Feeling bored at home? Looking for some fun activities to do? It’s the perfect time to step into your kitchen and try making some snacks! Store-bought snacks may be tasty and convenient, but homemade ones can take your indulgence to another level!
Here’re some healthy and delicious recipes for you to boost your nutrient intake while munching. All the recipes require 35 minutes or less to prepare and use accessible whole food ingredients. They’re also beginner- and budget-friendly! This post has recipes for sweet and savoury snacks, as well as recommendations on purchasable healthy snacks that have a clean ingredient list.
Sweet Snacks
Brown Butter Cinnamon Sugar Popcorn (10 mins, vegetarian, GF)
Popcorns are actually an excellent source of whole grains as they are just popped whole corn kernels. They are rich in fibre and more filling than most conventional snacks! If you want to lower the sugar content in this recipe, you can use stevia (granules or powder) instead.
No-Bake Carrot Cake Bites (30 mins, vegan, GF)
These quick bites perfectly mimic the flavour of carrot cakes while being naturally sweetened and rich in healthy fats. It’s also a good way to sneak in some carrots and get that vitamin A
Frozen Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Bites (15 mins + freezing time, GF, vegan)
These treats are just like chocolate-covered peanut butter ice cream, except they are bite-size, healthier, and easier for portion control! You can also use any other nut butter to your preference.
Savoury Snacks
Baked Butternut Squash Fries (30 mins, vegan, GF) or Zucchini Fries (35 mins, vegetarian)
These fries are a must-try if you are into crispy finger foods! Unlike regular fries, they are baked and not deep-fried, and substituted with more nutritious vegetables (compared to potatoes). Butternut squash is rich in vitamin A while zucchini is rich in vitamin C, and both contain a good amount of
Restaurant-Style Edamame (10 mins, vegan, GF)
Salty, sweet, and crunchy, those edamames are super easy to prepare and fun to eat. They’re tiny protein bombs with magnesium, iron, calcium, vitamin C, and vitamin B6. They’re so nutrient-dense that you will be satisfied before consuming too much energy.
Baked Salmon Cakes (35 mins)
These cakes are quick to prepare, golden and crispy on the outside, moist and savoury on the inside with lovely big flakes of salmon! They’re not only rich in protein but also have essential fatty acids (omega 3 & 6) that support many aspects of health. You can eat them as snacks or as a part of a proper meal!
Healthy Snacks to Buy
Fruit and Veggie Chips
There’s a good amount of dehydrated or freeze-dried fruit and vegetable snacks online and in grocery stores (Amazon, Save-on-Foods, Costco, etc). Remember to take a look at the ingredient list – the simpler the better (eg. no sugar or oil added). For example, the three products below have nothing else other than the listed fruits!
Nora’s Plant-Based Ice Cream (Local, free delivery for Greater Vancouver Area)
Their ice cream is as (if not more) creamy and flavourful as regular dairy ones, with the benefit of real food ingredients! All of the ice cream is made in small batches in Vancouver, BC, certified vegan, and has no artificial colours or flavours.
barkTHINS
Love crunchy chocolates? BarkTHINS has nine different combinations of fair-trade dark chocolate covered nuts, seeds, fruits, and pretzels to satisfy your cravings!
Recipe and Image Reference:
All recipes and images given are found in the linked websites, except for the dried fruits:
http://martinsapples.com/product/crispy-apple-chips-original