These Quick and Easy Healthy Snacks are PERFECT for busy people! Being Healthy doesn’t have to be hard!
When I started working in the city, I realized just how hungry I get throughout the day. I kept all kinds of crap in my desk until I saw the impact all of that junk food had on my energy levels and weight. Sometimes it just feels easier to grab that bag of chips than to figure out what to make that’s “healthy”. Let’s be real, the grocery store can feel overwhelming and easy isn’t usually healthy. After noticing the change in my body, I quickly got creative with making healthy snacks to curb my cravings and feel good after eating!
The keywords here are QUICK and EASY. NOBODY has time to be meal prepping for hours! These snacks require little to no effort and will still have you reaping all the benefits of eating healthy. Watch-out junk food, these quick and easy healthy snack recipes will have your mouth watering!
This post is all about the BEST Quick and Easy Healthy Snacks for anyone who is constantly on the go.
21 Quick and Easy Healthy Snack Recipes
1. Veggies
While this seems like a no-brainer, it still takes effort to cut up veggies every day. When I first started bringing veggies to work, I bought two of these awesome Veggie Tubes, which allowed me to fill each tube with something different. I typically did carrots, celery, broccoli, and cucumber. These tubes would last me two days. The best part – the top container is perfect for a dip! I always filled them with Ranch Dressing for the perfect snack!
2. Hummus
After a while, I transitioned from Ranch Dressing with my veggies to hummus! Hummus is healthier, but we all start somewhere! You can buy hummus for the week at your local grocery store. I realized that I was over-eating hummus after a while and found these individual Hummus packets at Costco! This takes the thinking out of everything and is still an economically friendly choice! And while I love hummus and veggies, you might enjoy hummus with some pita chips or bread. The possibilities are endless.
3. Protein Bars
While this option isn’t as fun as some of the others, it’s easy to keep protein bars in your desk, car, or purse for the ultimate on-the-go healthy snack. My favorite bars are Chocolate Decadance by Isagenix. My boyfriend loves the Costco brand protein bars (They are made by Quest Bars). Trader Joe’s recently started selling a brand called Barebells, which offers a few dairy-free options for my plant-based friends. I am addicted to them!
4. Bell Peppers
My latest addiction has been Bell Peppers! If you are a big Costco shopper, you know you can buy a bag of 6 peppers for $6! I typically grab 4 peppers for the week either from Costco or my local grocery store. I cut them into strips and toss them in zip lock bags. Peppers are sweet enough to eat on their own or you can enjoy them with hummus. I won’t lie, I usually pack two peppers worth for a long road trip – they are the PERFECT car snack! Pro-Tip- Put your peppers in FREEZER zip lock bags to keep them fresh and to avoid any liquid that might come out of them.
5. Hard-Boiled Eggs
While I understand that not everyone loves hard-boiled eggs in the same way that I do, you cannot deny that they are a quick and healthy snack! I typically boil up a batch all at one time and bring two to work for an easy 150 calorie snack! I usually fill a pan with water and turn the burner on. Once it starts to boil, I cook them for 12 minutes and flush them with cold water after. Perfect hard-boiled eggs every time! If you want to take the ultimate no-hassle route, pick up a bag of cooked and peeled hard-boiled eggs at Trader Joe’s or Costco! Add a little hot sauce if you want a little extra flavor!
6. Cauliflower Chips
OK, I am a total sucker for Sour Cream and Onion Chips, but I never keep them in my house because I know they’ll be devoured in minutes! I found Cauliflower Chips from a brand called From The Ground Up while wandering through whole foods. The best part – they have SOUR CREAM AND ONION FLAVORED CAULIFLOWER CHIPS! Can you hear me screaming? These chips are my absolute favorite and I always keep a bag just in my desk in case I’m in the mood for something salty. They come in other flavors and you can find them at most local grocery stores!
7. Juicy Mango Strips
My favorite Mango Strips are the Trader Joe’s Juicy Melon Strips! They are a bit sweeter than other melon strips, but they are just too delicious not to eat! This is another snack that I always keep in my desk and cabinet at home! The best part – no prep required!
8. Pop-Corners
I must admit, I fell in love with these snacks on a Jet-Blue flight a few years ago. Ever since we got a Costco Membership, I’ve been addicted to picking up the variety pack of Pop-Corners every single time we go shopping there! My favorite flavor is the Kettle-corn, followed by the white cheddar! While the big bags at the grocery store are often more economically friendly, I prefer the individual bags for better portion control! The other benefit is that you can easily keep them in your desk at work or grab them when you’re on the go. Pro-tip – you should also keep a bag in your car and purse for an emergency hunger situation!
9. Popcorn
The OG of all healthy snacks, who doesn’t love popcorn?! If you’re looking for a quick on-the-go snack, it only takes a few minutes to pop a bag of popcorn in the microwave or have pre-popped popcorn sitting in your pantry. Make sure you get organic popcorn whenever possible though, as corn can be a GMO and heavily sprayed with pesticides. I try to always find non-GMO, if not organic! If you’re looking to spice it up, add a little Everything Bagel Seasoning on top!
