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101 Fresh, whole-food healthy snacks!

January 12, 2014 by Jennifer Silverberg 4 Comments

101 Fast/Healthy/Fabulous Snack Ideas

For many busy people (including me), the most dangerous time for lapsing into a bad habit (junk food) is when hunger strikes at an inconvenient moment. And the most dangerous of all could be pseudo-healthy packaged foods (non-fat chemical pudding bars, “diet” desserts, etc.)

Keep these healthy snacks on hand for when that happens, and you’ll be ready to power through even the busiest days!

 

1. Spicy Black Beans add 1 tbsp salsa to 1/4 cup black beans; top with greek yogurt for a creamy kick

2. Raw veggies and Hummus (with red/green pepper strips is easy and delicious)

3. Jicama sticks sprinkle with lime juice and dip in chili powder – crunchy and delicious!

4. Avocado cut in half, remove pit, sprinkle with lime, salt and olive oil and eat (I could live on this)

5. Plain Yogurt or Kefir topped with nuts and/or fruit

6. Use Cucumber slices as Crackers Spread them with hummus, super-thin cheese slices, or olive tapenade

7. Apple dipped in Nut butter Almond, sunflower, peanut, etc.

8. Fruit “pie” Take whatever fruits you have in the freezer and pop them into a microwave-safe container. Microwave until bubbling, add complementary spices (vanilla, cinnamon, etc.), sprinkle with some chopped nuts. Instant happy!

9. Applesauce sprinkled with fresh cinnamon

10. Banana, kale, and almond milk smoothie

11. Almonds Raw, unsalted, organic

12. Carrot-Mango Smoothie Two Carrots, 1 cup frozen mango, 2 tbsp lime juice, and about a cup of water. Blend until smooth and thank me later -)

13. Homemade Frozen Pops blend real fruit (strawberries, mango, banana, watermelon – or a mix of whatever you have!) and freeze as-is, no need to add anything at all, particularly sugar!

14. Coconut-Chia “Pudding” Few tbsp Chia in Coconut Water or Coconut Milk, wait 10 minutes, then eat or store in fridge

15. Quick Quesadilla Whole wheat (or corn) tortillas with any leftover veggies inside (keep pickled jalapeños on hand for this) – throw in cheese, or not, and microwave until warm

16. Hard Boiled Egg cut in half, add salt/pepper, and enjoy

17. Sunflower Seeds

18. Cottage Cheese add your favorite fruits and nuts

19. Trail Mix – make your own! Mix dried fruit, sunflower seeds, chopped nuts, granola, whole-grain cereal, etc.

20. Raisins

21. Lemony Avocado With Endive Dippers ⅓ chopped avocado + 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Scoop with endive leaves.

22. Rice or Quinoa Cakes Spread with Nut Butter

23. Asian pear slices

24. Dried Fruits

25. Mixed fruit salad Cut up whatever you have, and toss with one tablespoon fresh-squeezed orange juice.

26.Air-popped non-GMO popcorn

27. Inside-out mango Cut crosshatches into a (pitted) mango half, and sprinkle with lime juice and cayenne pepper. Turn inside out and eat! (yes, this is messy but worth it)

28.Clementines

29. Sweet Potato Fries one small sweet potato sliced in thin sticks, tossed with 1 teaspoon olive oil, and baked at 400° (or hotter if your oven allows) for 10 minutes

30. Handful of olives

31. Veggie wrap Wrap a lettuce leaf around an organic pickle spear, and any veggies you have on hand (peppers, carrots, etc.), add mustard or hummus if you like

32. Blueberries

33. Ants on a Log Spread sunflower seed butter on celery and top with raisins

34. Steamed Veggies Delicious as-is, with a splash of olive oil, garlic, lemon, etc.

35. Peanut Butter and Bananas On whole wheat bread

36. Dr. Gupta’s Calming Creamy Turmeric Tea

37. Rosemary Mash Hand-mash canned white beans with olive oil and chopped fresh rosemary. Serve over radicchio leaves for color/flavor contrast.

