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16 Healthy Snack Ideas That Are Actually Delicious, So Here's to Starting the New Year Off Right
Even though we all roll our eyes at people who make cliche New Year's resolutions like, "I want to eat healthier this year," or "I want to get in better shape," let's admit it: we all think something along those lines too. There's just something about a new year that makes us want to ditch the sugary foods and start picking at superfoods and healthy snacks.
If you plan on being on that healthy grind this January, don't freak out: there are still great snack options that are good for you and taste good. Some snacks can be delicious and diet-friendly — it's not a myth!
Now, keep in mind that these recipes will take a little bit more time to put together than just opening a bag of chips and calling it a day. Hey, I never said these were going to be easy and quick — I just said they were going to be good for you. I can promise you that the extra effort will be worth it. If you spend one day prepping some of these snacks for the week ahead, your body will thank you. Here are 16 healthy snack ideas that won't make you hate your life this month.
Sweet and Spicy Roasted Chickpeas
Roasted chickpeas are AHHH-AMAZING. All caps necessary, for real. They are the best and I don’t know why we all haven’t been eating them since forever (maybe you have and I just caught on, I don’t know). They could not be easier to make, they taste great, and they’re filling — they make a perfect snack. Roast a whole batch of these one day, and then divvy them up as snacks for the week. Don’t overdo it, because too many chickpeas in one serving can be too many calories. This sweet and spicy recipe is great, but you can do anything with these, like add cinnamon sugar, or just salt and pepper.
Recipe and Photo: BackToHerRoots.com
Spicy Kale Chips
Kale chips are one of those things that sound gross, but really aren’t when they’re made the right way. I mean, they definitely aren’t a substitute for potato chips, but they’re pretty good, and they’re very filling. This is a super healthy snack, and the spicy kick makes them a little more exciting.
Recipe and Photo: ABetterHappierStSebastian
Rainbow Fruit Skewers with Vanilla Honey Dip
Mixing Greek yogurt with honey and cinnamon makes such a delicious dip that you’ll almost forget you’re eating something healthy. Put your favorite fruit on skewers, and you’ve got a great, super simple snack. I mean, you don’t even need to get fancy with the skewers — just dip some fruit in your yogurt and you’re good to go.
Recipe and Photo: TheComfortOfCooking.com
Cashew Chocolate Chip Cookie Larabars
Larabars and other similar options seem really healthy, but most of them contain a ton of sugar and hidden calories. Making your own is really the way to go if you want to eat as clean as possible. These use dates instead of sugar. I wouldn’t eat a ton of these at a time — probably just one is fine — but they make for a quick, sweet snack that can be substituted for dessert.
Recipe and Photo: FoodDoodles.com
Chocolate Banana Pops
Bananas make a great healthy snack because they’re sweet enough on their own — you really don’t need to add anything. But if you need a little bit of chocolate, dip half of a piece of banana into melted dark chocolate to create these cute little pops. You can also freeze these to make sure they last you a few days.
Recipe and Photo: DomesticFits.com
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites
Even when you’re eating super healthy, you sometimes need something like a cookie — that’s where these come in. These aren’t actually chocolate chip cookies, but they will taste pretty similar to the dough. If you really want to be good, use natural peanut butter instead. It should only contain peanuts and is much better for you than the sugary kind.
Recipe and Photo: ArisMenu.com
Oven Baked Potato Chips
Do you ever just REALLY crave potato chips? Because I do. Skip the greasy bag from the food store and make your own with potatoes and your choice of seasoning. You can do herbs, red pepper, salt and pepper, or even nutritional yeast. Save these to munch on throughout the week.
Recipe and Source: FoRealsLife
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
Hummus makes a really awesome snack because it truly is delicious and it’s very filling. Instead of buying the store-brought hummus — which can be filled with hidden calories, sugar, and other shady ingredients — make your own. It’s so much easier than it seems. Adding red pepper is a delicious option. Eat a little bit of this with celery sticks or carrots instead of pita chips.
Recipe and Photo: ASpicyPerspective.com
Healthy Vegan Fudge Pops
Does it sound weird to mix sweet potatoes with cocoa powder and cinnamon and then freeze them into ice pops? Sure. Will it taste good and help satisfy your craving for chocolate? Yes. Just try it out. Sometimes the strangest recipes end up being the best.
Recipe and Photo: FoRealsLife.com
Jicama Lime Sticks
If you’ve never had jicama, you’re missing out. It’s a vegetable that almost looks like a weird onion, but when you cut it up, it definitely doesn’t taste like that. Jicama is sweet and crunchy, and goes perfectly in salads… but it also makes a great snack. Add some lime and some red pepper, and you’ve got a perfect and super simple snack.
Recipe and Photo: APrettyLifeInTheSuburbs.com
Baba Ganoush
If you’re looking for a dip that’s different from hummus or guacamole, this is a great choice. It’s basically just eggplant with a little bit of lemon and sesame seeds. You can make a whole big batch of this and save it for a few days. Dip other vegetables into it, like carrots, or you can toast some whole wheat pitas.
Recipe and Photo: FoRealsLife.com
Roasted Butternut Squash Fries
Take advantage of butternut squash being in season by making these easy “fries.” Roasting vegetables is probably the best way to make vegetables — they’ll come out crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. This is a delicious and healthy snack on its own, but if you want to make the aioli, you can do that too.
Recipe and Photo: BareRootGirl.com
Chocolate Covered Banana Split Bites
How cute are these? You can make a bunch of them at once and keep them frozen for a few days. This is a perfect way to curb your sweet tooth.
Recipe and Photo: FoodDoodles.com
Baked Apple Chips
These are easy to make, and you can make so many of them at once — just make sure you store them properly so they don’t get stale or weird. This is another snack that will help with your sweet tooth, and they’re so good that you can almost pretend they’re chips. Almost.
Recipe and Photo: FoodFanatic.com
Rise and Shine Smoothie
You don’t always need to eat your snack — you can drink it too. This easy smoothie combines almond milk with dates and bananas for sweetness, almond butter, and hemp seeds. It’s filling and really great for snacking on the go.
Recipe and Photo: BloggingOverThyme.com
Banana "Ice Cream"
If you want ice cream, here’s what you have to do — freeze a banana, then mix it with peanut butter. Seriously, that’s it. This sounds so boring, but it is SO good. It’s so much better than you would think it would be. I use natural peanut butter to cut down on the sugar, and I sometimes add cocoa powder so that it becomes chocolate banana ice cream. Perfection.
Recipe and Photo: FoodFanatic.com
