Quick Portable Snack Ideas

[Bridget Peral]

Witheveryone at home, we always look out for easy, quick snack ideas. This is one such idea recently hit me why I have not tried it so far. When I bought mini wraps for my cheesy potato quesadillas, I also got low carb wrap and made this for dinner.

Base / Wrap - You can use homemade tortillas as well as store bought, but the easiest is store bought. Many varieties are available, whole meal, low carb, quinoa, flax seeds, multi grain. The choice is yours.

Toppings - I used thinly sliced red onion, tomato, capsicum and zucchini. But whichever we top for regular pizza, you can also do the same for this as well. Love pineapple? go ahead. Make it more nutritious by adding olives, mushrooms etc.

3. Top it with the sliced vegetables. I like to add little more cheese on the top. Put the tray inside in the oven, middle rack and bake for 9 to 10 mins. The cheese should melt and bubble, turn golden here and there.

Oh sure, we had the best intentions. But, as the kids came home from school and the whirlwind of homework and afternoon activities began, we often found ourselves reaching for those convenient (and maybe not-so-healthy) snacks.

Our families fell in love with them. We stocked our freezers with healthy snack bags full of grab-and-go energy balls. They really even developed somewhat of a legendary, cult-following amongst our early readers.

I quickly figured out that I could simply throw some plastic wrap over whatever energy ball mixture was left, un-balled in my mixing bowl. I shove the bowl in the fridge, and finish shaping the balls a day or two later, whenever I have a couple more free moments.

Shaping the Energy Balls: Be sure that you are pressing these balls together FIRMLY (not lightly rolling the balls like cookie dough). If you're still having trouble, it could be that you're using a type of natural peanut butter that's stiffer/firmer than what we usually use (some brands are very thick) or that your coconut is quite dried out (I normally use Baker's brand, which I've noticed is moister than some others). Also, you'll have a lot more difficulty forming balls if you try to substitute regular-sized chocolate chips, instead of the minis we specify. Regardless, to correct for this issue, I recommend slightly decreasing some of the dry ingredients (such as the oats, flax, or wheat germ).

Storage and freezable make-ahead tips: If your peanut butter is one of the natural brands that needs to be refrigerated, then so do your Snack Bites. Actually, regardless of the peanut butter you use, these will keep much better in the refrigerator. They can even be frozen in air-tight bags for up to 3 months. When frozen, these energy balls will be thawed in about 20 minutes.

That's why we put together a bunch of our favorite easy-to-follow snack recipes. Looking for something to spice up that bag of tortilla chips? Try our classic guacamole recipe. Want some sweeter options? Maybe peanut butter cereal bites or chia seed pudding will hit the spot. Either way, we've got your taste buds covered!

This pumpkin seed, walnut, almond, and dried cranberry trail mix is easy to make and great to have on hand when you need a quick snack. It also packs nicely for outings, so you can be ready when a craving hits.

Make a batch of these no-bake 3-ingredient bars at the beginning of the week to have on hand whenever you need a quick bite. You can also swap in your favorite nut or seed butter and add any mix-ins your heart desires!

With salty feta, juicy tomatoes, savory pesto, and protein-rich chickpeas, this four-ingredient snack salad is an easy energy booster. Bonus: it stores well in the fridge so make a big batch to last all week.

It goes without saying but for the best-tasting guacamole, you'll want to use ripe tomatoes and avocados. Personally, I also like to use a little less red onion because I find that it easily overpowers the overall flavor.

One of our most popular snack recipes of all time are these rolled balls, which come together with just peanut butter, oatmeal, chocolate chips, and honey. It's basically your favorite oatmeal recipe, in bite-size form.

Seasoned with an enticing mix of spices, this chicken is the star of the dish. But if you're short on time, grab a rotisserie chicken and you'll still end up with delicious, cheesy roll-ups that make a great mid-afternoon snack.

If you agree that the crunchier a cookie, the better, then go ahead and make these cookies with crunchy peanut butter and a few chocolate chips, too. People will be hearing you bite into these next door.

You'll need an oven or a toaster oven for this one. Other than that, it's just a matter of opening a bag of frozen edamame, seasoning it, and throwing it all in the oven for 15 minutes, and you'll get the protein-packed snack of your dreams.

