15 Perfect Snacks for Getting Summer Ready

I just kicked off a “Kickin’ It into Spring” Challenge with a local martial arts academy, and I have to say, I’m quite impressed with the group so far! Our private Facebook group is buzzing with comments keeping each other accountable! Love it!

I love group challenges, personally, because they say your commitment to creating a lifestyle or new habit goes up significantly when you have an accountability group to report back to on your progress. It’s also so much easier to stick to a healthy habit change when you have friends making those changes with you, instead of co-workers heckling you and tempting you with donuts every day. (Seriously, you’re killing me, Smalls.)

Besides accountability, it’s also helpful to stick to a new habit, like healthier eating, when you have a list of healthy snack to look forward to. I’m a fan of mixing it up frequently so snacks stay exciting and new. I’ll be the first to admit – if I’m not jumping up and down with excitement for my snack, I usually forget about it and then next thing you know, I’m HANGRY, and that’s when I make less then desirable food choices (like Chipotle).

Before I jump into my recommendations, I want to let you know that some of the links below are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission for things you purchase directly from those links. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you real information about health & wellness and keeping my coaching fees reasonably priced. 

So, for my friends out there trying to flame their healthy snack eating romance (but still easy “grab and go” options that don’t take forever to prepare), here are my top 15 favorite healthy snacks:

1. 1 sliced apple & 1 tbsp almond butter
   It’s super quick and easy to prepare, especially when you get those little packets of almond butter like this one… I try to stick with the original flavor, so it doesn’t have a bunch of added sugar.
2. 1/2 sliced sweet pepper & hummus
   Again, I’m all about convenience, so I go for the prepackaged variety of hummus that comes in single servings in the grocery store. I also like the single-serving guacamole dip (but look for the variety that has the lowest amount of sodium).
3. Clementine & Greek yogurt (plain)
   Peaches are nice, too, but they aren’t always available where I live. Clementines almost always are (and my kids love them, so we keep them in full stock at our house). If you’ve tried Greek yogurt and thought it tasted grainy, keep trying different brands. I like some better than others. Greek yogurt is great because it’s higher in protein and will keep you full longer than non-greek yogurt.
4. Celery sticks & (you pick)
   Because celery is basically fiber and water (kidding, it actually has a lot of nutritional value), you can eat a lot of it (but, everything in moderation. Don’t go crazy on the sticks, got it?) and it doesn’t add a lot of calories to your day. I like celery because it satisfies my need for something crunchy, so it’s a great swap out for crackers. dip it in hummus, guacamole, almond butter, etc. and you’re pretty set.
5. A handful of cherry tomatoes drizzled with EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) & balsamic vinegar
   This is one of my favorite “go to” snack as long as I remember to pack it the night before or in the morning. The good news is that it only takes a minute to put it together. I prefer letting it sit overnight because it gives it time to marinate and tastes better to me that way. Sometimes, I’ll also add a little fresh mozzarella cheese and a touch of salt and pepper.  Sooooo good!
6. 2 hard-boiled eggs (sprinkle with healthy seasonings for taste)
   Another one of my favorite “no brainer” snacks, but you have to remember to make them up ahead of time. I will usually buy a carton of eggs when I’m at the grocery store and then boil any older ones we still have, so we’re constantly rotating through them. Choose your favorite healthy seasoning to add. I have an Italian seasoning that’s low sodium that I love using with eggs, but turmeric or paprika are also good options.
7. Sliced cucumbers and cottage cheese
   I like the seedless cucumbers, personally, and I love the individual cups of cottage cheese (when I can find them in stock!).
8. 1 small handful of raw almonds
   Alright, this is an obvious one, but here’s my healthy snack-hack when it comes to nuts. Keep a bag of them in your purse or work bag and you’ll always have a quick and easy snack if you find yourself running out the door without breakfast, lunch and two different shoes on (because that’s NEVER happens. Riiiight…). Just keep it to a handful of almonds, and put the bag away so you don’t end up plowing through the whole bag before you realize it.
9. Rice crackers or gluten freestyle crackers with goat cheese
   I’m not gluten-free, but I generally find gluten-free crackers are better for you than regular crackers (not always, but most of the time). I like using chevre or goat cheese to spread on to the crackers to give it a little something extra. Add in some berries, and it will kick a sweet craving if you’re ever having one.
10. Pre-made chicken or turkey meatballs
    This sounded weird as a snack for me at first, but I love them now. Take 4-5 with you still frozen and then pop them in the microwave for a minute. It’s great if you want sometimes warm, because a lot of “grab and go” snacks are of the cold variety.
11. 1/2 avocado & hard-boiled egg
    If I could eat avocado for every meal and snack, I would. I LOVE me some avocado, but like I said before, everything in moderation. I like adding a hard-boiled egg to add in some protein and fill me up.
12. Healthy chicken salad & rice crackers
    This could be a lunch, too, but I usually have my favorite superfood shake for lunch, so I pre-pack a smaller amount of this for an afternoon snack. (btw, I eat a lot of food, lol) I have a healthy chicken salad recipe that I LOVE, and now that I’m thinking about it, I’m going to have to make it soon… mmm… I like making a bigger batch of it and then using it for a snack a couple times that week. This is my one snack that does take a little more time to prepare, but I love it so much, it’s worth it.
13. Snap peas & hummus (or other healthy dipping option)
    I love snap peas. They have a great crunch to them and they are perfect for dipping. Pick your favorite healthy dipping option and have at it.
14. Grilled chicken, basil and tomatoes
    I like pre-grilling extra chicken when we make it for dinner, and then I have it as a “grab and go” option for snacks over the next few days. Cut up half a grilled chicken breast and put it in a container with basil and sliced tomatoes (and maybe a little mozzarella too), then sprinkle with EVOO. Yum.
15. Protein Balls & Bars
    I like making a batch of bars, because then I don’t have to roll them up into balls (who has time for that stuff?!). Be careful which recipe you choose because some are loaded with peanut butter, chocolate and sugar, and at that point, you’ve lost the “healthy” part of the snack. If you want a copy of them before I get them on the site, shoot me a quick note and I’ll send them over to you.

If you like these and want more ideas on healthy snack options, follow me on IG where I  share all my favorite healthy snacks and dinner recipes.

What are your favorite “grab and go” healthy snacks for the summer? Share them in the comments below!

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