38. Cherry Tomatoes Give them a quick broil with a dash of olive oil if you’re craving something warm

39. Organic String Cheese

40. Small Green Salad Add a spritz of lemon/olive oil dressing

41. Bean salad Whatever canned beans you have, plus diced onion, any herbs on hand, and add a glug of olive oil and vinegar

42. Kabobs veggies on a stick, lightly broiled in the oven

43. Organic Carrots slice on the bias into “chips” for fun

44. Grilled Pineapple Put on the grill or a skillet on medium heat for 2 minutes or until golden

45. Baked Apples One smallish apple, cored, filled with 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and baked until tender

46. Warm Pumpkin Seeds 2 tbsp pumpkin seeds baked at for 400° for 15 minutes or until brown. Sprinkle with a bit of salt.

47. Strawberries, fresh; if frozen, microwave until hot and serve as a warm strawberry soup!

48. Veggie Egg Salad Low-fat tortilla rolled around egg salad and shredded carrots

49. Warm Tomatoes Cut plum tomatoes in half, broil with 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese

50. Bowl of bran flakes Add 1/2 cup milk (or substitute) and berries

51. Guacamole with veggies (my personal favorite!)

52. Trisquits (the original ones with just 3 ingredients) dipped in cottage cheese or hummus

53. Cashews

54. Sugar Snap Peas I love to put a bag of these out instead of popcorn on family movie night – they disappear!

55. Half of a fresh peach with a scoop of cottage cheese in the middle

56. 2-Ingredient Creamy Garlic Broccoli

57. Strawberry Salad 1 cup raw spinach with ½ cup sliced strawberries, 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, and a dollop of dijon mustard

58. Baked (or microwaved) potato topped with salsa

59. Apricots

60. Peanut Butter Yogurt Dip with fresh fruit

61. Frozen Grapes Red and green, seedless

62. Cheesy Roasted Asparagus drizzle asparagus spears with olive oil and grated parmesan cheese, bake for 10 minutes at 400°

63. Banana Smoothie ½ cup sliced frozen banana (or add a little ice), ¼ cup plain yogurt, blended until smooth

64. Fruit Chips Crispy dehydrated apples, pears, etc – YUM!)

65. Tropical Juice Smoothie ¼ cup pineapple juice, orange juice, apple juice, and any frozen fruit you have on hand, blended

66. No-Chop Gazpacho Combine tomato juice, cucumber, bell peppers and onion in a mini chopper/blender; pulse just until chunky. Add a splash of red wine vinegar.

67. Frozen Banana Peel before freezing

68. Oatmeal simple and delicious

69. Sliced tomato with a sprinkle of feta and olive oil

70. Kale Chips Tear kale leaves into large pieces and place on a baking sheet. Spritz with olive oil and bake at 375° until crisp. While still warm, sprinkle with salt.

71. Stuffed Mushrooms Briefly microwave button mushroom caps until softened. Fill with leftover pesto or tomato sauce

72. A couple of squares of dark chocolate 70% cacao or more

73. Sun dried tomatoes (real ones – click here for the best explanation I’ve seen)

74. Chickpea Poppers Completely dry canned chickpeas. Mix with a bit of extra-virgin olive oil, season with dried oregano and garlic salt and roast at 400° until crisp.

75. Cocoa nibs over canned pears

76. Pecans

77. Frosty Melon Blend honeydew with plain yogurt, and ice if desired.

78. Nutty Banana Blend Blend frozen banana with fresh peanuts and a splash of almond milk.

79. Orange or Grapefruit slices

80. Pistachios

81. Stuffed Figs Split plump dried figs and stuff with toasted hazelnuts. (this is from Rachel Ray, and is DELICIOUS)

82. Strawberry-Banana Smoothie Frozen strawberries and bananas blended with a little almond milk (or similar). Easy peasy and delicious.

83. Edamame Easy to keep on hand in freezer

84. Baby potatoes Microwave them for 3 to 5 minutes, sprinkle with pepper and sea salt

85. Roast Cauliflower Sprinkle with olive oil, pop in oven and pull out when browned. Eat.

86. Radish Slices slice thinly and enjoy all the crunch of a potato chip, with none of the nasty.

87. Tortilla “Pizza”  Add thin tomato slices (remove seeds/liquid) and finely sliced/diced fresh veggies to a basic whole wheat tortilla.  Bake directly on the rack in a toaster oven for about 10 minutes at 350 – delicious even without cheese!