All you need is trail mix, oats, peanut butter, and honey to make one of the tastiest power snacks out there. You don't need an oven, and you can also make them into granola bars if that's more tempting to you.

These babies don't have any added sugar but are naturally sweetened by dates instead. The recipe calls for a food processor, but if you don't have one just use almond meal instead of whole almonds, chop your dates finely, and mix by hand instead.

Tahini and almond butter give this recipe an extra nutty flavor that perfectly complements the sweetness of the banana. And on top of it all, the whole thing is loaded with potassium. What more do you need?

What even is a Girl Dinner? It's basically a snack plate for nights when us girls just don't want to put together a full meal. Girl Dinners can have everything from popcorn to tinned fish to veggies, but it usually involves minimal prep and no cooking. Sounds like my type of meal!

I may be a recipe developer but some nights I just don't feel like cooking. Still, nourishing my body is important to me and snack plates have been a lifeline. Girl Dinner is something I've been unintentionally doing forever. Today I'm going to share my healthy snack plate ideas and a full recipe for a Mediterranean inspired Girl Dinner.

Note that these are just rough guidelines for a general population. You may or may not need different ratios of each group. Now let's dive into examples to include in your snack plates and Girl Dinners.

Eating fibre-rich carbs is something I like to prioritize because of fibre's roles in blood sugar balance, gut health and more. Most adults should aim to eat between 25-30g of fibre daily, so prioritizing fibre-rich carbs is a good starting place. You can read more about why fibre is important here.

Fruits and veggies provide fibre, water, and a ton of micronutrients that our body needs. Try aiming for as many different colors as possible- this ensures you're getting a variety of nutrients throughout the day!

Fats are a part of all our cell membranes and many of our hormones, so it is an essential part of our diet. Eating fat with our meals also helps to promote satiety by slowing digestion and increases satisfaction- simply because it makes our food taste better!

But what even is a healthy fat? Without digging into the chemistry, I am referring to high fat foods that have additional nutrition and health benefits. They are often (but not always!) from plant sources and are also called monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats. You may have heard of omega-3 fats, which plays roles in preventing inflammation and supporting brain health.

PS. I love seeing my recipes in action! If you decide to make any of these snack plate ideas for Girl Dinner, don't forget to snap a photo and tag me on Instagram- @nourishedbynic or leave a comment and rating below letting me know how you liked it!

I've been making snack plates since i was a kid. usually not so healthy but we didnt have a lot of money. just now, i didnt feel like cooking anything so i got 3 cocktail cherries (that was the dessert!), a handful of blueberries, two slices of ham, a slice of swiss cheese cut into fourths, and two pieces of toast topped with butter and garlic seasoning. not the healthiest, but a good way to fill up, and your not dirtying up the kitchen in the process.

To make them, combine a few tablespoons of almond butter with protein powder, coconut flakes, and some honey or maple syrup in a mixing bowl. If the mixture is too sticky, add a bit of coconut oil to help it firm up. Shape the mixture into balls and roll them in cocoa powder or crushed sunflower seeds for an extra flavor and texture. These protein-packed delights are ideal for fitness enthusiasts and anyone needing a quick energy lift.

These no-bake almond butter bars are a great bake-free snack option. Start by mixing almond butter with refined sugar-free sweeteners like maple syrup, then add in some quick oats and flaxseed meal. Press the mixture onto a baking sheet, top with a layer of dark chocolate chips, and refrigerate until firm. Cut into bars and store in an airtight container for a ready-to-eat treat anytime.

For a crunchy and satisfying snack, try almond butter rice cake sandwiches. Spread a generous layer of almond butter between two rice cakes and add a dash of cinnamon or a few apple slices for a touch of sweetness. This snack is easy to assemble and provides a good mix of carbohydrates and proteins, making it a great snack for mid-day hunger pangs.

On the taste front, almond butter has a more subtle, somewhat sweet, and less salty flavor than peanut butter, which tends to be richer and more robust. This makes almond butter a versatile choice in recipes where a milder, nuttier flavor is desired without overwhelming other ingredients.

Each type of nut butter brings its own set of flavors and benefits to the table, making them great additions to a healthy diet. Whether used in baking, as a spread, or in smoothies, exploring different nut butters can add variety and nutritional value to your meals and snacks.

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