Healthy Snacks to Ring in the New Year

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It’s hard to believe 2023 is over and we have already moved into 2024. I don’t know about you, but after all the holiday treats, I’m ready for some healthier options. In today’s post, I’ll share some of my favorite balanced and easy snack options.

What makes a balanced snack?

Many snacks may taste good but are not very filling unless you eat a lot; some examples include chips or crackers. Even snacks like a piece of fruit are not very filling on their own. A balanced snack should contain at least two of the following:

• Protein

• Fat

• Fiber

All three of these will help to make a snack more satisfying, meaning you will feel full longer and make better food choices throughout the day.

Healthy snack ideas

Now that you know protein, fat, and fiber are the best ways to make a satisfying snack, here are some of my favorite snack combinations:

Chicken salad + whole grain crackers

Chicken salad may not seem like a healthy snack, but it can be. Just mix canned or leftover shredded chicken breast with avocado oil mayo, Dijon mustard, and garlic powder. Avocado oil mayo is a better choice than most traditional mayo because it is made with avocado oil which is better for heart health.

This is a snack that contains protein, fat, and fiber if you pair the chicken salad with whole grain crackers, such as Mary’s Gone Crackers. The chicken salad contains protein and fat and the crackers contain protein, fiber, and fat as well.

Whole grain toast + peanut butter

Peanut butter is one of my favorite snack options as it alone contains protein, fat, and fiber. However, to make it more filling I like to pair it with another fiber source like whole grain toast. Look for bread with at least 3 grams of fiber per slice.

Greek yogurt + granola

Granola is often thought of as healthy, but it’s frequently packed with sugar. Instead of buying granola, try making it at home! Making granola at home allows you to control the amount of added sugar, making it healthier but still delicious. Granola contains protein if it includes nuts or seeds, as well as fiber (from the oats), and fat (from the oil and nuts/seeds).

Greek yogurt contains more protein than regular yogurt. Plain yogurt on its own can be tart, but with the addition of homemade granola, it is a crunchy and satisfying snack.

Fruit + string cheese

Lastly, another good snack option is pairing fruit with string cheese. As I pointed out above, fruit on its own is not very satisfying even though it is a good source of fiber. However, pairing it with something as simple as string cheese adds protein and fat and can make it last a lot longer.

Having healthy snacks on hand can help set you up for healthier eating all day long. Protein, fat, and fiber help to fill you up, and ensuring that you have at least two of these in your snacks will keep you going until your next meal. Make it a goal for the New Year to eat more healthy snacks!