Healthy Snacks

Save this list of healthy foods snacks ideas for easy real food snacks for the whole family! Choose from zero prep healthy snacks, 5-minute snack ideas, and the best healthy snacks to make ahead.

Every year when school is in session, if you’re like me, you could always use a few more ideas for quick breakfasts, healthy school lunches, and simple snacks to keep the kids satisfied until dinner time.

I love the convenience of packaged snack foods, but even the more expensive “healthy” versions of packaged snacks often contain flavors and additives I don’t want to feed to my kids.

And I want snacks that satisfy my cravings for sweet or salty or crunchy or filling…or whatever I’m feeling that day!

So I want to have a big list of healthy foods snacks to pull from when we get hungry!

BEST HEALTHY SNACKS

What makes the best healthy snacks?

Think of snacks like a mini meal – you still want to have a mix of protein, healthy fats, and carbs for a balanced snack that will fuel your body with nutrients and hold you over until the next time you eat. Extra fiber is a bonus too!

And of course, we want our snacks to be:

• Made with simple, real food ingredients – all of these are better than a bowl of potato chips!
• Quick and easy to grab or get on the table.
• Frugal – no expensive options here!
• Yummy!

And as a bonus, many of the healthy snack ideas are allergy-friendly – you’ll find plenty of gluten-free and dairy-free options here.

50+ HEALTHY FOODS SNACKS IN 5 MINUTES OR LESS

I’ve divided this list of healthy foods snacks into 3 categories based on prep time:

• Zero Prep Snacks
• Snacks Ready in 5 Minutes or Less
• Make-Ahead Snacks

I personally draw from the Zero Prep list most days, but I try to mix in a few of the other snack ideas from time to time to keep things interesting and fun for the kids (and myself!).

ZERO PREP HEALTHY SNACK IDEAS

Zero-prep healthy snack ideas are my favorite because you can just grab them and start eating!

• Fresh fruit like grapes, apples, and bananas (make sure to wash fresh fruit first!)
• Dried fruit
• Raw veggies like cherry tomatoes
• Raw or dry roasted nuts/seeds
• Ready-made hummus + pita chips or whole-grain crackers
• Nut/seed butter on a spoon (Homemade Nut Butter)
• Sliced cheese or cheese sticks

HEALTHY SNACKS READY IN 5 MINUTES OR LESS

Although you have to prep something for them, these healthy snacks are ready super fast!

• Healthy Apple Nacho Recipe
• Smoothies (Green Smoothie Recipes)
• Dairy Free Ranch Dressing or dip for raw vegetables (we love slice cucumbers, bell peppers, and celery!)
• Air-popped popcorn
• Fruit and Plain Greek Yogurt Parfaits
• Ants on a log
• Classic Hummus with veggies or crackers
• Healthy Banana Split
• 5 Minute Chocolate Hummus
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Hummus
• Cheese toast
• PB&J rolled up in a tortilla
• Cottage cheese and mixed berries
• Sliced fruit like pears, peaches, plums, and oranges
• Rice cake with peanut butter and mini dark chocolate chips

IDEAS FOR A SNACK YOU CAN MAKE AHEAD OF TIME

If you have a bit more prep time, try one of these ideas for a snack you can make ahead of time. Then they’re easy to grab throughout the week!

Small Bites

• Sweet and Salty Energy Bites
• Oatmeal Peanut Butter Energy Bites
• Pumpkin Larabar Bites
• No-Bake Brownie Bites

Nuts and Trail Mix

• Candied Pecans
• Homemade Honey Roasted Almonds
• Perfectly Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
• Trail mix (We love Protein Trail Mix, but any mixture of nuts, dried fruit, popcorn, oats, flaked coconut, healthy cereal, and more will work)

Snack Bars

• Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
• Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Snack Bars
• Kitchen Sink Chewy Granola Bars
• Healthy Jam Oatmeal Bars
• Nutella Collagen Protein Bars

Crackers and Crunchy Snacks

• Easy Homemade Cheez Its
• Homemade Cracker Recipe
• Sourdough Crackers
• Easy Parmesan Crisps
• Homemade Lunchables
• How to Dehydrate Apples and Make Apple Chips
• Easy Probiotic Fermented Carrots
• Homemade Tortilla Chips and 5-Minute Guacamole

Chewy Snack Ideas

• Healthy Homemade Gummy Bears
• Homemade Fruit Leather
• Homemade Fruit Roll Ups

Homemade Popsicles

• Homemade Ice Pops
• Fruit and Yogurt Popsicles
• Coconut Cream Popsicles
• Cherry Limeade Popsicles
• Healthy Homemade Fudgsicles

Miscellaneous Healthy Foods Snacks

• Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs
• Homemade Applesauce – plain, cinnamon, and mixed berry
• Fruit Pizza
• How to Make Yogurt
• Avocado Chocolate Mousse
• Easy Soft Pretzel Recipe

For even more yummy snack ideas, check out the 24+ Best Hiking Snacks and 25+ Best Snacks for Road Trips.