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Skip the potato chips, cookies, fruit snacks, graham crackers, and candy. If you’re in a rut, here are some quick “real food” snack ideas for inspiration! Perfect for running out the door, the afternoon slump, after-school, or anytime hunger strikes.
Sticking with simple wholesome ingredients keeps snack time easy and fun. Most of these ideas can also be used for healthy breakfasts, too! If you have kids, have them go through this list with you so they can pick out their favorite snack food (don’t miss my Printable List of Snack Ideas so you can have them circle their favorites).
Whether it’s fiber rich healthy snacks to fill you up or protein packed bites to give you the energy to power through your day, you’ll be able to enjoy these recipes without sacrificing on taste!
Simple Go-To Snacks to Have in the House
I like to have a variety of different kinds of healthy snacks on hand to cover any situation.
- Fresh cut up fruit and veggies
- Baked goods (fresh and in the freezer)
- Homemade snacks
- Store-bought healthy snacks
- Healthy packaged snacks (for grab and go convenience)
The “Healthy Snack Ideas ‘Recipe'” below lists some of the more popular staples at my house, so is a great place to start.
90 Healthy Snack Ideas
Ingredients
Freezer
- Whole-wheat Zucchini Bread (see recipe, sliced or made into muffins)
- Whole-wheat Banana Nut Muffins (see recipe)
- Frozen fruit (like pineapple and mango, for smoothies)
- Frozen peas (for snacking)
Fridge
- Power Balls (see recipe)
- Deviled eggs (see recipe)
- Smoothies (see recipes)
- Plain whole-milk yogurt
- Hummus (clean store-bought or homemade)
- Cheese (sliced)
- Raw veggies (like broccoli, bell pepper, carrots, celery)
- Fresh fruit (like apples, bananas, oranges, grapes, melon, mango)
- Fresh berries (like blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries)
Pantry
- Lara Bars (store-bought or homemade)
- Homemade granola bars (see recipe)
- Whole-grain pretzels
- Popcorn
- Whole grain crackers (like Ak-Mak or Triscuits)
- Brown rice cakes
- Trail mix
- Peanut butter (or sunflower seed butter)
- Snacking nuts (like peanuts, cashews, or almonds)
Instructions
- Choose your snacks — I've pulled some favorites we keep on hand for this Snack Ideas "Recipe," but I encourage you to browse the entire post and replace them with any ideas that sound good to you. The end goal is to have a variety of snack types on hand to last through the week (or more) for any occasion.
- Buy ingredients — Once you've got your snack list, add all the ingredients and packaged items to your grocery list. Fortunately if you stick to my suggestions, you'll avoid highly-processed food, including artificial ingredients and dyes (no thanks!).
- Prep for the week — Make your baked goods first… I highly recommend making double batches and freezing extra for later. If there are any other homemade items on your list, make those as well and store for easy access. Cut up the fresh fruit and veggies and place them in containers. Convenience is key!
- Share and enjoy — Don't keep your snacks a secret…tell your family what is available so everyone can grab a snack and enjoy when hunger strikes! And bonus, you don't have to feel guilty with these healthy options.
Notes
27 Homemade Snack Recipes
I like to keep my freezer stocked with muffins for my girls—it’s one of their favorite snacks, so this makes it super convenient for them to pull some out for a quick afternoon snack on their own. Most of these homemade recipes are so quick and easy to make, that even the kids can help out!
2. Whole-Wheat Toaster Pastries (a.k.a. Pop Tarts!)
These homemade toaster pastries are for the kid in all of us! (Except, they’re a great alternative for those of us who want some healthy snacks homemade). Check out the recipe to see how to make these whole-wheat Pop Tarts that are cheaper and packed with nutritious ingredients!
SNACK TIP: Making easy, freezer-friendly recipes like these helps you stock up on healthy options when you’re craving something you won’t have to feel guilty for indulging in!
3. Easy Slow Cooker Boiled Peanuts
Bring some homestyle Southern flavor into your daily snacking with this delightful slow cooker boiled peanuts recipe! You can make these ahead of time if you prefer, and take them on-the-go for something satisfying during the workday.
4. Smoothies or Smoothie Pops
Depending on how you choose to make these super customizable smoothies they can be a quick snack or a meal to-go. As far as healthy ideas for snacks go, you can’t go wrong with something that uses up any extra fresh greens you’ve got in the fridge.
