Sometimes you just want a snack, and you want it right now. You’re not interested in waiting 30 minutes for the oven to preheat or for certain foods to cook. You just want to put something together and eat it immediately.
You may not even have access to cooking utensils. The ingredients are available, and you need to create your snack on your mid-afternoon break in the office.
The great news is that this is certainly possible. Snacks don’t have to take that long to make. Here are nine healthy and delicious snacks that you can prepare in around 5 minutes. Check out more info on different types of appetizers here
Fruit and Vegetables Sticks with Peanut Hummus
Let’s get the allergy warnings out of the way. If you’re allergic to peanuts, then you’ll want to look for an alternative. You can choose other nuts (since those with peanut allergies don’t necessarily have other nut allergies) or opt for seeds instead. Cashew nuts tend to work as good replacements for peanuts if you’re not allergic. If you need a non-nut option, pumpkin seeds tend to be the preferred choice.
This 5-minute recipe isn’t just quick. It’s a healthy alternative to the other food that you could reach for. The mixture of ingredients will help to offer more healthy fats and protein to your diet, meaning that you’ll get longer boosts of energy throughout the day.
Ingredients:
- 1 carton of chickpeas
- ½ lemon, zest and juiced
- 1tbsp tahini
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 2tbsp peanuts
- 1tsp rapeseed oil
- 2 apples, cored and sliced
- 2 carrots, chopped into sticks
- 4 celery sticks, chopped into batons
Method:
- Drain the chickpeas, but reserve the liquid
- Put three-quarters of the chickpeas into a food processor with the lemon juice + zest, tahini, peanuts, paprika, and oil
- Add 3tbsp of the chickpea liquid and then blend until smooth
- Stir in the rest of the chickpeas
Serve with the sliced fruits and vegetables.
Stop your apples from going brown by squeezing the lemon juice from the other half of the lemon over the top.
You can make all this before you leave for work. Put it all in some bags and portable tubs and enjoy the delicious snack when you have your morning or afternoon tea break. This also makes a great snack for the kids after school.
Make Your Own Berry Yogurt
While you want to get yogurts with fruits in, you also want to control your sugar intake. Most fruity yogurts have added sugars. I say the majority because there are a few Stevia options that are worth considering.
But what if you could completely avoid the added sugar and sweetener? You can make your berry yogurt, where all the sugar is natural. Okay, so even natural sugar can be bad, but in small amounts with the added fiber and dairy, you will find your snack is healthier than a store-bought yogurt.
Ingredients:
- 250g berries, mixed
- 250g Greek yogurt, 0% fat
- 1tbsp agave syrup or raw honey
Method:
- Mix all the ingredients together in a food processor for 20 seconds until it creates an ice cream texture
If you don’t have access to a food processor, you can crush the berries with a fork, and they mix everything together with a spoon in your bowl. Alternatively, make it at home and store in the fridge to enjoy when you need it.
Try turning this into an ice cream if you do have time. Pop, it in the freezer in a freezer bag for half an hour and then blend it all together again. If you don’t do this, your ice cream won’t be as creamy. Pop, it back in the freezer and enjoy after a couple of hours.
Bagel with Salmon and Chive
Appetizers tend to be small and easy to make. They can also make good snacks. This is slightly bigger than an appetizer but follows the same idea of canapes.
You can use a bagel of your choice. If you prefer white or seeded, then go for it! However, whole wheat and multigrain bagels do tend to be better options. When looking out for soft cheese, decided reduced fat or normal fat. The reduced fat levels aren’t always better for you, as they can have sugars added in!
Ingredients:
- 1 salmon fillet, cooked and flaked in a bowl
- 200g soft cheese
- ½ lemon, juice, and zest
- 2tsp chive, fresh
- 4 bagels, halved
- 4 handfuls of watercress
Method:
- Keep the salmon in the bowl and add the cheese, lemon juice and zest, chives, and some black pepper to taste
- Mash it all together with a fork and then chill until you’re ready for it
- Toast your bagels lightly and then spread the salmon mixture over the top
- Garnish with the watercress
If you don’t want the watercress, you can add some torn kale or spinach to the bagel and add the salmon mixture over the top.
The bagels are best eaten while still warm, so consider toasting them only when you need to eat them.
Carrot Rollups with Hummus
Rollups are always easy to prepare. The best thing about them is you can make them ahead of time and then eat them when you’re ready. They don’t just make good snacks, but they can also be filling and healthy lunches.
These carrot and hummus rollups are delicious for the whole family. Your kids won’t even realize they’re eating something healthy!
Ingredients:
- 200g of hummus
- 4 wraps
- 4 carrots
- Handful of rocket leaves or spinach
Method:
- Spread the hummus across the wraps
- Grate the carrot and scatter over the top of the hummus
- Finish with the rocket and a little seasoning
- Roll up your wrap, and you’re ready to eat
If you’re storing them and want to keep the wraps rolled, use a toothpick for something simple. You can also wrap in some foil.
