You’re probably like many people who are so used to instant food. With everyone always on the go these days, it’s hard to blame them for not wanting to prep food in the kitchen. The popularity of processed foods has overshadowed the health benefits provided by non-processed foods. Since everyone is in dire need for speed, they choose easy to prepare yet unhealthy foods.
In a world where easy access snacks are the go-to options for busy people, many forget that snacking on nutritious food is so much better. Healthy, non-processed foods (which means they don’t come from a box or a bag), will provide you with stable energy levels, so you remain fueled up for the whole day.
It’s time to stock your pantry, handbag, or desk with unprocessed snacks to eliminate sodium, refined sugar, and other unneeded chemicals. Here are 41 options to consider:
1. Salad – Wash some of your favorite vegetables and put them together. Salads are very easy to make since you control every ingredient. You can add protein and salad dressing when it’s time to snack on them.
2. Green Apple Salad
Ingredients:
- Green apple (chopped)
- Walnuts
- Red grapes
Dressing:
- Lemon juice
- Cinnamon
- Honey
3. Mexican Black Bean Salad
Ingredients:
- Black beans (1 cup)
- Tomatoes, diced (1/2 cup)
- Bell peppers, chopped (1/2 cup)
- Fresh cilantro
- Lemon juice
You can add a can of organic beans or black beans, cooked of course, to make this salad.
4. Greek Salad
Ingredients:
- Cucumber, chopped
- Peppers
- Feta cheese
- Vinaigrette
- Cherry tomatoes
5. Fruit Salad – Combine your favorite fruits and top the salad with nuts and yogurt (honey-sweetened). This will give it more protein.
6. Fresh Fruits – There are plenty of selections here. You can choose from apples, oranges, bananas, strawberries – anything you can find.
7. Dried Fruit – Choose from raisins, dried apple slices, and dried berries for your snack.
8. Latte
Make a latte with this homemade creamer:
- Use organic milk or as an alternative, use rice milk, almond milk, or soy milk.
- Use non-genetically modified organism (GMO) sugars, such as the less processed ones including Turbinado, Muscovado, and Sucanat.
- You can also use stevia, which has very low calories.
- Raw honey is also a good choice.
- Stir equal amounts of milk and sugar, approximate 1.5 cups.
- If you don’t want to have too much creamer, just add a small amount of the ingredients above.
9. Banana Nut Cookies
Here’s how to make banana nut cookies for busy people:
- Have two overripe bananas.
- Mash them well.
- Add one cup of steel-cut oats.
- Add half a cup of chopped walnuts. You can also use pecans as an alternative.
- Bake the ingredients for 15 minutes in your oven at 350°.
10. Homemade Granola Cookies – Granola cookies are really healthy. Plus, they are easy to make as long as you know the right proportions.
11. Gazpacho
Here are the ingredients for homemade gazpacho:
- Tomatoes, pureed
- Peppers
- Jalapenos
- Onions
- More seasonal veggies
Serve the gazpacho cold.
12. Frozen Grapes – Freeze some grapes and snack on them whenever you’re hungry.
13. Frozen Yogurt Berries – Make some homemade vanilla yogurt and toss some berries in it. Freeze for at least two hours and enjoy.
14. Yogurt Parfait – Make a healthy yogurt and put some granola bars and fruits.
15. Apple with Peanut Butter – Just add peanut butter to the healthy apples you have at home.
16. Medjool Dates and Almonds – Snack on medjool dates and almonds to gain extra energy to keep you fueled all day.
17. Tzatziki – This is a dip that originated from Greece where garlic and yogurt are the star ingredients. It becomes a satisfying snack when paired with veggies or some crackers.
18. Mixed Savory Snack
Combine the following:
- Nuts
- Popcorn
- Parmesan cheese
- Spices
19. Trail Mix – Combine dried fruit, seeds, nuts, and real dark chocolate chips.
20. Guacamole – Often found in burritos and tacos, guacamole is good for you. It has plenty of nutrients, including fiber and potassium. Plus, it’s really easy to prepare. You just need mashed avocado, along with the following ingredients:
- Lemon juice (1 tablespoon)
- Half white onion, minced
- Salt and pepper
- Two Serrano peppers, diced
- 1 Roma tomato, diced
You can also add chopped cilantro if you want.