Go to Recipe or learn how to make Smoothie Pops
6. Homemade Granola Bars
Granola bars are a healthy tasty snack almost anyone can enjoy, but more often than not they’re big bucks at the store! Know what goes into your snacks, and feel good about enjoying these all natural home made granola bars you can make ahead of time.
7. Homemade “Larabars”
For a healthy tasty snack, these taste even better than the packaged snack itself! Whip up a batch of these chewy, satisfying and incredibly nutritious bars to grad on-the-go, or whenever the craving hits.
12. Whole-Wheat Berry Muffins
If you’re still iffy on whole wheat when looking for ideas for a healthy snack, might I recommend these berry muffins? They’re a great way to incorporate some natural sugars into your diet to satisfy your midday cravings and sneak some important nutrients in, too!
SNACK TIP: Frozen fruit like berries are excellent for baking snacks ahead of time. They’re more nutrient-dense compared to their fresh counterparts, and relatively cheap, too!
14. Kale Chips
Kale chips are probably one you’ve heard of before, but these ones definitely live up to the hype! Make your homemade snacks healthy by starting out with easy recipes like this one that you can grab right out of the pantry when the mood strikes.
SNACK TIP: Keeping crunchy, salty and healthy alternatives on-hand will make it easier to avoid pre packaged potato chips and replace them with something nutritious!
16. Buttermilk Cheese Biscuits
Don’t be ready to write-off carbs for a healthy tasty snack idea just yet! These buttermilk cheese biscuits stow away into your lunch box perfectly to give you a balanced snack that fills you up with satisfying nutrients and whole food ingredients.
17. Whole-Wheat “Baked” Donuts
If you’ve ever had a hard time resisting the temptation of take-out donuts, (you’re not alone, trust me!) This recipe for whole wheat baked donuts is a gamechanger! Besides being an absolute hit in our house, they’re easy to make ahead of time and freeze to grab when you’re in the mood for something sweet on-the-go.
18. Cinnamon Raisin Yogurt Biscuits
The sweet and crave-able flavor of these biscuits is made possible using all whole food ingredients. They’re an excellent healthy snack idea choice, but they’re also perfect for a quick breakfast with coffee!
19. Pumpkin Oat Scones
If you don’t consider yourself much of a baker, don’t worry! These pumpkin oat scones go together quickly and easily, plus they’re a great way to enjoy a nutritious and filling whole wheat snack that’s also freezer-friendly.
20. Apple Walnut Muffins
This recipe for apple walnut muffins checks the box for sweet snack lovers, but did you know they’re totally whole food? Made naturally sweet by the fruit itself and a little maple syrup, these muffins are a healthful way to enjoy a snack any time of day.
22. 6-Ingredient Cereal Bars
It only takes 6 ingredients to make this healthy snack idea that’s great as a breakfast with your morning coffee, or something to tide you over in the evening hours. Plus, they’re a much healthier alternative to the pre packaged variety!
23. Roasted Eggplant Chips
Chips are back on the menu with this crunchy and delicious snack idea that goes well with just about anything! You can whip them up in as little as 15 minutes, and believe it or not, they’re only made with 3 natural ingredients.
24. Roasted Spiced Chickpeas
These make for an excellent spicy snack option for anyone looking to replace the sodium content of their usual snack foods! They’re easy to make, and seriously flavorful as a healthy snack idea you can easily make ahead.
25. Homemade Snack Bars (Dairy-Free)
If dairy-free snack ideas are a must for you, we’ve got you covered! These snack bars aren’t just homemade, but they’re totally dairy-free for lactose-sensitive snackers, and packed with healthful ingredients to help with the ‘crunch’ craving we’re all looking for between the lunch and dinner hours.
27 Fruit Snack Ideas
Sometimes a piece of fruit can satisfy your sweet tooth without needing to grab a candy bar loaded with added sugar. Plus, having it out on the counter or cut up in containers makes it much more accessible and likely that your family will grab some.
