You are what you eat, right? Green leafy vegetables, whole grains, lean protein. By now, we’ve been brow beaten enough to know what makes up healthy meals. However, for me, the biggest challenge isn’t pulling together a healthy meal, it’s snack time.
I eat all day. Literally. The key to maintaining healthy blood sugar levels and curbing the desire for unhealthy snacks, it’s important to ‘nosh’ periodically throughout the day. It also helps keep your energy level even, so you don’t crash after eating lunch.
So, what are some healthy snacks? I’m not a nutritionist, but I pay very close attention to nutrient content and glycemic load. So, I eat a LOT of of nuts, seeds, peanut butter and almond butter. I also make sure I pair my foods specifically so my blood sugar doesn’t spike and fall.
For example, if I am going to eat a vanilla greek yogurt, I make sure to add some berries and almonds, pecans or sunflower seeds.
If I’m really craving something ‘carb-y’ I always make sure I eat at least half an avocado. Avocados are really the perfect food. One avocado has 30 grams of fat (primarily monounsaturated or ‘good’ fat); 14 grams of fiber; 4 grams of protein; and tons of vitamins.
So, what’s in my proverbial snack drawer this week? Here you go:
- Dried green beans
- Whole grain pita chips
- Hummus (in the fridge actually)
- Dried peas
- Cocoa Somersaults
- Peanut butter with flax seed
- Almond butter
- Sunflower seeds
- Pecans
- Pistachios
- Greek yogurt
- Apricots
- Blueberries
- Gluten free granola
I also make sure I switch up my supplementary snacks to vary my nutrients. And, I’m always looking for more ideas.
This has been your random snack-filled blog post for the day.
So, what’s in your snack drawer?
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A Charmed Yogi 
Nice list. I find snacking the hardest part of eating healthily as well. I stay away from peanuts, but most of the items on your list are my snack foods.
Never heard of dried green beans. You dry them yourself?
Thanks, Dan. I actually get the dried green beans from Whole Foods along with most everything else.
I also just signed up for NatureBox which delivers healthy snacks to your door each month.
Those dried green beans from WFM have sugar in them, so I don’t buy them. I wish they made without sugar.
I cannot believe I didn’t read this post about 30 minutes earlier when I was racking my brain for a healthy snack idea. Because I lack creativity when it comes to cooking/snacking, I stick to a lot of “chips,” kale chips, seaweed chips, collard green chips, basically anything I can throw in the oven and give it some crisp, those everything bagel chips from Trader Joe’s and my new absolute favorite (though it wouldn’t go in a drawer), nori rolls with umeboshi (spelling?) paste…heavenly. Thanks for the ideas.
You’re welcome!
Would love your ‘collard green chips’ recipe
I would think you could use any of the kale chip recipes with torn up collards (remove central vein first).
Great snack drawer! Nuts and nut butter galore. They are the perfect companion to Greek yogurt and various fruit friends. : )
My snack box contains natural organic almond butter and/or cashew butter, homemade hummus with organic blue corn chips, and my homemade organic chocolate bars with cacao, cashew butter, raw shredded coconut, ground flaxseed, and chopped pecans or almonds.
Oops… almost forgot, my homemade sugar-free and oil free granola (breakfast and sometimes snack food).