Create a Homemade Energy Mix
Energy mixes are great for just grabbing and going. Once they’re made, you can store them for a couple of weeks and go back for more when you need them. They’ll take less than five minutes to put together.
You can use all types of ingredients. Look out for seeds, some nuts (if you’re not allergic) and a few dried fruits. Dried fruits are full of natural sugars that will metabolize quickly since they’ve lost the water content. In a small amount, they shouldn’t be a problem.
Ingredients:
- 1oz pumpkin seeds
- 1 ½ oz. dried mango
- 1oz chopped dates
- 1/4tsp spice rub
Method:
- Combine all the ingredients together in a bag and mix.
Make sure you store your energy mix in an airtight container. Put a tub of the energy mix in your desk drawer to grab when you need it in the morning/afternoon to beat off the slump.
You can add some cashews or walnuts to this recipe if you want a little extra energy boost. The healthy oils and proteins in nuts are good for sustained energy levels, unlike the sugars in dried fruits. Try placing a dried fruit with the nutty alternatives.
Create a Delicious Tea Sandwich
How about a sandwich as a snack? Sandwiches are commonly considered good for lunches and main meals but are overlooked when it comes to a snack. Part of the reason for that is the bread. After all, it’s not considered the healthiest of ingredients, right?
Well, bread does get a bit of an unfair reputation. Multi-grain bread offers more benefits than white. You can also opt for pittas and wraps if you want to create healthier alternatives.
Ingredients:
- 1 prosciutto slice
- 1 1/2oz fresh mozzarella cheese
- 1 roasted red pepper, sliced
- 1 slice of multi-grain bread, halved
Method:
- Layer the ingredients on each of the bread halves
This is designed to be eaten as an open sandwich, helping to reduce the amount of bread that you do eat. If you’re using pitas instead, cut the pita in half and enjoy.
Strawberry and Cheese Sandwiches
Who would have thought that strawberry and cheese would work together in a sandwich? Well, you can get strawberry cheesecake, right? How about strawberries and cream? This recipe is delicious and made with whole wheat bread to help add more fiber to your diet.
Ingredients:
- 1tbsp cream cheese
- 1/4tsp honey
- 1/8tsp orange zest
- 2 strawberries, sliced
- 2 slices of whole wheat bread
Method:
- Combine the first three ingredients together in a bowl
- Spread the cheese mixture over your bread
- Place the sliced strawberries on one slice of bread and top with the other
If you want to reduce the calories, slice the bread in half and only use one slice. You can also halve the rest of the ingredients, or include the other strawberry on the side to eat afterward.
Make Your Bruschetta
Bruschetta is commonly used as an appetizer and makes an excellent snack. You can make your own extremely quickly. The ingredients on this list will help to give your bruschetta an Italian feel, but you can mix and match anything that you want. As you get used to making it, try out different herbs and flavorings.
Ingredients:
- 2lbs of fresh tomatoes, whichever is in season, diced
- ½ onion, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 bunch of basil
- 4tbsp oil of choice, olive oil is better for this
- Italian baguette
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Ingredients:
- Mix the ingredients together in a bowl
- Toast the bread and paint each side with oil with a pastry brush
- Rub one side of the bread with some raw garlic
- Add the filling into the middle of the bruschetta and serve
If you do have the time, put the filling mixture into the fridge for about 30 minutes. This is good if you can plan for creating that but want to put the baguette together for a snack quickly. The time to marinade will just help to blend all the flavors together better.
Grilled Banana and Chocolate Packs
This is the unhealthiest option on the list, but you and the kids will have some fun with it. Get the kids involved with the creation of the snack. Sure, it might take more than 5 minutes with them involved, but it’s worth it for creating memories with them.
Ingredients:
- 1 banana, peeled
- 2tbsp mini marshmallows
- 2tbsp chocolate chips
- 2tbsp Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, crushed slightly
Method:
- Preheat the grill to a medium-high heat/Preheat the oven to 400F
- Slice the banana lengthwise and open it slightly
- Place the banana on a rectangle of foil
- Add the marshmallows and chocolate chips into the banana
- Wrap up with the foil and grill (or bake) for about 5 minutes
- Unwrap the banana, sprinkle with the cereal, and serve
You’ll want to wait for the banana to cool slightly. This is one of those snacks that you will need a spoon to enjoy. The banana offers a range of health benefits, and if you choose dark chocolate chips, you can avoid some of the sugar. The sprinkling of cereal isn’t going to be that bad.
If you don’t want to sprinkle with the cereal, opt for some cinnamon instead. Your kids will love getting involved.
Make Your Snacks on the Go
Snacking doesn’t have to be hard. With the above nine recipes, you can snack on the go without too many utensils. There are some that you will have to create ahead of time, but they are excellent options for being portable.
You can make the snacks with the children or just get them to sit down to make the creation process quicker. It’s up to you how you enjoy creating your food for the family.
There is a snack for all needs above. Which one will you try making first? Share in the comments below.
