Even though there’s no shortage of healthy snack options out there, I tend to fall into the same snack ruts. My go-tos? A banana with peanut butter, a cup of fruity Greek yogurt, or an apple when I’m on-the-go. While all of those are great options, I’ve been getting a little more creative with my snacking recently, so I had to share.
My current favorite is plain Greek yogurt sweetened with a little honey and topped with banana slices and raw oats. Since plain Greek yogurt has a lot less sugar than the fruit-on-the-bottom kind and it’s usually a lot cheaper to buy big tubs of plain Greek yogurt than the individual cups, it’s a win-win. I’ve been loving the addition of raw oats to my yogurt bowls since they add some crunch and texture. It may also have something to do with the fact that I can’t be trusted around granola…and as much as I love thinking of storebought granola as being healthy, it actually has a lot of oil and added sugar in it, unfortunately. Taste-wise, I actually prefer the raw oats!
I’ve also been enjoying apple slices with almond butter. There’s something about taking the time to slice up an apple and dip it that makes it feel like a much more substantial snack. And Trader Joe’s Salted Almond Butter is amazing.
I’ve also been roasting a big pan of sweet potato rounds with salt, pepper, and garlic powder during the weekend to snack on throughout the week. I haven’t quite gotten the perfect crispiness yet, but I’ll share the cooking method when I do!
I’ve also started cutting up a pineapple to have in my dorm fridge. I used to avoid buying pineapples since I have to cut them up, but it doesn’t take long, and it’s one of my favorite fruits to have around. A tip I learned for telling if it’s ripe is to try to pull one of the green stems out of the pineapple’s top. If it comes out easily, the pineapple’s ripe. You can also sniff the pineapple and if it smells a little bit sweet, then it’s ready.
And for an easy, no-prep snack to have on-the-go, I’ve been loving Apple Pie Larbars. These have 6 ingredients– raisins, almonds, unsweetened apples, walnuts, cinnamon, and dates– and that’s it! Since most granola bars on the shelves beside them are filled with 20 or 30 ingredients, many of which are unrecognizable, I love that Larbars are simple and made out of ingredients that someone without a degree in food science can understand. And if you’re up for it, you can try making them yourself!
I totally agree about cutting up an apple! It makes it feel more special and substantial than just biting into it. Lately, I’ve been loving baby bell peppers dipped in/stuffed with Laughing Cow cheese, Blue Diamond Salted Caramel almonds, and plain Greek yogurt mixed with Cinnamon Chex and blueberries, among other things – I love snacks!
Salted caramel almonds sound amazing! Possibly too addicting 😉 I tried Trader Joe’s dark chocolate sea salt almonds recently and they were almost too good.
Yogurt is probably one of my favs. I also can’t be trusted with granola or cereal so cut up fruit and some crunch from hemp seeds is my go to.
I actually have a packet of hemp seeds in my dorm room right now! I have no clue how I got them and I had no idea what to do with them haha! I’ll have to try them on my yogurt.
I’m hungry again and I just finished breakfast 🙂 I have fruit or crackers with nut butter every day. I also have KIND bars pretty often.
KIND Bars and Larabars are my favorite since they both have good ingredient lists! And I guess as a KIND ambassador, you probably always have lots of bars on hand? 🙂
I’ve never thought of putting raw oats in yogurt! That sounds really good and I’m going to definitely have to try that! Also, I’m looking forward to your sweet potato round recipe!
I’ve done the raw oats a few times now and I’ve been surprised each time by how much I like them!
I want the sweet potatoes to be crispy on the outside and soft on the inside but I haven’t quite perfected them yet 🙂
I love all these options! I’m also addicted to natural peanut butter on rice cakes (caramel adds an extra layer of taste). If I’m heading to the gym, I’ll have this with banana slices on top… like a little kid!
I sweeten up plain Greek yogurt with a little bit of protein powder, for some extra nutrients and flavor without needing sugars or anything. I love snacks!
I actually used to eat rice cakes with peanut butter all the time but totally forgot about them! And a layer of caramel on top sounds amazing. Thanks for the idea, Ashleigh!
Roasted sweet potato is my favorite! I keep roasting them and telling myself I’ll save half the pan for later, but I always end up eating the whole thing at once. Sooo good!
They’re kind of addicting! I don’t always love the mushiness of baked sweet potatoes, but I love when they’re crispy and roasted 🙂
I really need to try putting raw oats in my yogurt! I’ve seen that other people do it, but I’ve yet to try it. I can’t do plain greek yogurt if it doesn’t have some added texture like that, I think its because I substitute it for sour cream sometimes, so I feel like I’m just eating a bowl of it if I don’t add stuff haha. I love pistachios and craisins together for a snack 🙂
I’m glad that you’ve seen other people eat raw oats– my roommate thinks it’s pretty strange haha. Oh gross, eating a bowl of sour cream sounds terrible so I completely understand needing to add some texture. I always have to mix berries or bananas into mine. And pistachios and craisins sound like a great snack combo!
