DIY SNACKS

What makes a great snack?

Nutrition: Ideally a snack will have some protein, fiber and fat. Don’t worry too much about specific numbers (it’s snack time, not your taxes!), just remember to include the two Ps: Protein and produce.

Taste: As we said, it has to be delicious. If you’re not excited to eat your snack, you’re doing it wrong. ☺

SALTY

• 1 dill pickle wrapped with 1 piece of sliced organic turkey. (Super hungry? Have 2. Bonus points if the pickle is fermented, which makes it good for your gut; look in the refrigerated section of the supermarket for these. We love Bubbies)

• Seaweed snacks topped with 1/4 cup hummus or 1/4 avocado (we love Sea Snax because they’re made with olive oil)

• 2 pieces smoked salmon with ½ sliced cucumber, 2 Tbsp. Kite Hill dairy-free chive cream cheese

• Few slices of coconut jerky (we love Cocoburg)

• 6 jicama or celery sticks wrapped in 2 to 3 slices of ham or turkey, dipped in whole-grain mustard

• 3 celery sticks spread with 3 Tbsp. hummus and 3 chopped olives.

CRUNCHY

• 4 cups air-popped popcorn drizzled with 1 tsp. sesame oil and sprinkled with sesame seeds (On the go? These store-bought popcorn brands are our faves: Buddha Bowl, Skinny Pop, Quinn)

• 1 sliced bell pepper and/or 1 cup baby carrots dipped in 1/4 cup hummus

• Veggie chips (like Rhythm Superfoods beet chips or Brad's kale chips) with 1/4 cup guacamole, hummus or curried yogurt dip (mix 2 to 3 Tbsp. plain Greek yogurt with ¼ tsp. curry powder)

• 2 Wasa crackers with 1 tbsp. no-sugar-added nut butter and ¼ cup freeze-dried strawberries or raspberries

• 1 rice cake topped with 1 Tbsp. no-sugar-added peanut butter, 2 tsp. toasted unsweetened shredded coconut and a few dried cherries.

CREAMY

• 1 plain Siggi's or Fage 2% or whole-milk yogurt with 1 Tbsp. cacao nibs and 1 Tbsp. hemp seeds OR ½ cup chopped cucumber, ½ tsp. dried dill, 3 chopped olives and 2 tsp. olive oil

• Quick guacamole (mash 1/3 avocado with juice of a lemon half and a few pinches of sea salt) with endive spears for dipping

• ½ cup cottage cheese with ¼ cup raspberries or blueberries (bonus gut-health points if the cottage cheese is cultured, like Horizon or Good Culture)

• Banana “n’ice” cream: ½ frozen sliced banana, blended in a blender or food processor with 1 Tbsp. no-sugar added nut butter, 1 tsp. vanilla extract, ½ tsp. cinnamon and a pinch of sea salt

• 1/4 cup edamame dip (blend 1 cup shelled edamame, 2 Tbsp. EVOO, 1 Tbsp. lemon juice, 1/4 tsp. sea salt, dash of hot sauce, and 1 clove minced garlic in a blender or food processor; thin with warm water if needed) with veggies for dipping

SWEET

• Cacao and almond energy bites (blend 1 cup raw almonds, 2 cups pitted Medjool dates, 4 Tbsp. raw cacao powder, 2 ½ Tbsp. no-sugar-added nut butter, 2 Tbsp. coconut oil and a pinch of sea salt in a food processor; roll into balls and store in an airtight container in the freezer)

• Grapefruit brulee (drizzle ½ grapefruit with maple syrup, sprinkle with cinnamon and broil for 5 to 8 minutes) topped with ¼ cup shelled pistachios

• 2 pitted Medjool dates stuffed with 1 to 2 Tbsp. no-sugar-added nut butter or 2 Tbsp. soft goat cheese

• Coconut-cinnamon dip (mix ¼ cup Anita’s coconut yogurt with 1 Tbsp. no-sugar-added nut butter, 1 tsp. each honey and cinnamon and a pinch of sea salt) with 1 small sliced apple for dipping

• Simple green smoothie: Blend 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, 1 cup spinach, ½ frozen banana, 1/2 cup frozen blueberries, 1 Tbsp. chia seeds, and 1 scoop protein powder in a blender until smooth

Any fave snacks or snack tips you want to share? Write to us!