?? Me too.
Which is why I freeze everything now. Those banana muffins you made for breakfast this morning? Yup, freeze em. The homemade granola bars that made more than you can eat in a week? Chuck em in the freezer. Bread? Freezer. Cookies? Freezer. Nachos? Freezer… just kidding, but you get the point.
I honestly don’t know how I let so much food go to waste before I figured this out. It has opened my eyes to the possibilities and I’ve definitely saved a lot of money (and muffins) since learning how to utilize my freezer more.
Batch it!
This, of course, has to follow the freezer, because that is the perfect combo. Batch it and freeze it. This is usually my process for all of my affordable and healthy snacks.
Right now, it’s just my boyfriend and I, so we usually always have more than we need. If you have a bigger household then batching snacks might take some extra work, but in that case, hopefully, you can just grab some extra hands.
Any time I make snacks, I do my best to prepare as much as I can, knowing I can freeze what’s left and in the end, save a TON of time. Getting into the habit of batching food will make homemade snacks that much easier!
This goes beyond what you can freeze too. Shelf-stable foods like homemade trail mix and dehydrated fruit are other healthy snacks that are great for batching! Save your dollars and make homemade trail mix because it is so easy to make yourself and the best part is you can add whatever the hell you want.
Bonus savings tip: Buy ingredients like nuts, dried fruit, and seeds in bulk and store your homemade trail mix in jars, for easy snacking whenever you want.
Plan to snack
An area where I sometimes go wrong during my weekly meal planning is eating a light salad and then not being prepared when I get hungry again in the afternoon. Especially as women in this diet culture, we tend to have the mindset that “it should be enough.”
However, as you start to swap processed foods for more fruits and vegetables the more you will need to eat to maintain the same amount of calories. It’s actually wild when you break down the calories and see the difference in how much food you need to eat when you’re primarily eating whole ingredients compared to processed foods.
The last thing you want to do is get frustrated with yourself when you eat healthy most of the day, but then binge snack junk food because you didn’t have anything convenient to grab.
One of my favorite ways to plan for snacks is by making DIY snack kits. My go-to is usually veggies and hummus paired with a sweeter snack like cookie dough energy bites. The options are endless and it’s completely customizable for all the snackers in the house.
I recommend divided containers so all you gotta do is grab it and go. I add one to my boyfriend’s lunch every morning so that he has something to snack on throughout the day. Buying snacks at gas stations or on the go is expensive and the dollars will quickly add up.
Snacking is not bad. Don’t just assume you will stay full and then ignore your body. Plan affordable and healthy snacks so that when you’re feeling a little munchy you have something convenient.
Snack ideas
Healthy snacks should taste good too and while chompin’ on some celery might help in the calorie department, it is not the kind of snack that, well, makes you want to snack. When planning out snacks, it’s important to choose options that you enjoy and know you will eat.
Include a variety of options from veggies and dip to something sweeter like cookie dough protein bites. I’m all about enjoying my food as much as possible, and here are some of my favorite healthy and affordable snacking options:
- Apples and peanut butter – the protein in the peanut butter will satisfy you longer and pairs will with the sweetness of the apple making this a smart snacking option
- Banana oat muffins – a great option for batching and freezing and my go-to recipe when those bananas start looking a little brown
- Veggies and homemade hummus – save money and make hummus yourself in less than 10 minutes and pair it with your favorite veggies
- Chips and homemade salsa – ever since I discovered how easy it is to make salsa I’ve never bought a jar again and my wallet thanks me for it 😉
- Dehydrated or baked apple chips – buying dehydrated fruit at the store can be expensive, so make it at home to save money
- Cookie dough energy bites – I’ve been making this recipe from Pinch Of Yum for years now and they are so freaking good
- Sourdough crackers and fancy cheese – find some nice cheese from the deli to pair with some homemade crackers and add salami if you’re feeling extra fancy
- Pinwheels – another versatile snack and bonus points if you make the tortillas from scratch!
These ideas for affordable and healthy snacks just scratch the surface. I know eating healthier can be intimidating and many worry that it’s expensive, but the key is to keep it simple. I always recommend starting with a meal plan because it will set you up for success and keep you organized during your meal prep.
Final thoughts
Snacks might be one of the hardest times to stay eating healthy, but it is all about balance. These ideas are great healthy options, but that doesn’t mean cutting out all of the other, less healthy snacks in your life.
Stick with what you know you like and slowly incorporate other healthier options into your diet. Don’t force yourself to eat shit you hate, but also give it a couple of chances before you say you hate it. It took me a lot of tries before I decided I liked asparagus (the key is not overcooking it).
I know I’ve said it before, and I will continue to say it, living a healthier lifestyle does not happen overnight. It starts by taking the first steps today and then just keep going. The hardest part is always starting.
Talk again soon! –Annie