Quick & Easy Snacks to Get You Through the Day

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Eating is no longer an activity only experienced around the table with friends and family. Think about it. How many times this past week have you eaten on the run? Our time is strapped and we need food that’s easy to grab ‘n’ go. During this mad-chaos of finding food on our way out the door, one detail is easy to forget – making sure that the choices we make are healthy.

Unfortunately, the unhealthy stuff usually falls into the "fast" and "easy" categories – chips, candy bars, sodas, etc. Well, what if we took a few moments each week to make our own healthy snacks portable and easy for on-the-go eating?

Think about things that can fit into the top drawer at work (not jelly beans or Kisses!) or snacks prepared ahead of time that can be popped into a lunch bag. Yes, some of these items WILL require some thinking ahead. Some might even require refrigeration or special containers. But they are fast, simple, and easy. Most take less than 5 minutes to prepare. You’ll also be thankful that you’ve saved yourself the cash that normally goes to vending machines or convenience stores. Your body will be grateful as well. The benefits of health outweigh the costs.

Check out these well balanced snack suggestions and get creative with your own!
  • Celery sticks with all-natural peanut/nut butter and several raisins on top
  • Rice cakes with peanut butter (good for getting a protein punch)
  • Low-fat cheese cubes or  sticks
  • Hard boiled eggs
  • Fruit yogurt cup (add in some fresh fruits or nuts for a boost)
  • Trail mix - stick to those without added sugar and salt and mostly nuts and dried fruit
  • Nuts or nut mix (stick to no more than a 1 ounce serving - heaping handful)
  • Vegetable sticks with a little packet of dip (low-fat salad dressing packets, hummus or plain Greek yogurt with some dill)
  • Yogurt and low-sugar granola
  • Mixed berries (these freeze well in plastic bags) - try with Greek yogurt
  • Whole-wheat crackers and low-fat string cheese
  • Tuna and cottage cheese in mini-containers
The trick here is to be prepared and get creative! Get your fresh fruits and vegetables on the weekend in preparation for the week’s snacking. Keep small-sized plastic containers and baggies for packing up small portions. Take note of the healthy foods you need to keep stocked in the house for future quick and healthy snack preparation. These will become automatic items for your grocery list. You may find that you start to replace a few non-essential, calorie-wasting items with your new healthy snack list!

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