10. Rice Cakes and Your Favorite Nut Butter
OK, we’ve all heard of apple slices and peanut butter before, but have you ever tried a rice cake with peanut butter?! My favorite is a rice cake with sunflower seed butter. It’s perfect to lather on that nut butter and enjoy within seconds!
11. Banana Chips
Reap all the benefits of eating a banana with a little crunch! You can usually find these at any local grocery store but my favorite are the ones from whole foods! They hit that sweet and salty craving all at one time.
12. Everything but the Bagel Cucumbers
Who doesn’t love an everything bagel? To achieve a similar, yet mildly healthier, taste slice up a cucumber and add a little cream cheese. Then sprinkle on a little Everything but the Bagel Seasoning and you’ve got yourself the tastiest snack in a short amount of time. They are always a crowd-pleaser at snack time! You can also make these with celery if you want a bit more of a crunch!
13. Protein Balls
While I am a HUGE protein shake kind of girl, sometimes I just need to mix it up! I discovered my favorite protein balls recipe a few years back and have been addicted ever since! All you need is your favorite protein powder and a few ingredients mixed with a little bit of time to prep them over the weekend and you’re good to go! I make a batch and leave them in the fridge so I can grab a couple here and there all week long!
Related Post : 11 Ways to Mix Up Your Vanilla Protein Shake
14. Turkey Roll-ups
This one is my boyfriend’s favorite go-to snack! grab a slice of turkey and lather a little bit of mustard and avocado- smooth avocado works best here. Just roll them up and stick a few in a zip-lock bag to take with you! I’m not a big mustard fan myself so I typically swap the mustard/avocado combo for just guac – tastes delicious!
15. Tomato, Basil, & Mozz
I’ll be honest, I’m a sucker for Caprese anything! Slice up a tomato, and add a slice of Mozzarella on top. Drizzle with balsamic glaze and top with a piece of basil. Who needs bread when you have this much yummy all-in-one bite? These don’t exactly travel as well as some of the others, however, they are extremely fresh and extra delicious when made on the spot! What more do you need from this quick and easy healthy snack?!
16. Riced Cauliflower with Cilantro
This is one of my favorite dishes. I love it because it’s borderline a dinner side but can also be the BEST snack. I like to grab a bag of riced cauliflower from Trader Joe’s and cook it in a frying pan with a little bit of oil for 10-15 minutes. After it starts browning, removed from heat and add fresh cilantro. So quick and easy yet so delicious! Also tastes just as great if you re-warm it up at work the next day!
17. Mixed Berries
Do you ever get strawberries at the grocery store and forget about them before they go bad – I do! Next time you go grocery shopping, pick up your favorite berries and grapes and cut them up as soon as you get home. This way all of your fruit will already be washed, cut, and ready to eat the next time you are looking for a snack! Throw it all in a sealed container and place it right in the front of your fridge for easy access! Bonus – the fruit is all ready to add to your yogurt as well!
18. Avocado Feta Dip
Are you drooling already, because I am! Dice up two ripe avocados, a small red onion, and 3 Roma tomatoes. Throw it all together in a bowl with a little bit of minced garlic, a pinch of salt, 4 oz of feta cheese, 1 tbsp of Apple Cider Vinegar, and 1 tbsp of Olive Oil. Mix it all together and top with parsley. This is perfect on its own or as a dip with tortilla chips and crackers!
19. Garlic String Beans
If you are working from home or have time to food prep on the weekends, these string beans are amazing! Just throw some trimmed string beans in a frying pan with a little olive oil and some minced garlic and cook on medium until the beans are soft and browned. SO DELICIOUS! Save in an Air-tight container and microwave them at work for a quick healthy snack!
20. Cucumber Salad
Slice up a cucumber into bit-sized spears and mix together with 2 tsp of fresh dill, 1 tsp olive oil, 1 tbsp Red wine vinegar, a pinch of salt and pepper, and 1/8 cup of feta cheese. I typically omit the sugar from this recipe, but you can also add 1/4 tsp of sugar for a sweeter flavor! Pop this into an air-tight container and break it out when you’re getting hungry during the workday!
21. Mixed Nuts
What list of easy healthy snacks would be complete without Mixed Nuts! While oftentimes, I am lazy and pick up my mixed nuts from Trader Joe’s, occasionally I’ll make my own mix. I love almonds, cashews, pumpkin seeds, and pistachios. Just try not to eat the whole bag in one sitting! While nuts are very healthy for you, they are higher in calories than one would think!
This post was all about Quick and Easy Healthy Snacks that are PERFECT for busy people like you!
Let me know your favorite quick and easy healthy snacks too! I am always looking for ways to mix it up! Food is meant to be fun, not boring. We’re here to eat all the good stuff!
