10 PLANTastic Snacks to Enjoy by the Handful

I’m always on the lookout for good snacks that I can grab by the handful while I’m wandering around the house thinking of new articles to write. I also do my best not to eat loads of junk food, processed food or otherwise unhealthy food, so I try to steer clear of not just potato chips but also classic “healthy” low-fat snacks like pretzels. I like to find things that are simple, whole and provide a burst of nutrients, especially stomach stuffers like good fats. Take that pretzels!

I’m looking for something better, something I know is more than just snack but rather a boost, a kick in the Pants, an upshift in the gears. Hey, I am after a little inspiration here! I want a snack that doesn’t waste my time with empty calories, one that isn’t devoid of vitamins and minerals and hasn’t been developed as some sort of fly-by-night diet plan. I want real food. I want something freaking PLANTastic!

1. Nuts

Get the assorted. Get your favorite flavor. Whatever you like. Nuts, to me, are list-toppers. You get the beneficial, metabolism-driving fats for energy. You get protein and a boatload of minerals. My one piece of advice: Go for them raw if you can and protect all that goodness from heat damage.

2. Dried Fruit

Do it like jerky. Do it diced up and delicious. I like dried fruit because it takes all those fruity flavored vitamins and puts them in an easy-to-care parcel that won’t get your hands sticky, like an actual piece of fruit will. That, and it’s chewy.

3. Trail Mix

Why keep two snacks apart when a quick trail mix will give you both the nuts and the dehydrated fruit you love? Not to mention, making a mix extends the opportunity to kick it up with cacao nibs, medicinal spices and other tasty goodies.

4. Granola

Why stop at trail mix when with the simple addition of toasted oats and a moderate amount of sweetener—raw sugar, coconut sugar, or maple syrup—you can have yourself a tasty granola? Oatmeal adds a new layer of whole grain benefits to the previous handfuls.

5. Veggie “Chips”

Why shut the dehydrator off when the fruit is done? Veggie chips are all the rage now, and dehydrating them at low temperatures is the healthy way to do it. Kale is topping the charts at the moment, but don’t leave out other greats like sweet potatoes and beets.

6. Roasted Legumes

Legumes are a well-rounded package of protein, fiber and quality carbs. An easy way to eat them by the handful is to roast them in the toaster oven, toss on some of your favorite spices and have them waiting for the munchies. 

7. Berries

 Berries—for me, blueberries—make for a great snack because a bunch fit into a handful, and their prowess on the health food scene needs no further backing. Oh, what the heck: they are awesome brain food!

8. Crunchy Crackers:

Sometimes, though, nothing says snack like a crunch (maybe this need is from the potato chip and pretzel days), and that’s when it’s time to get crackers. Make your own or find some that are seedy and whole grain so that they are worth eating.

9. Avocado & Salsa

This snack is fresh and filling, full of good fats and vitamin C (the perfect combination), and, what’s more, while resting in its own biodegradable dish, half an avocado fits nicely in the palm of a hand. You’ll probably have to use a spoon to scoop it out though.

10. Dark Chocolate

Snap a few squares off a bar or grab a handful of dark chocolate chips (or, even better, cacao nibs). The higher the cocoa content the better. Cacao is packed with minerals that do the body good. And, it doesn’t take much of it to get the job done.

Sure, there are lots of snacks out there, but I love to know that mine are doing something better than just quickly filling a void. That way there’s good reason to grab just a little more.

Image Source: Cary Bass-Deschenes/Flickr