Healthy Snack Hacks

A backpack full of new school supplies is one of the best parts of the back-to-school season. Freshly sharpened No.2 pencils, wide-ruled notebooks, smooth ballpoint pens, and beautifully bright highlighters all symbolize the excitement and potential of a brand new school year. For us, even more exciting is a kitchen packed full of after-school snacking possibilities. Whether you’re creating snacks for yourself or your kids, here are easy substitutions for all your favorite pre-packaged treats.

If your kids run in the door, throw down their book bags, and dig right into the ice cream, offer them a thick and creamy smoothie instead. If they need some convincing, serve the smoothie in a bowl and set out small helpings of different toppings (granola, chopped fruit, nut butter, shredded coconut, etc.) for them to sprinkle over their smoothie bowls. Healthy and fun!

With just 5 ingredients, this simple Avocado Chocolate Smoothie is a healthy and decadent start to your morning!

Have hungry teenagers who eat you out of house and home? Keep some frozen pizza dough and pizza sauce on hand, chop up whatever leftover veggies, meat, and cheese you have in the fridge and you’ll be well on your way to easy pizza muffins that are healthier and less expensive than delivery.

These little Muffin Tin Pizza Pies are made with pie crust, Italian sausage, tomato sauce, vegetable toppings, and mozzarella cheese, all prepared in a muffin tin to make a delicious "Meal in a Muffin." If you have the meat, sauce, and dough prepared ahead of time, they come together in minutes.

There are few snacks as satisfying as a plate of crisp crackers and a big stack of sharp cheddar cheese. While not inherently unhealthy, we suggest changing it up on occasion by swapping in some veggies for the crackers. Even better, make a big batch of hummus and chop up veggies on a Sunday. Keep these ingredients in a prominent place in the fridge for easy and healthy snacking.

Smooth and creamy garlic hummus perfect for dipping!

While they may be a dentist’s worst nightmare, there is something undeniably fascinating about fluorescent-colored fruit snacks. No need to ditch these snacks entirely, just make your own healthier version. Live Eat Learn’s version contains only 3 ingredients and has a beautiful, natural red hue.

These 3 Ingredient Fruit Roll-Ups are a simple and delicious way to make your own fruit leather, without any fancy equipment or ingredients!

Granola bars are excellent to have on hand when you’re running errands or dropping kids off at their various activities. However, these bars often contain added sugar and preservatives. Make your own version and you’ll have a healthy alternative to turn to when time is tight. If you have picky eaters, let them assist in the cooking process and they may be more likely to give the final product a try.

This recipe uses hazelnut flour, almonds, and unsweetened shredded coconut instead of oats. And you know what? Flavor explosion.

Do you have a teenage boy who likes to bring his friends over? We feel for you and your grocery bill. When a crudités platter just won’t cut it, consider a heartier snack like these BBQ Pulled Pork Waffles. Separate the waffles into quarters and place them on a large platter, then serve along with some cut-up fruit. Watch them disappear in a matter of seconds.

Got leftover pulled pork from last night? Make these BBQ Pulled Pork Savory Waffles! The buttery waffle is crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Stuffed with creamy cheese bits and smoky BBQ pulled pork, these sweet and savory waffles are delicious till the very last bite!

Resist the allure of crunchy empty calories and try your hand at making your own savory snack. These Sweet Potato Fries are served with a creamy avocado dipping sauce perfect for snacking on after school or with dinner.

These Baked Sweet Potato Fries are crispy on the outside, tender on the outside, and dipped in a creamy, herby avocado sauce.

Pouches of yogurt, pudding, and applesauce create unnecessary waste and are much more expensive when bought in individual containers. Make a big batch of pudding or applesauce at the beginning of the week and dish out as needed.

This Sweet Potato Brown Rice Pudding checks all the boxes for a joyous-approved treat, making it both healthy and delish!

Save this recipe for Chunky Homemade Applesauce to your cookbook and you’ll be prepared when you end up with an excess amount of apples during apple-picking season!

Homemade applesauce is richly flavored, tart, and sweet, almost like apple pie filling, and a world apart from store-bought.

With these healthy options on hand, you'll stop reaching for empty calories and store-bought snacks!