Five Tips for Healthy Grab and Go Snacks

The fall months bring cooler weather and busy schedules. Between school drop-off, end-of-year work projects, fall sports, and the general hustle and bustle of life, it can be easy to let health and wellness fall by the wayside. During busy seasons like these, people often find themselves grazing on convenient snacks as they run out the door. Lunch boxes get filled with simple grab-and-go options, anything to fill the stomach. The bad news is that many of these convenient snacks tend to leave everyone feeling unsatisfied and hungry in an hour. The good news is that with a few simple adjustments, convenient snacks can support health while fitting into a busy schedule. Here are five ways to keep healthy snacking quick and convenient:

1. Use the base + protein approach for snacks

When it comes to snacking, people opt for convenient options that are high in carbohydrates and nothing else. These snacks digest quickly and can make us feel hungry again in an hour. By pairing these higher carbohydrate snacks, deemed a “base,” with a higher protein snack as well, you balance out the macronutrients and build a snack that will keep you fuller for longer. Add some peanut butter to Natural Delights Medjool dates, a cheese stick to your crackers, or some hummus to your sliced vegetables for a few balanced ideas!

2. Keep it simple

Building up nutritious snacks does not need to be complicated and should not take hours. Start with simple options that you know you like and incorporate those consistently. In the name of saving time, cut corners by choosing pre-cut, pre-packaged, or pre-prepared snacks that are easy to throw in a lunch box, cooler, or purse. Focus on building up a snack prep habit before you focus on incorporating any elaborately prepared snacks.

3. Plan and prep ahead of time

Planning and preparing balanced snacks is just as important as planning and preparing balanced meals. Pick three base and protein pairings to purchase on your next grocery run and keep them in a place where you can see them! Take it one step further and pack yourself a little on-the-go snack box with your snacks for the day. This way, your balanced snacks are ready to go when you are.

4. Choose shelf-stable options

When your life feels like it's lived out of a purse, a car, or a duffel bag, it’s important to find snacks that can go where you go. Think about this: where do you spend most of your time? Where do your kids spend most of their time? Now, choose snacks that can go there too. Some shelf-stable ideas include trail mix, fresh fruit, beef jerky, shelf-stable fruits such as Natural Delights Medjool dates or Mini Medjools, and roasted chickpeas! 

5. Purchase individually packaged foods

While the price tag may be slightly higher, individually packaged snacks fit perfectly into our “grab and go” mornings. Base ideas include pre-sliced apples, individual carrot sticks, Natural Delights Mini Medjool Snack Packs, and more. Individually packaged protein ideas include hummus or peanut butter cups, nuts, beef jerky, or a cheese stick. Individually packed options are perfectly portioned and great to toss into any bag or lunch box. 

Implement these five simple steps to start building up balanced snacks for the whole family today!

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Lauren is the founder of Lauren Twigge Nutrition and has always loved to work with people one-on-one with their nutrition. She believes that everyone's body and everyone's relationship with food is unique and therefore, so should be her recommendations. Lauren strives to make realistic suggestions for real people so that you can experience long-term success without sacrificing joy!