Will the French culture of a long, leisurely lunch ever bleed into our culture here in America? I doubt it. We’re more stuff-your-face with whatever you can find type of people most days. Sure food prep is now in the common vernacular and there are endless healthy eating trends, but when push comes to shove when most of us are stressed and busy that all falls out the window.
I make a point of always having cut fruit and veggies on hand. It’s not as tasty or as nutrient-dense as washing and cutting produce right before eating them, but having them prepped and ready to go is the only way I’ll actually eat them when I’m hungry (otherwise those Stacy’s Pita Chips 100% call my name). Besides that, keeping snacks on hand that offer health benefits like fiber, protein and/or healthy fats is key to staying energized and satiated.
Sure anything you get in a shelf-stable bag is never going to be even close to as good-for-the-body as farm fresh products, but there’s a time and place for both.
When you’re in a crunch and need a quick and easy snack, consider reaching for one of the below.
Ready-To-Eat Healthy Snacks For Those Go-Go-Go Days
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Rootless
Rootless is a new company that makes sustainably sourced seaweed bites. Each bite has 60% of your daily iodine needs, 20% of your daily iron needs and essential vitamins and minerals. Plus, the bites support gut health, so you can pop them "guilt-free."
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SmartSweets
Fashion and wellness influencers are always raving about SmartSweets, and for good reason. Their low sugar/high fiber gummies and hard candies are the best dupes out there. A personal favorite are the gummy worms, but they have healthier versions of everything from Swedish fish to sour bears.
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Forager Project
Forager Project just launched Organic Cashewmilk Yogurt pouches. They're designed for kids, but they're great on-the-go for any age. They have a rich, satisfying taste and every flavor – Berry Berry, Strawberry, and Mango – is packed with probiotics, calcium and vitamins D, A, & B12 and are also free of dairy, gluten and soy. The only drawback is that they need to be refrigerated (but that also speaks to how "clean" the ingredients are).
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Skinny Dipped
We all know that nuts are full of healthy fats. I usually opt to snack on a handful of un-roasted, unsalted ones from Trader Joe's (I always portion them out because it's easy to eat multiple servings and get "too much" of a good thing), but when I'm in the mood for something with a sweet kick, Skinny Dipped it is. They have coated nuts in a variety of flavors.
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Justin's
Speaking of nuts, if you are a Reece's kind of a person, checkout Justin's instead. Their Super Dark Espresso Almond Butter Cups and Super Dark Peanut Butter Cups are each made with 80% cacao and just 5g of sugar. Plus, they're USDA-certified organic.
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CanDo
Most bars are loaded in carbs and sugar, not so with these Keto Protein Bars which have just 2g of sugar and 4g net carbs. They're good as is or pop them in the microwave for a few seconds for a "richer" taste.
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Atoria's Family Bakery
I love Atoria's cauliflower wraps for sandwiches when time allows or when it doesn't, I nosh on the bread on its own. It also tastes good dipped in hummus.
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Belgian Boys
These mini waffles aren't healthy, but they're a better-for-you on-the-go indulgence given that they're free of cane sugar and come individually wrapped for portion control. And they're darn delicious.
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Hippeas
Hippeas aren't low in calories or particularly low in carbs, but they're sugar-free and have more fiber and protein than your run-of-the-mill crunchy snack because they're chickpea-based. Better yet, they use organic ingredients and there's no sacrificing flavor... they taste amazing. Arguably the best flavor is the vegan cheddar.
