Summertime Tasty Snack Ideas!

By: Jada Linton, RDN, LD

 

What do you think of when you hear the word summer? I love the beautiful weather that comes with summer, relaxing by the pool, and of course the food! Let's dive into some great poolside snack ideas. When I think of snacks, I want them to be convenient and tasty.  I have compiled a list of my favorite 25 snacks to pack for summer fun.

MyPlate gives a great visual of how to build your meals and you can also use it to make your favorite snack!

Let’s Build a Snack!

Choose from the following snack groups1:

Vegetable + Fruit

Vegetable + Grain

Fruit + Protein

Grain + Protein

7 Snack time tips:1
  1. Make Breakfast Count 

Take time to eat breakfast, eat at home or pack breakfast to eat at work.

  1. Pack Snacks Early

Pack once, eat for 5 days- take a bag of healthy snacks to work on Monday. 

  1. Swap out Junk

Look for snacks that will keep you full and give you energy. Check out the top 25 snack list below for some ideas!

  1. Eye the Size

Use reusable containers to portion your favorite snack.

  1. Grab Whole Grains

Snacks should be chosen based on whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, dairy, and lean proteins.

  1. Choose Whole Foods

Choose more fresh fruits & vegetables and less packaged items. 

  1. Hungry? Nourish Yourself!

Listen to your body, eat if you are hungry for a snack.2

 

25 Healthy Snack Ideas
  1. Apple slices + Peanut butter
  2. Whole grain tortilla chips + Salsa
  3. Hummus + Carrot sticks
  4. Plain Rice Cake + Peanut butter
  5. Air popped popcorn + Sprinkled parmesan cheese 
  6. Granola bar + Apple Slices
  7. Sliced Strawberries + Peanut butter+ Whole grain toast
  8. Cantaloupe, Pineapple, Watermelon, Grapes + Vanilla yogurt
  9. Plantain chips + Guacamole
  10. Whole grain cracker + Cheese
  11. Celery Sticks + Peanut butter + Raisins  
  12. Peanut butter and Banana slices wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla
  13. Greek Yogurt + Fresh Fruit+ Granola
  14. Frozen fruit slices (berries, grapes, bananas) + Peanut Butter
  15. Whole grain roll +Deli turkey slices
  16. Cucumbers & Low-fat cream cheese + Pumpernickel bread
  17. Whole grain pita + Cheese, heated then dipped in Tomato sauce
  18. Mozzarella melted over English muffin + Tomato slices
  19. Toasted whole grain mini bagel + Chicken Salad
  20. Peanuts + Dried no sugar added fruit
  21. Hard Boiled egg + Tomato & Cucumber slices
  22. Red/ yellow bell pepper slices + String cheese
  23. Homemade trail mix (Peanuts, no sugar added dried fruit, coconut flakes, dark chocolate chips)
  24. Fruit Smoothie + Peanut Butter
  25. Baked kale chips + Turkey roll-ups with lettuce

 

References:
  1.  “10 Tips: MyPlate Snack Tips for Parents.” Choose MyPlate, 18 May 2015, https://www.choosemyplate.gov/ten-tips-snack-tips-for-parents.
  2. Diet Myths and Facts: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000895.htm. Accessed 20 May 2019.

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