10 tips for healthy snacks

Are you running out of ideas or inspiration on what to pack for work, school or even for smaller trips and snacks to keep you healthy, full and energized for all your obligations? Then you've come to the right place today. Because in today's article, we're going to give you ten tips for snacks that look beautiful, are nutritionally balanced, quick to make and taste great. I guess there's no need for more talk and we'll get straight to today's dose of inspiration!

A sandwich in countless ways

The sandwich - a classic that of course we can't leave out. But we don't mean any store-bought baguettes, but a nice, honestly home-cooked snack. Take rye bread or other quality bread, spread it with a little cream cheese or cottage cheese and fill it to your imagination. In addition to the classic ham, cheese and veggie variations, feel free to try making a sandwich with some novel spread, cottage cheese, grilled tofu or turkey, or try spreading hummus on the bread. In short - there are no limits to your imagination and you can come up with so many variations that you won't get bored!

Salad with pasta or couscous

Another classic that never disappoints are the salad variations. The various versions with pasta or couscous are great for snacks, because they can be eaten cold and taste great. Cut up fresh vegetables, cook a portion of pasta, add tuna, cottage cheese, egg, roasted meat or perhaps diced mozzarella and mix well. You can also add some seeds to give the salad a crunchy element.

Prepare the dressing in a box on the side and pour it over the salad just before serving, so that the vegetables don't wilt unnecessarily and the salad doesn't have a too 'mushy' consistency. Be careful with the dressing, though, as it can turn a seemingly innocuous salad into a calorie bomb. Go easy on the oil and add lemon juice, balsamic vinegar and a little salt. You can also use white yoghurt or experiment and create dressings to suit your fancy.

Greek yoghurt with fruit and nuts

A snack that you don't have to prepare and is perfect for days when you're not doing anything. Grab some Greek yoghurt or skyr, a piece of fruit and nuts or peanut butter from the fridge and just make a nice bowl at work. You can jazz it up with homemade granola or oatmeal. You can also use this snack when you don't have anything at home and you have to make a snack on the go - stop by the store on your way to work, or just run out, grab the ingredients and head back to work. A good snack doesn't have to be complicated! Greek yogurt also has a decent amount of protein and a low fat content, making it an absolutely perfect food to fit all types of diets, whether your goal is to reduce, bulk up, or just want to eat healthy.

Hummus and vegetable chips

If you want to try something really out of the box, make homemade hummus for a snack and add chopped veggies to it for fries. Hummus is a great way to incorporate more legumes into your diet, which are often forgotten, but are a source of fibre, plant protein, various micronutrients and complex carbohydrates. As an added bonus, they are usually cheap, so you won't break the bank.

And how to do it? Rinse the chickpeas out of the can and save some of the brine. Add romaine, red pepper flakes, a pinch of salt, lemon juice, a teaspoon of oil, fresh coriander and if you have it, don't forget the tahini paste. If you like spicy, you can add fresh chilli pepper. Mix everything together and pour into a peanut butter box or jar. Add fresh vegetables - cucumber, carrot and celery sticks are good, or feel free to add a piece of bread. Not only will you really enjoy your snack, but it will be colourful and the envy of everyone.

You can also reach for the store-bought version, but read the ingredients well, because store-bought versions often contain a lot of fat and turn a healthy snack into a calorie bomb.

Egg muffins

If you're a fan of salty snacks, then try egg muffins! They're simple to make and mega versatile. You can eat them hot or cold. That's why you can prepare them for dinner one day and then use them for a snack the next day. How to make them? Crack a couple of eggs, add chopped ham and a little cheese, salt and pepper and throw in your favourite vegetables - like spinach and corn, red peppers or courgettes. It's fantastic to add some chopped herbs - like chives. Mix everything together, pour into silicone muffin tins and place in an oven preheated to 180°C for about 15 minutes. Tada and you're done. Just add a piece of bread and top with a salad of fresh vegetables and you have a great snack, dinner or breakfast.

Bake yourself some healthy goodness

And while we're on the subject of baking, we can't forget to mention the home-baked sweet treats! If you, or your significant other, love to work magic in the kitchen and enjoy baking, why not save your creations for home and just pack them in a box too? Homemade oatmeal cookies are great for snacking, just top them with yogurt or kefir, or all sorts of cakes, cobblers and muffins. Are you tempted to try a new recipe, but you know you can't eat everything yourself? Surprise your colleagues and share your creations! Take inspiration from one of our healthy recipes.

Protein bar

We wouldn't recommend eating protein bars on a daily basis because of the cost alone, but if you're not in a pinch, why not have a protein bar for a snack once in a while - for trips or business travel, for example, it's a totally great option. However, be warned - there's no such thing as a bar. The word "protein" on the packaging doesn't automatically mean it's a healthy treat. Some bars may look healthy, but when you look at the ingredients you'll find that they contain a hefty load of sugar and fat, which isn't ideal. We've devoted an entire, fairly comprehensive article to how to choose a protein bar, so today we'll just recap the basics.

The top-rated protein cookies on our store are the bars from Essential Pure Bar!

Be sure to read the ingredients well - look not only for the total calorie count, but also for the ingredients used. Ideally, the bar' s ingredients should be as simple and pure as possible and contain only the necessary ingredients. Avoid products containing palm oil, sugar, cheap sources of protein and other low-quality ingredients. The quality of the ingredients is of course reflected in the price, but it should also be noted that a higher price does not automatically mean that the bar has a great composition.

Snacks in a glass

A variety of snack variations in a jar are perfect for work or school. You can use homemade or instant porridge, quinoa porridge, different types of cereal or even cooked rice as a base. Then just add yoghurt, protein or perhaps kefir, top with fruit, peanut butter or chocolate and leave in the fridge overnight to let the flavours combine nicely. In addition to the oatmeal base, you can also make a yummy chia seed pudding. Just pour these into a glass, pour in a little coconut milk and leave to swell. Then add the white yogurt, a spoonful of chicory syrup and mix thoroughly. Decorate with fruit, grated chocolate or nuts as you like and leave in the fridge overnight. Not only does this snack fill you up and chase away sweet cravings, but it also looks beautiful, so it's sure to be a hit with your colleagues or classmates.

Tortilla variations

Tortillas are another food that can be used to create absolutely fantastic snacks for work and on the go. Just like a sandwich, you can fill a tortilla with practically anything. Classic ham, cheese and veggies, grilled meat and yogurt dressing, or maybe a variation with scrambled eggs and avocado. Then just wrap the tortilla well, tie it up and a quick, hearty, healthy and most importantly - a great-tasting snack is in the world.

Prepare a smoothie

Reasonably composed smoothies are also a good choice for a snack. Blend your favourite fruit with kefir and a scoop of protein or yoghurt, add peanut butter or coconut and you've got a hearty, healthy snack. If you need to sweeten the smoothie, add a teaspoon of chicory syrup. Be warned though, in this case it's best to prepare the snack in the morning, or if you have the option, ideally just before eating, to preserve freshness and nutrient content.

You can also buy 100% natural instant smoothies packed with natural nutrients in our shop!

Gusty Smoothies cartridge mix

What to take away from the article?

Snacks are smaller meals that, while not necessary to follow, can be a convenient way to avoid cravings and fill your required calorie intake for the day. In today's article, we've listed ten simple tips to tackle snacks. We've described a variety of sweet variations from porridge, to yoghurt with fruit, to supercharged protein smoothies, to home-baked creations, and we haven't forgotten the savoury versions - sandwiches in a thousand ways, hummus with vegetables, pasta salad or even egg muffins.