You may already know of many healthy organic foods to prepare as your main meals, but if you don’t have snacks that are good for you when you get hungry throughout the day you may be tempted to binge on the bad stuff. This list should help you by offering just a few of the many ideas available, and these snacks are listed in no particular order.
1. Granola Bars
These are not just for kids lunch boxes. The organic mix of grains, chocolate, and other ingredients make them a delicious and healthy addition for anyone looking for a morning or afternoon snack. Make sure you are not just picking up any old box of these from the shelf though, because a lot of them are simply junk. For an even healthier version, try making them yourself so you will know exactly what is in them and you can customize the ingredients to your liking.
2. Dark Chocolate
Chocolate has a bad reputation at the moment, but that is because when people think of it they probably imagine milk chocolate – usually in the form of a commercially made and mass produced candy bar – which is obviously not a great snack. On the other hand, organic dark chocolate should not be seen as something to avoid. It comes in more varieties than you may have thought, including sea salt and caramel, nuts, and others.
3. Natural Organic Jerky
One of the original snack foods, designed to last a long time without refrigeration and to be carried for those long haul journeys. It was always made naturally in the beginning, before big companies started to take over the market. Despite this, it is still possible to get all natural beef jerky either online or from specialty stores. It is relatively cheap compared to a lot of the other snack options, and of course comes in different varieties such as buffalo and turkey to spice things up a bit.
4. Black Bean Chips
Chips are another snack that probably deserve the bad reputation they have, but black bean chips are a whole different story. These have no corn or wheat products in them, and consequently no genetically modified organisms (GMO), which make them a much healthier alternative to the regular old potato or corn chips. They are also gluten free and a good source of protein.
5. Fruit and Nut Mixes
Just like the beef jerky also mentioned in this list, a mix of dried fruit and nuts has long been one of the most popular snacks to take on a hike or a camping trip. Just keep it dry and in an airtight container, and this snack will last a long time. This is also another highly customizable snack as you can pick and mix whichever dried fruits and nuts you like, such as peanuts, cashews, raisins, apricots, and plenty of other choices.
6. Pretzels
Yes, pretzels can be a great healthy snack if you get the right ones. The regular old pretzels you know, and maybe love, are generally made with white flour but now you can get organic whole wheat varieties that are not only more filling but also better for you. Just be careful to read the label so you don’t get something loaded up with salt, and look for the organic certification on the pack.
7. Licorice
While the taste of licorice may not be suited for everyone, it can be a great organic snack with no sugar or fat if you get the right variety. Be careful to avoid the more candy-like licorice that will be all over the shelf, and look for the organic labels and products with a simple list of ingredients.
8. Greek Yogurt
Another very versatile and healthy snack is the increasingly popular Greek yogurt. Add your own toppings such as honey, blueberries, walnuts, or whatever other healthy additions you would enjoy. Great as an evening dessert.
Most of these snack foods can be bought in pre-made commercial varieties, which is not always a bad thing – particularly for the convenience factor – but you can also try out your own ideas at home. If you have the time, try spending an afternoon over the weekend to prepare or cook your own snacks for the week.
