ALL ABOUT SNACKING + 10 DELICIOUS RECIPES
We all love a good snack now and then. Whether you’re trying to please your kids before dinner, having the munchies on a road trip, or craving something sweet before bed, snacking can be a great way to supplement food between meals.
However, it’s important to note what you’re snacking on and understand that too much snacking on the wrong kinds of food can lead to overeating and weight gain/energy loss. It’s all about balance!
The key to snacking is to focus on whole foods. Try to eat fruits and veggies, complex carbs, healthy fats, and high-protein foods instead of sugary and processed snacks. Don’t be afraid to eat a lot, too! People often think you have to eat low-calorie snacks, but that can actually leave you feeling hungrier. Nutrient-dense snacks are the way to go.
It’s also a myth that snacking before bed will lead to weight gain. While eating five heavily processed cookies may not be the healthiest choice, eating something sweet like yogurt with fresh berries or almond butter and celery can alleviate those hunger pains and actually help you sleep better.
If you have a sweet tooth and you find yourself craving something sweet in between meals, don’t feel like you can only eat carrots and nuts.
Naturally sweet foods like fruits are a great snack, as well as things like yogurt or homemade snacks that include ingredients you know are clean and healthy. Sweet snacks should always be paired with complex carbs, healthy fats, or protein – that’s the ticket to good, sweet snacks!
Need some motivation? Here are 10 of my favorite clean-eating snacks!
1. Protein-Stuffed Dates
These bite-sized treats are the perfect combination of natural sweetness, creamy texture, and a boost of protein. Tender Medjool dates are filled with a rich and fudgy (brownie batter) protein mixture, made with nut butter, honey, and raw cacao powder.
2. Mason Jar Snacks
Planning out your snacks is a great option! If you have pre-made snack jars readily available, you’re more likely to grab those instead of calorie-dense, likely more sugary alternatives. There are FOUR fun mason jar snacks in this recipe. Enjoy!
3. Energy-Packed Breakfast Oat Cookies
Start your day off right with these Energy-Packed Breakfast Oat Cookies, carefully crafted to provide a nutrient-dense boost to keep you going all morning! Completely packed with energy through complex carbohydrates and healthy fats, along with an impressive amount of fiber too!
4. Nut & Seed Healthy Fat Bread
You don’t normally see the words “fat” and “healthy” next to each other, but healthy fats are a thing, and they’re actually really good for you! One often overlooked benefit of including healthy fats in your diet is that they can help your body absorb nutrients from other foods!
5. Fruit & Chocolate Stacks
For those of you with a sweet tooth, I present: the fruit and chocolate stack of your dreams. Bananas and strawberries wedged in between peanut or almond butter and drizzled in chocolate. What could be better?!
6. Rachel’s Magic Cookie Bars
What sets these bars apart from other desserts is the careful selection of high-quality ingredients, like unsweetened shredded coconut, high-quality dark chocolate chips, and raw honey. Plus, they’re even better after being refrigerated overnight!
7. Bistro Lunch Snack Boxes
These types of things are super convenient when there’s no kitchen available to heat things up.
Simply tuck your meal into a cooler or purse, and enjoy it when you’re ready. Having a few of these in the fridge definitely helps us stay out of the drive-thru and concession stands.
8. Peanut Butter Apple Cookies
Made with old-fashioned rolled oats, unsweetened applesauce, and natural peanut butter, these chewy cookies are not only delicious but also packed with nutrients like complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, and even some fiber too!
9. Tangy Dill Pickle Hummus
Hummus is an amazing snack to enjoy alongside fresh vegetables like carrots, celery, or bell peppers. This tangy dill pickle hummus is perfect for pickle-lovers or anyone looking to shake up the hummus game. Great for late-night snacking or early-morning ball tournaments!
10. Honey Sesame Granola Bark
Our honey sesame granola bark is made with wholesome ingredients like rolled oats, sunflower seeds, flaxseed meal, and sesame seeds, providing a boost of fiber, protein, and healthy fats. Great for breakfast (especially with some yogurt and fresh berries), or for late-night snacking!
Looking for more inspiration? Check out these posts highlighting our favorite occasion-specific snacks!
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Natural Energy Boosters. Snacks to keep you energized and fueled throughout the day via natural ingredients, not artificial “shots” of energy.
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Clean Snacks for the Road. Going on a road trip? Got a long drive to a kid’s tournament on a Saturday morning? Try these on-the-go snacks!
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After School Snacks. The best and easiest snacks to fuel your kids (and yourself) after school, before the rush of dinner.
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Charcuterie Boards. Having brunch or a baby shower? Need cute, flavorful, and clean-eating approved snacks? Check these boards out!
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Game Day Snacks. Sunday rolls around, and everyone’s coming to your house for the big game, huh? Treat them right with these clean-eating Game Day approved snacks!
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Energy Bites. For when you need extra energy throughout the day but don’t have time to go for a walk or run midday or before dinner. Try eating some high-protein energy bites!
Whether you already have snacking down to a science or you’re looking to enhance your snacking game, snacking is a great choice to help supplement your scheduled meals and give you extra energy throughout the day. It’s a delicate balance between eating enough to feel full and satiated and not eating too much to overdo your calorie intake for the day.
Utilizing these recipes and finding what works for you and your schedule is the key to mastering snacking and continuing on your clean-eating journey. You’ve got this, CRUSHers! Let me know your favoirte snack food in teh comments below!
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