Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Healthy Back to School Snacks

      As we head back to school, college kids, and little one a like there is one thing on our minds, snacks. School, work, sports and activities consume most of a student's time leaving no room for healthy snacks throughout the day. Chips, soda, candy all seem delicious, however, it is possible to be busy and still manage to eat healthy.

Here are some healthy snacks for any age:

Celery and Peanut Butter

Tip: Look for peanut butter brands that contain less ingredients such as Whole Foods Brand 365 Peanut Butter. The only ingredients in the peanut butter are nuts and salt. Whole Foods also offers organic peanut butter at an affordable price. Most peanut butters on the market contain harmful preservatives and hydrogenated oils which are extremely bad for you. So, stick to the natural stuff and you'll be just fine.

For those that do not like celery such as myself, try it with apples.



Fresh Fruits

My favorite combination of fresh fruits are blueberries, strawberries, bananas, grapes, and pineapple. You'll satisfy that sweet tooth without any added sugars.




Hummus and Pita Chips

Hummus is simply chickpeas mashed up with garlic, tahini, lemon juice and salt and made into a delicious dip. Most grocery stores sell Hummus combined with just about anything. There's Hummus with spinach and artichokes, roasted red pepper and many more. Chickpeas provide protein and hummus is a way to consume protein. This is also a very filling snack.

When buying pita chips, make sure to read the ingredients and avoid hydrogenated oils, artificial flavorings and harmful chemicals.


Instead of juice, drink water. Water keeps you hydrated throughout the day and is calorie as well as sugar free. There are a plethora of water brands available on the market and bottles even come in small sizes perfect for any lunchbox/backpack.