Healthy snack ideas are not easy to come up with, especially when you have so many unhealthy snack options to distract you. Hence, you need to start getting the hang of meal prep snacks, as you control the ingredients that go in them, and it is easier to stick to your diet.
The major drawback of store-bought snacks is that it is not always easy to read tiny labels on everything, especially when grocery shopping and purchasing many items. Pre-packaged snacks often contain hidden sugars, which means you are simply consuming a snack under the illusion that it is healthy.
To solve this dilemma, we have put together some healthy meal prep snacks to keep your cravings in check and give you the right amount of nutrients! You can prepare these snacks in advance to save up on time!
Five Healthy Meal Prep Snacks
Here are some healthy meal prep snack ideas that will help you stay true to your diet. All it takes is a little bit of effort to change your lifestyle. Once you get the hand of clean eating, you’ll never want to go back to your ways. So, keep reading to find some easy-to-prepare healthy snacks. These are great for keeping in the fridge or pantry.
1. DIY Trail Mix
You can’t go wrong with trail mix if you try to eat a healthy diet. This is a great meal prep snack. You can easily stock up on all the ingredients you would like to go in your trail mix, which can be as follows:
Be mindful of the portion size of trail mix, as one serving which is about 1/4th cup, contains around 175 calories. This easy-to-prepare snack is rich in fiber and protein to give you a good boost of energy, perfect for when you are constantly on the go.
Be creative while preparing your trail mix. You can store them in separate packs. If you want to make this snack interesting, store a different combination of trail mix ingredients in every pack so that you can experience and enjoy different flavors in every serving.
2. Rainbow Salad with Peanut Sauce
Rainbow Salad with Peanut Sauce makes for a delicious health meal prep snack that can be prepared and stored in the refrigerator about five days in advance. It is called the rainbow salad as it is full of colorful produce. For this salad, you will need the following ingredients:
- Natural low-fat peanut butter sauce (as required)
- Freshly cut vegetables of your choice (cucumber, cabbage, carrots, capsicum, bell pepper,
- One teaspoon of garlic powder or freshly minced garlic
- One tablespoon of Soya sauce
- A pinch of Salt and pepper
- One tablespoon of rice vinegar
- One tablespoon of honey
- Freshly chopped basil
To prepare this delicious snack, you need to combine all the ingredients in a salad bowl and store them in containers to be consumed in the upcoming days. If you like having all the vegetables separately, you can line them up like a rainbow instead of mixing them in a bowl. Simply add the garnishing on top and store it!
3. Pre-made Smoothies
Pre-made smoothies are an excellent meal prep snack! If you skip the greens and smoothie thickeners like chia seeds, you can store your smoothies in the refrigerators for 2 to 3 days.
If you want your smoothies to be stored for longer, you can freeze them in ice cube trays, mason jars, or smoothie freezer packs. A chilled smoothie is a perfect drink to refresh you on a hot day.
To use frozen smoothies, take them out of the freezer and allow them to de-freeze. Then simply thaw, shake or blend. They will taste just as delicious.
However, if you prefer blending your smoothie right before consumption, you can purchase and store some pre-packaged frozen fruits and use them to make your drink.
4. Hummus and Vegetables
Hummus is packed with essential vitamins and minerals and makes for the perfect dip that you can enjoy with different vegetables. According to research, hummus is excellent for fighting inflammation and improving blood sugar. Generally, hummus can be stored in the refrigerator for between 3 to 4 days. Remember to seal the container tightly to allow it to remain fresh.
If you find cutting vegetables a hassle, you can use frozen store-bought veggies to have with hummus. Our top favorite vegetable to have with hummus is carrot sticks. This combination makes the perfect fiber and protein-rich, healthy meal prep snack to keep you full between meals.
5. Grilled Chicken Salad
Who doesn’t love chicken? The best part is you don’t have to avoid it on your diet. It is an excellent source of essential protein and fiber that improves the overall health of your digestive system. A healthy grilled chicken salad contains about 350 calories, so you can even have it as a full meal. This will be a great snack if you aim to lose weight and can be stored in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days.
If you don’t want to wash, cut, and marinate the chicken yourself, you can purchase pre-marinated chicken cubes or slices from the store. Grill them in a pan using only a few drops of extra virgin olive oil. Then add the grilled chicken with your favorite vegetables. You can use any kind you like, such as carrots, broccoli, bean sprouts, cabbage, cucumber, etc. Add some salt, pepper, and a tablespoon of lemon juice for taste. Avoid soya sauce if you are trying to reduce the sodium content in your diet. Combine all things well.
Store the salad in airtight containers and place them in the refrigerator. Enjoy!
Our Concluding Thoughts
Healthy meal prep snacks are a great alternative to pre-packaged and calorie-dense snacks you see at convenience stores. You just have to be willing to make a little effort to prep your meals. Meal prep saves time and costs you would otherwise have to invest in either purchasing or preparing meals daily. Remember to follow healthy eating habits!
Happy meal prepping!