21. Applesauce – This no-cook snack can be extra crispy with some homemade granola. Add vanilla yogurt for more flavor and protein.
22. Hummus – Take your pick on what to serve with this dip: homemade crackers, tortillas, or veggie sticks.
23. Fruitsicles – If you have any overripe fruits, just freeze them in a popsicle and you have homemade fruitsicles.
24. Ants on a Log – Stuff celery sticks with natural peanut butter. Top the sticks with raisins.
25. Homemade Dill Pickles
Ingredients:
- Cucumbers
- Coriander seeds (1/2 teaspoon)
- Mustard seeds (1/4 teaspoon)
- Red pepper flakes (1/8 teaspoon)
- Whole peppercorns (1/4 teaspoon)
- Two cloves of garlic
- Two cups of water
- Two sprigs of dill
- One tablespoon of sea salt
You can also add some fresh grapes, oak, blackberry, raspberry, or cherry leaves if you want.
26. Homemade Canned Food – If you crave for fast food, here is a good alternative. Pressure can chili, spaghetti sauce, and soup for a healthy and delicious quick meal.
27. Homemade Cottage Cheese – This is quite easy to make and only needs three ingredients:
- Organic milk
- Salt
- White vinegar
Top the cheese with some fresh fruits.
28. Cheese – When you buy cheese, make sure you choose one that is healthy. It should be free from artificial colors and additives. Read the label carefully.
29. Couscous – Making couscous is really easy and quick. Just boil water or broth and let it cool for five minutes. Make sure it is covered until you’re ready to eat this grain. You can also add some steamed vegetables or lean protein if you want to make it a full meal.
30. Waffles – Whether you prefer waffles or pancakes, snack on them for more energy. Don’t forget to top with fruits to get additional nutrients.
31. Edamame – Edamame or boiled green soybeans are very beneficial to your health. It’s packed with fiber and has many vitamins, including vitamin C and A.
32. Veggies – You have plenty of choices for vegetables you can eat raw, including:
- Sugar snap peas
- Radishes
- Carrots
- Celery
- Cucumbers
- Cherry tomatoes
- Peppers
33. Steamed Veggies – Steam your favorite vegetables and put some cheese on top. You can also use hard-boiled eggs instead.
34. Popcorn – Make your own popcorn for a quick snack.
35. Chocolate Milk
This is very easy to make with only the following ingredients:
- Milk (3 cups)
- Cocoa powder (2 tablespoons)
- Powder sugar (2 tablespoons)
- Vanilla (1/2 teaspoon)
Just blend the ingredients above and you have your chocolate milk. Use organic milk for best results.
36. Smoothies
Blend the following:
- Veggies
- Fruits
- Yogurt
- Milk
- Honey
- Pure vanilla
Freezing fruits can give the smoothie a richer, thicker result.
37. Haystack Cookies
Here are the ingredients for haystack cookies that do not need some baking:
- Sugar (3/4 cup)
- Cocoa (five teaspoons)
- Milk (3/4 cup)
- Natural peanut butter (one cup)
- Vanilla extract (one tablespoon)
- Oatmeal (three cups)
- Chocolate powder or vanilla powder (two scoops)
38. Eggs – Probably one of the easiest foods to prepare, an egg can be your meal or snack. Boil it, poach, fry, or scramble – it doesn’t matter. Eggs are fast and easy to prepare and they are packed with protein. You can also add them to your other snacks.
39. Nuts – Snack on nuts. No need for other complicated ways to prepare them.
40. Pumpkin Seeds – Grab a handful of pumpkin seeds for your snack today.
41. Leftovers – If you’re out of ideas and you want a really quick meal, just go to your refrigerator and find leftovers from yesterday’s lunch and snack or last night’s dinner.
These 41 options are so easy to prepare that you can make them even when you only have 10 minutes left for other tasks. A great bonus is that they offer health benefits you simply can’t ignore.