MMMM ROASTEDDDDD VEGGIES! I do that with butternut squash, SO FLIPPING AMAZING 🙂 In fact I am going to do this later today! 🙂
I haven’t tried butternut squash yet! Mmm, enjoy your roasted veggies later today 🙂
Love all of these! Larabars are my favorite EVER especially because they’re one of the only bars on the market that’s paleo! Apples with almond butter are another favorite. Sometimes instead of almond butter I’ll do sunflower seed butter, and if i’m feeling really fancy I’ll grab some unsweetened coconut flakes and dip they apples in that too. 😉
Oh awesome! I’m not Paleo so I didn’t even think about Larabars being Paleo. I’ve never tried sunflower seed butter, but dipping apple slices into nut butter and then coconut flakes sounds so good!
These are all some of my favorites! Especially the sweet potato! 🙂
Love sweet potatoes! Especially roasted 🙂
I love all of your ideas! They happen to be my go-to snacks. 🙂 Tina from Carrots N Cake bakes her sweet potatoes in wedges and then dips them in nut butter. May or may not be something you would totally love…haha!
Haha I would never think to dip sweet potatoes in nut butter! I can’t decide if that sounds good or not. Have you tried it?? I’ll have to check out Tina’s cooking method!
I am all about the sweet potato lately! I can’t wait to see your recipe. And I’m trying to cut back on my sugar intake from unnatural sources, so Larabars and my jam lately.
I’ve been trying to watch how much added sugar/processed foods I’ve been eating, too, so Larabars really have been perfect! I’m working on a homemade version 🙂
I like Larabars too because they are so tasty! I even started making them and now have easy cookie recipes with three ingredients. It’s so much cheaper! My go-to snack is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. That is still the most satisfying thing I could ever eat 🙂
Is the recipe on your blog?! I actually have homemade Larabars on my list of recipes to try out and experiment with 🙂
WOW your sweet potato slices are so nicely cut! Please tell me your secret because I really struggle with cutting up sweet potatoes!
Haha! They are a little tough to cut, but having a sharp knife helps. I just cut the sweet potatoes in half long-wise and then placed the two halves flat-side down and made even cuts to create halved “coins.” Hopefully that makes sense!
Raw oats in yogurt sounds awesome – ill have to steal that one!
Definitely steal the idea! You’ll have to let me know what you think 🙂
I am loving banana, yoghurt and peanut butter at the moment too. I also like boiled eggs. It’s simple, but I like them 🙂
Boiled eggs are such a great source of protein! I like the whites of hardboiled eggs, but not the yolks for some reason, so I never end up eating them unfortunately.
Those sweet potatoes look amazing! And I didn’t know about sniffing the pineapple haha I’ll have to try that.
It’s strange but it totally works!
Mmm now I’m totally craving pineapple!! My I’ve been loving both apple chips and dried figs dipped in peanut butter. Frozen bananas are still up there, and cottage cheese with frozen blueberries and peach slices is one of my go-to’s also!
Anything dipped in peanut butter has to be good 🙂 I don’t think I’ve tried dried figs, but they sound really good. I’ll have to check the bulk bins the next time I’m at the store to try a few 🙂
These are all great snacks! I’m a HUGE fan of anything Greek yogurt, but I still have never added oats before. Maybe that’s breakfast today…
I make baked sweet potato chips and also love almond butter or pb2 with apples, bananas, or a toasted English muffin.
Thanks for the ideas!
http://www.playingforeats.com | Carly
Mmm, love toasted English muffins! Especially with some PB or jelly on top 🙂
I never think of having sweet potatoes as a snack, I always just eat them as a part of lunch or dinner. KIND bars and Luna Bars have been my savior lately. They are my go-to afternoon snack. Ohhh and i love almonds a lot too (I cant be trusted around trail mix).
Love KIND bars, too! And I can’t be trusted around trail mix either. I’ve been craving raw almonds recently, so I’m going to have to pick some up this weekend 🙂
Great post! I love a lot of the same snacks that you listed as well:)
Thanks, Ashley! So glad you stopped by 🙂
These all look like delicious snacks! 🙂 I love Larabars – my favorite flavor is the cookie dough.
I havne’t tried the cookie dough! For some weird reason, I like the fruity Larabars better than the chocolate-y ones, even though I LOVE chocolate. Weird, huh?
I fall into snack ruts as well. One thing I’ve noticed that usually takes me out of a rut recently is when I have a short vacation away for a bit (even if it’s for a weekend) and my meals and snacks get really switched up from my normal routine. For savory snacks I enjoy rice cakes with some laughing cow cheese spread on top! And for sweet snacks, I’ve taken a great liking to taking about 2 Tbsp. of jelly and putting it into a small bowl with about 2 Tbsp. of chopped up cheese cubes and a handful of granola.
I can’t be trusted with granola either. You can never have just one serving!!
Yay for sweet potato wedges and prepped pineapple!
Granola is so addictive. Also, one serving is 1/4 cup– that’s basically impossible to stick to!
Serves like an energy boster for students especially.
Love this post.
Those sweet potato rounds look AMAZING! Personally, I’ve been loving all different kinds of popcorns and trail mixes. I also like fruit leathers and eating dried fruit when I’m looking for a bit of a sweeter option. 🙂
Thanks, Abigail!! Love dried fruit for a sweeter option, too, especially dried figs!