- Apple (good with peanut butter, or almond butter)
- Applesauce
- Avocado (good with soy sauce and brown rice)
- Banana (good with peanut butter, or almond butter)
- Blueberries (good with regular or Greek yogurt)
- Canned Fruit like Mandarin Oranges (Native Forest brand does not use sugary syrups in their cans)
- Cantaloupe
- Cherries
- Dried Apple Rings or Pineapple Rings
- Figs (good with goat cheese)
- Freeze Dried Fruit (like mango, banana, blueberries or strawberries)
- Fruit Leathers
- Grapefruit Grapes
- Honeydew Melon
- Kiwi
- Mango
- Oranges
- Papaya
- Peaches (good with regular or Greek yogurt)
- Pear
- Pineapple
- Plums
- Raspberries (good with regular or Greek yogurt)
- Star Fruit
- Strawberries (good with regular or Greek yogurt)
- Unsweetened Raisins
- Watermelon
16 Vegetable Snack Ideas
This is a great way to ensure your family is getting an extra dose of veggies in their diet. I like to have raw veggies cut up and easily accessible for my kids, making it even easier for them to grab a healthy snack any time of the day. If you have a picky eater, try serving your veggies with creamy dips (what kid doesn’t love dipping their food?).
Raw
- Broccoli (good with ranch dip)
- Carrots (good with hummus or ranch dip)
- Cauliflower
- Celery Sticks (good with peanut butter and raisins a.k.a. “Ants on a Log”)
- Cherry Tomatoes (good with ranch dip)
- Cucumber Slices (good with ranch dip)
- Edamame (good with soy sauce, or drizzle with a little olive oil + kosher salt)
- Frozen Peas (frozen…no cooking necessary!)
- Jicama (cut into matchsticks)
- Olives
- Sugar Snap Peas (good with hummus)
- Sliced Bell Peppers (good with hummus or ranch dip)
Cooked
- Frozen Peas (frozen…no cooking necessary!)
- Green Beans
- Mashed Sweet Potato (good with butter and cinnamon)
- Snow Peas
9 Whole-Grain Snack Ideas
There are a lot of great store-bought snack ideas here with whole grains and only a handful of ingredients listed. If you can’t find any at your local grocery store, scroll down to see some homemade healthy snack recipes.
- Brown Rice Cakes – check out my post with rice cake topping ideas
- Cooked Whole-Grain Noodles (small pasta shapes varieties like rigatoni, penne, farfalle, etc.)
- Oatmeal (served warm in a Thermos if sending to school)
- Popcorn (make it using “The Popcorn Trick”)
- Puffed Whole Grain Cereal (corn, brown rice, wheat or millet variety, we like Arrowhead Mills brand)
- Shredded Wheat (look for brands that contain 1-ingredient)
- Whole Grain Crackers (like Triscuits, Multi-Seed, Ak-Mak, Whole-Wheat Matzos, Brown Rice Crackers/Snaps, or Whole-Grain Rye Crackers) topped with cheese, peanut butter, almond butter, other nut butter, or cream cheese and jelly combo
- Whole-Grain Toast
- Whole-Wheat Pretzels
11 Nut and Seed Snack Ideas
Have the kids pick their favorite nuts to create their very own trail mix! Nuts and seeds make great filling snacks full of flavor that can hold them over till their next meal. Best part is that you can pack them in a baggy and easily take them with you on the go.
- Almonds
- Cashews
- Larabars
- Nut Trail Mix including Dried Fruit
- Peanuts
- Pecans
- Pine Nuts (they are good lightly toasted)
- Pistachios
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Sesame Seeds
- Walnuts
Printable List of Snack Ideas
Many readers have requested a printable version of snack ideas, so we added one to our free resource area! Simply click the image below and follow the instructions for instant access to this and many other real food resources.
Helpful Tips: Healthy Snack Ideas
- Combine some of the suggestions in this post in creative ways (for example, combine some fruit with yogurt to make a yogurt parfait, or make a fruit salad and drizzle some honey on top).
- Some of the listed fruits are also great frozen. Ever blended up frozen bananas to make “ice cream”? Try it!
- If you’re looking for school lunch ideas, any of these would be great in a school lunch box!
- If you have a picky eater, combining several of these snacks onto a plate—tapas style!—could make a well-rounded lunch or easy breakfast, or help introduce new foods in a low-key way.
Please share your snack ideas with us in the comments below!
Snack idea 44 says Triscuits. While Triscuits are made with only 3 ingredients (whole grain wheat, canola oil, sea salt), I know that canola oil is bad for us: it is a synthetic oil discovered in Canada (hence its name). What do think about this? Thank you.
Hi Patricia. This was an early post and Lisa really does not use Triscuits anymore precisely because of the conola.
Canola oil is from rapseed, the variety of plant was bred in Canada, but it is not synthetic. you can check wikipedia or other sources for more information.