88. Whole grain cracker smeared with goat cheese Add an apple slice or grape for extra deliciousness

89. Watermelon + pistachios + lime juice

90. Sliced Cantaloupe

91. Ear of (non-GMO) corn wrap in damp paper towel, pop in microwave, add fresh ground salt and pepper

92. Canned soup Lentil and black bean are particularly filling (look for organic varieties, stock up when on sale)

93. Pecans

94. Mixed veggies Easy to keep on hand in freezer, pop a cup or two in the microwave for a delicious quick snack/meal

95. Black Bean Hummus Puree drained black beans with garlic clove, and a dash of lemon juice, tahini, and cumin

96. Apple Quesadillas put thinly sliced apple and a tiny bit of grated cheddar on a whole wheat tortilla, quickly warm in a pan and serve

97. Easy Tzatziki blend organic Greek yogurt with sliced cucumbers, garlic, olive oil and a squeeze of lemon. Let flavors combine then scoop up with raw veggies.

98. Acai bowl blend unsweetened frozen acai pulp (available at many supermarkets) with just about any liquid (recommend almond milk or coconut water) and some greens of your choice. Put in bowl and top with diced fruit, nuts, etc.

99. Cucumber salad Sliced cucumber, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper

100. Grated carrot salad Grate a carrot or two, add some bits of red onion and sprinkle with a mix of red wine vinegar and dijon mustard.

101. A softly scrambled egg, with a little freshly ground salt & pepper … simple and delicious!

Filed Under: Fast Recipes, Healthy Snacks, Uncategorized Tagged With: quick snack ideas, quick snacks, snacks

Ridiculously Good/Easy/Healthy Granola Bits

June 9, 2013 by Jennifer Silverberg Leave a Comment

This is not a fussy recipe – feel free to experiment and learn what you love the most – it will ALL be good.  For example, I used freeze-dried pomegranates in the last batch and they added a great sweetness and an unexpected extra crunch.  If you have a favorite nut butter, you can add it instead of – or in addition to – the nuts. Think about seasonal flavors as well!

This is also a great recipe to make with kids – they can use their (clean) hands to mix.

Ridiculously Good/Easy/Healthy Granola Bits from EatYourselfWell.com

 Ridiculously Good/Easy/Healthy Granola Bits

  • About 4 cups grains; oat flakes, barley flakes, wheat flakes, rye flakes or similar 
  • 2 handfuls of seeds; for example, sunflower,  hemp, chia, pumpkin.
  • 2 cups nuts;  for example, almonds, walnuts, pecans, etc.
  • ½ cup coconut flakes, unsweetened
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
  • 1/3 -1/2 cup sweetener: maple syrup, honey, agave, or brown sugar
  • Optional: 1 cup dried or freeze-dried fruit; for example,  cranberries, apple, strawberries, banana, raisins, plums
  • Optional (but delicious!):  handful of cacao nibs
  • Optional: Spices of your choice: cinnamon, vanilla, etc.

Preheat your oven to 300 degrees.

Place the nuts, seeds, grains, coconut and dried fruits (if using) into the bowl of a food processor and pulse to break up and mix.  (Do not over-process, or you’ll wind up with nut butter!)  Move to a large bowl.  Mix the melted oil and sweetener (and spices, if using) in a smaller bowl, then add to the big bowl and toss really well with a big wooden spoon – or a couple of kid hands plus your own.  

Form into spoonful-sized bits and place onto a large, parchment-lined baking sheet.   Tap them down to flatten slightly. Bake for about 40 minutes, but watch carefully for the last 10 minutes or so, and take out when they look lightly browned and feel firm.

Store it in an airtight container for up to three weeks (at least, I think so … it never lasts that long for me). 

From  Jennifer Silverberg at www.EatYourselfWell.com and facebook.com/eatyourselfwell  Please maintain link as you copy and share recipe with others!

Filed Under: Cooking Tips, Fast Recipes, Kids and Food, Recipes we LOVE, Uncategorized Tagged With: bits, easy, granola, healthy, recipe

February 28 is National Chili Day – Here’s a Great Recipe to Celebrate!

February 27, 2013 by Jennifer Silverberg Leave a Comment

kidney_beansParts of the country are getting blasted with late-winter snowstorms, making this a GREAT time for chili – just in time for National Chili Day!

There’s really no wrong way to make chili, other than opening a can full of who-knows-what ingredients. If you’re missing anything below, feel free to experiment with something similar …. the recipe will probably still turn out fine.  And if you’re trying to minimize the prep work, feel free to sub in Hooray Puree packets as noted below.

