When your stomach is rumbling, it’s even more important to have healthy snacks ready, whether you’re at work or the office, on a road trip, or just spending time at home some leisure time. A nutritious morning or afternoon snack can give you the fuel you need to stay focused before your meal. In addition to that, tasty snacks can give your mind and senses a short break, and they can give you the little joy you need to get through the toughest of work moments.
So, what should you be looking for in a really great snack? Abbey Sharp, RD, a registered dietitian in Toronto, previously told SELF that, in general, an energizing and sustaining snack will have some nutritional staying power in the form of protein, fat, and/or fiber. While sometimes all you want is a little, Phoenix-based nutritionist Rhyan Geiger tells SELF that including at least two different food groups (starch, fat, protein, or fruit/vegetables) results in a richer snack. “Protein with carbs or fat and protein can help you feel fuller longer,” she explains.
This list is full of easy and healthy snack ideas, including some of RD’s personal favorites and a bunch of our selves s Choice. There are some general recommendations for snacks worth buying as well as specific healthy snacks, as well as some homemade snack ideas you can prepare in batches if you want. Basically, it’s all there, so you can find snacks to suit your tastes, dietary needs and budget – even road trip snacks for your summer travels!
Choose two (or three!) from this list for a richer combo snack , and mix it up so you get a variety of nutrients, flavors and textures—protein and carb, salty and sweet, creamy and crunchy—to keep your snacking game fresh. Keep them within reach of your home (or office) workspace or kitchen as an excuse to stand up and stretch your legs for a minute.
A brief note on the word healthy before we start snacking: We know that health is a complex concept. Not only does it mean different things to different people, but the term is very rich (and sometimes worrisome) due to the influence of the diet industry on how we think about food. At SELF, when we talk about healthy food, of course, we’re talking about food that is nutritious, filling and satisfying. But we’re also talking about helping you connect with your culture, promote joy, and simply taste delicious food. Some of these foods may fall under the traditional notion of “healthy”. Some may not. We chose these options with all of this in mind, while also trying to appeal to a wide variety of nutritional needs and taste buds.
