Healthy Homemade Snacks You'll Love

I get it! Days are long, you're working as hard as you can, and sometimes it's really challenging to pass up that convenient "pick me up wrap" at the fast food place on your drive home. Now don't get me wrong, I love me some hummus and veggies, but sometimes you want something more. Sure, you still want it to be healthy, and you still want to grab it and eat it in your car, or at the office, without hating yourself by 5 p.m. Here are some ideas for healthy homemade snacks that will get you out of your hummus rut.

I know I'm not the only one who cuts down on carbs when I'm trying to trim down. The problem most people encounter when cutting carbs is not finding anything to satisfy the craving for a salty and crunchy snack. I found a recipe at the Nourished Caveman a while back that was meant to be for a low-carb pizza crust...but I found that when cut into squares, it made a much better cracker. It combines almond flour, coconut flour, psyllium husk powder, unflavored whey protein (or egg white protein for dairy-free), pink Himalayan or sea salt, and large organic eggs. I then season the crackers in a few different ways — sometimes with dried rosemary, sometimes with smoked paprika. I add a few drops of water if it's too hard to mix together, and roll it out on plastic wrap. I cut it into squares and rectangles, sprinkle them liberally with kosher salt, and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. They bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes. The resulting crackers are perfect when topped with salami and cheese, and definitely satisfy that need for a carby, salty, somethin' somethin'. They keep for a week in an airtight container.

I really couldn't possibly overstate how much I adore roasted chickpeas. Yes, you can prepare almost any bean in this method, but something about chickpeas delivers that rich and nutty flavor I want in a snack. Making them couldn't be simpler. Drain a can of garbanzo beans, rinse and dry them as much as possible, coat them in olive oil, and lay them in a dark-bottomed pan, and roast at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes, until they start to deeply darken and develop that delicious crunch. When they come out of the oven, sprinkle them liberally with salt while they are still hot. I prefer them plain, but they are also great with curry powder or Italian seasoning. Make a batch and keep them in your office drawer to avoid those doughnuts your co-worker keeps bringing in.

Fantastic news! Chocolate is good for you! High quality, dark chocolate that has gone through little processing is rich in flavanols that fight inflammation and lower blood pressure. Chocolate also contains a host of feel-good chemicals. The trick is, you need to eat the right kind of chocolate, so it's best to create your chocolate treats yourself.

Chocolate nut clusters are incredibly easy to make, and add in the healthy proteins and fats from the nuts to make this a well-rounded treat. If you would like to skip the traditional double boiler method of melting down your chocolate, consider throwing everything into your slow cooker. Your favorite nuts and dark chocolate are layered into the slow cooker, and cooked on low for one hour. Scoop out your clusters and lay them in mounds on wax paper, allow to harden, then store in an air-tight container.

If you can melt chocolate and stick fruit on a stick, you can make freezer-ready, healthy snacks to enjoy any day of the year. Bananas are a sure-fire hit with the kiddos, and can be bedazzled with topping like sprinkles, coconut, and crushed cookies and nuts. Cut bananas in half and insert a craft stick up the center. Lay them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment, and place in the freezer for a few hours until they are firm. Dip the top of the banana into the good-quality dark chocolate you have melted in a double boiler, then press into your prepared topping of choice. Eat right away, or freeze individually in plastic or wax paper.

The blogosphere is filled with oodles of healthified recipes for ice cream or frozen yogurt, and there is definitely something for everybody. Want dairy-free? Try a recipe that uses full-fat coconut milk as the base, like the chai coconut ice cream from Cookie and Kate. For an even easier, and lower calorie frozen treat, try a blend of paleo Nutella with bananas, frozen into a two-ingredient marvel. Erin at Well Plated wisely blends a bit of coconut rum into her berry & coconut frozen yogurt to keep the froyo soft and scoopable. The best thing about all these recipes? None require an ice cream maker.

For a frozen treat that's ready and waiting for you when you get home on a hot summer's day, or any day you need a sweet pick me up, try making these super simple frozen yogurt bites. Mix crushed granola with a bit of melted coconut oil, and spread into the bottom of muffin tin liners. Top with vanilla Greek yogurt and the fresh berries of your choice. Freeze for a few hours, and enjoy. Try variations like experimenting with different crushed cereals, toasted coconut, sliced bananas or chocolate chips.

Is it just me, or is food so much yummier when you roll it up in something? Tacos, tortillas, wraps... all a great way to get some healthy food in your belly in a neat little package. One of my favorites lately has been making my own little spring rolls. I buy rice paper wrappers from my local Asian specialty market, and use them to wrap all sorts of ingredients into neat, yummy, and fast little packages. If you would put it in a salad, it goes well in a spring roll. Think chilled shrimp, avocado, greens, cucumber, scallions, shredded chicken, herbs... you name it. They are great for on the go, and all the better if you have a yummy sauce or dressing for dunking.