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 cup diced onions
  • A couple of carrots, chopped, or one packet of Hooray Puree Carrot
  • 1/2 butternut squash, diced, or 1 packet of Hooray Puree Butternut Squash
  • 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 chopped bell peppers – green, yellow, or red
  • about 1 cup chopped celery 
  • 1 tbsp chili powder 
  • 1 28-oz can whole peeled tomatoes with liquid, chopped
  • 1 (19 ounce) can kidney beans with liquid
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 Tsp dried oregano
  • Chopped cilantro, red onion, jalapeños, green onions, or anything else that sounds good to you!

Heat oil in a large pan (not cast iron, or it will react with the tomatoes) over medium heat. Saute onions, carrots, butternut squash (if you’re using puree, wait until you add the tomatoes), and garlic until tender. Stir in green pepper, red pepper, celery, and chili powder. Cook about 5-6 minutes, until vegetables begin to soften.

Add tomatoes and kidney beans and stir well. If you’re using purees for the butternut squash or carrots, add that now.  Season with cumin, oregano, and salt. (If you’re feeling adventurous, add a little cinnamon and/or dark chocolate to bring out a big, deep flavor.)  Bring to a boil, and reduce heat to medium. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Serve with chopped cilantro, red onion, jalapeños, or anything else that sounds good to you!

eatyourselfwell.com

Filed Under: Cooking Tips, Fast Recipes, Kids and Food, Recipes we LOVE, Techniques Tagged With: National Chili Day, recipe

No Time/No Money? No more excuses!

February 25, 2013 by Jennifer Silverberg 1 Comment

The most common reasons people give me (and in honesty, the most common excuses I try to give myself) for making bad food choices are “no time” and “no money.”

Where did we get the idea that healthy food has to be expensive and time-consuming?  Sure, organic food costs a little more (and I have a post on that one coming soon), and it’s always going to be hard to beat the SHORT-TERM costs of uber-subsidized, hyper-processed fast food nastiness … but tasty, healthy meals can be made in minutes.

Following are a few foods to keep on hand so that when you’re out of time and out of money, you can still make something super-delicious in minutes … buy in bulk when they’re on sale!  And at the end, I’ve thrown in a quick recipe I invented tonight, when I got in late after a 3-state day (lots of travel!) and couldn’t face the grocery store!

  • Canned Beans of any type, like black beans, kidney beans, white beans, lentils, whatever (but buy ones with no BPA in the cans)!:  Added to just about any veggies, create filling, healthy meals in minutes
  • Canned Tomatoes (again, no BPA)
  • Frozen Veggies:  Broccoli, green beans, peas, carrots – whatever you like.  Just don’t get the ones with sauces and seasonings added – you’re going to do that yourself, with healthy ingredients!
  • Raw Almonds:  A meal in itself when you truly have no time … and delicious crushed over salads, etc.
  • Quinoa:  quick-cooking deliciousness that meshes with just about any flavor, sweet or savory
  • Olive Oil:  But of course!
  • Spices: Start with a good set of the basics, and keep adding new ones when you see them.  Go online to find recipes for them, or stir-fry some of those veggies in the freezer and just toss in the spices to see what happens!

broccoli

Turmeric-Garlic Broccoli & Chickpea Saute with Crisp Red Pepper Strips

Tonight when I got home, I knew I was short on veggie servings for the day, I didn’t want to load up with too much food because it was late, but (as always), I was unwilling to sacrifice taste or texture!  So, I grabbed what I had on hand:

  • 1 Bag frozen organic broccoli
  • 1 garlic clove, crushed
  • dash of olive oil
  • 1/2 can organic chickpeas, drained
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 tbsp turmeric
  • 1/2 medium red pepper, cut in strips

Put about 2 Tbsp of water, a dash of olive oil, and the crushed garlic into a pan, and add the bag of frozen broccoli (mine says it’s three servings, but it’s really just one decent-sized one).  Cook about 4-5 minutes until the broccoli is no longer frozen.  Add the chickpeas, turmeric, and pinch of salt, and cook until the chickpeas are hot.  If you’re like me and love pepper, add some fresh-ground white or black pepper.  Serve with cool, crisp red pepper strips.  

Serves one, or two as a side dish.  Doubles easily.  And as always, PLEASE experiment with the measurements and ingredients:  cook the red peppers with the broccoli, add onion, throw in a handful of spinach or cherry tomatoes, whatever you have on hand – PLAY with your food!

Filed Under: Cooking Tips, Fast Recipes, Techniques Tagged With: broccoli, chickpeas, Fast meals, healthy, recipe

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