At a young age, we should already introduce our kids to healthy living. We should all start by giving them fruits snack perhaps or vegetables during meal time. Why we promote a healthy lifestyle? So that, while they are still young they would know the importance of being healthy and they can enjoy their lives today.
We offer books to children to teach them a healthy lifestyle. We do seminars and workshop here also! Just visit our website http://www.academyforhealthsuperheroes.com
These days, I love roasted chickpeas for snacking! They satisfy that need for something crunchy, and you can make them savory, spicy, or however you want!
What is the best substitute for whole wheat flour?
Hi. Spelt is a good sub for WW.
We love olives but could someone tell me what kind the “healthy” ones are please?
Great ideas
My daughter has a retainer and cannot eat nuts. I was wondering what other things she might be able to try.
Is there a printer-friendly version of this list? Lisa’s Facebook post suggested printing this and taping it to the pantry door, but when I try to print from my browser, it’s a mess.
Not yet, but we’ll see if we can put that in the works. – Nicole
I LOVE your website! It’s so helpful! My family has switched to your plan, but I’m struggling with one thing… I need crackers that my 18 month old can eat. Any suggestions? We’ve been eating Annie’s organic cheddar bunnies…
Have you given these a try: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/recipe-easy-cheesy-crackers/?
Another snack idea – Baby Carrots and Applesauce
These are amazing! Kids might not like them due to the intense lime flavor but everyone I’ve shared them with has been so impressed:
http://paleogrubs.com/lime-energy-bite-recipe
A product I have been purchasing at Costco for many years seams to have been discontinued at some stores including the Woodland Hills village location. The product is Wheat Thins what gives?
It sounds weird, but my favorite real food snack is a whole grain rye cracker topped with a thin layer of cream cheese and natural pepperoni. It’s like a mini pizza, but not super heavy.
Hi. I really like your snack ideas. They sound great. Have you ever tried the ziplock freezer molds for your freezer pops. Or do you just use the reusable for the environment factor. Which is cool if you do, but just curious about the disposable kind too.
Hi there. Lisa uses the reusable kind. :)
Do you have meal plans for single folks?
Hi Stacy. No, not specifically but the plans can be scaled down in size.
Or make the full recipe and freeze the leftovers. It’s the whole “cook once, eat twice” mentality that is great for busy nights.
One of our favorite snacks as a kid was a recipe my mom found: cottage cheese with crushed pineapples, apples, and walnuts. The mix made for a subtle sweetness, crunch, and was very satisfying nutritionally as it has a good balance of carbs, fats, and proteins.
I would also love to see specific brand names if possible. I can’t seem to find anything that meets the criteria at my local grocery store, and would buy from Amazon gladly if I just knew what to buy. Looking for snacky stuff-especially WW pretzels.
Lisa buys whole wheat pretzels from Trader Joes. Unique Sprouted Grain Pretzels is another and this is my favorite: http://shop.marysgonecrackers.com/Sea-Salt-Pretzels/p/MGC-000519&c=MarysGoneCrackers@Pretzels. It has a longer ingredient list but they are whole grain ingredients.
I have your granola recipe for a snack also. Would like to see the brands of specific crackers and pretzels that are approved.
Thanks
great advice, thank you
Hi! What brand do you buy for your cheese cubes??
Thanks!
Hi there. Lisa buys a lot of Organic Valley cheese. I do, too, and cut into cubes myself.
Such a great list and love the recommendations of what it tastes better with. These will be added to our snack station. We converted our AWB-360DB dual zone wine and beverage cooler into a snack station, take a look http://bit.ly/1KBbJK1
Jícama is great sprinkled with lime juice (or lemon if that’s all you have) and then some chili powder & salt mixed together. Cut into sticks first. Low carb, CRUNCH and different!
Hi Lisa – I just launched an Artisan Energy Snacks Box as part of Undiscovered Kitchen’s gift collection – specifically to help parents find super tasty but HEALTHY and unique snacks that are easy to pack or send as a cute care package to students (also loaded with nutrients and energy): http://undiscoveredkitchen.com/undiscovered-kitchens-gift-collections/gourmet-healthy-artisan-energy-snacks-gift-box Check it out and let me know what you think! Cheers – Evona :)
My kids like red, yellow and orange peppers to snack on
Love this and a lot of the other helpful lists and things you put together! Would please consider putting together a ‘printable’ that removes all of the photos, etc and concisely gets all the info onto 1 page (if possible). Would be much appreciated!
I love any snacks that I can easily put into baggies and stick in the pantry so my 4-year-old can get them himself. He loves the independence it gives him, and so do I! Plus it makes it easy to add hummus or nut butter or something more nutrient-dense to go along with crackers and such. But there’s a lot of good reasons to have pre-made snacks for kids, besides just independence and convenience. I just blogged about my top 7 reasons. http://bit.ly/1ISmmdL Did I miss any?
I love soaking dried chick peas in lukewarm water for 24 hours. They have just begun to “bud” by this stage. Drain and put in a glass jar in the fridge and use as required. When you take them out of the fridge to use, leave the lid off for a while and allow the jar to warm to room temperature before returning to the fridge. It will allow the chick peas to continue shooting.
Delicious and nutritious.
Rice cakes and almond butter, or whole wheat tortillas with almond butter and fresh fruit (berries, mango or peach slices).
Baked oatmeal “bites”. Great for breakfast and we freeze leftovers to have after school snacks
http://www.emilybites.com/2015/02/strawberry-banana-baked-oatmeal-singles.html
Do you have any recommendations for whole wheat pretzels? Particular brands and/or stores that carry them? I can’t find them anywhere. I thought I heard Trader Joe’s had them, but I went to one and they didn’t. THanks
Hi there. Unique is a brand that has 100% whole grain sprouted pretzels. If you can’t find them at a store, you can order them online.
I am thankful for the idea, but his list would be more helpful in a printable format.
I couldn’t agree more! Love it, but the printed page is distracting….two pages…etc. Thank you for compiling this list! If you have a printable, would be awesome!
Is there an easier printable version of this list? Love it and definitely want to place on my fridge or in my cupboard.
Hi Sarah. There is not but if you just highlight the text and print “selected”, it won’t print all the extraneous stuff. ;)
I am an 18 year old that plays competitive Hockey. I don’t like to eat vegies or fruit (for the most part), however, I want to eat better, by not eating so much “fat” and other processed foods. Is there a simple and good food plan you can recommend?
Thank you,
Les
HI Less. Make your way through the start here page: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/start-here/ and you will see that eating better can be pretty simple. You do need to incorporate fruits and veggies and you might find that the more the try them, the more your taste buds will adjust. Also, keep in mind that healthy fats are essential for your body and your brain. :)
Found this site which was quite interesting
http://healthysnacksfortoddlers.com/
cool beans
In the Nuts and Seeds category I don’t see soynuts. They are so good to snack on! Are they not as healthy as other nuts?
Hi Mary. Whole organic soy is fine. :)
where can I get my hands on the school lunches e-book?
Hi Stephanie. It is not currently available. Sorry about that.
Such a silly question, but where do I find portion sizes for the above snack ideas? My HS daughter and I are trying to pack healthy, filling snack & lunches. For example, how many nuts? I could easily finish off 2 cups in a day. Wouldn’t do my GI system a lot of good. Thanks so much!
Hi Julie. This will help: https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/food-essentials/how-much-do-we-need-each-day/serve-sizes.
Thank you so much Amy!
Picked up some Ak-Mak crackers yesterday at Trader Joe’s. YUM!! For lunch I put a thin slice of sharp cheddar cheese on the cracker and topped it with tuna. :) Two other things I found at Trader Joe’s intrigued me. Giant Peruvian Inca Corn. The ingredients are Corn, Palm Oil, and Salt. The other was Butter Almond thins. These probably are not a great idea to eat because they have sugar in them but the first ingredient is wheat flour then sugar, butter (milk), almonds, salt, and sodium bicarbonate (probably should look up what that REALLY is). Also bought Smucker’s Organic Peanut Butter at Target. The consistency is definitely different than regular peanut butter but the taste is good. We are having the spaghetti and meatballs for dinner tonight. In the recipe it calls for “red sauce.” What is red sauce?
Hi Mary. It refers to tomato sauce. ;)
Oh :) I’ve just always referred to it as spaghetti sauce, not red sauce. Thank for enlightening me :)
Good to know, thank you.
Hi Mary. The ranch dip you mentioned is a link to Lisa’s own recipe that has 0 bad for you ingredients. Just click on “ranch dip” in the above post to take you there. The peanut butter we choose is organic with only peanuts and maybe a bit of salt on the ingredient list. ~Amy