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When thinking about meal prep, you might think of breakfast, lunch or dinner. But one meal that is often overlooked: snacks! It’s helpful to have healthy snacks at-the-ready for when hunger strikes (or to help tide you over until your next meal). Much like other meals, healthy snacks can be made ahead of time to simplify your week while saving you time and money. These recipes are some of my favorites for a lot of reasons—they all showcase filling and healthy ingredients like nuts and legumes, they’re budget-friendly and many are even shelf stable or can be frozen. Recipes like Fruit & Nut Popcorn Trail Mix and Super-Seed Snack Bars come to my rescue during busy weeks, and our Classic Hummus with sliced vegetables is endlessly customizable to your flavor preferences. These make-ahead snacks help me feel full, focused and energized, all while staying within my budget. For more, check outThrifty, where we cover all things budget, sustainability and beginner cooking tips.
01of 11Peanut Butter Energy BallsView RecipeThese healthy peanut butter and chocolate energy balls deliver a mixture of simple and complex carbohydrates to help fuel you up whenever you need a little boost. They’re no-bake and easy to make with ingredients you probably have on hand, like oats and nut butter. Feel free to experiment with different mix-ins–for example, dried fruit or chopped nuts–in place of the chocolate chips and coconut.
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Peanut Butter Energy Balls
View Recipe
These healthy peanut butter and chocolate energy balls deliver a mixture of simple and complex carbohydrates to help fuel you up whenever you need a little boost. They’re no-bake and easy to make with ingredients you probably have on hand, like oats and nut butter. Feel free to experiment with different mix-ins–for example, dried fruit or chopped nuts–in place of the chocolate chips and coconut.
02of 11Classic HummusView RecipeIt’s easy to make hummus at home with just a few pantry items. Serve drizzled with your best-quality extra-virgin olive oil and chopped parsley. Mop it up with warm whole-wheat pita bread or cut-up vegetables.
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Classic Hummus
It’s easy to make hummus at home with just a few pantry items. Serve drizzled with your best-quality extra-virgin olive oil and chopped parsley. Mop it up with warm whole-wheat pita bread or cut-up vegetables.
03of 11Fruit & Nut Popcorn Trail MixSweet dried fruit, salty nuts and crunchy popcorn are mixed together to make this super-satisfying, homemade trail mix that travels well.
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Fruit & Nut Popcorn Trail Mix
Sweet dried fruit, salty nuts and crunchy popcorn are mixed together to make this super-satisfying, homemade trail mix that travels well.
04of 11Super-Seed Snack BarsView RecipeThanks to a mix of pumpkin, sunflower, hemp and chia seeds, these healthy snack bars are packed with protein, fiber, minerals and healthy fats. Because these bars pack well, they’re great for taking along on all-day adventures.
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Super-Seed Snack Bars
Thanks to a mix of pumpkin, sunflower, hemp and chia seeds, these healthy snack bars are packed with protein, fiber, minerals and healthy fats. Because these bars pack well, they’re great for taking along on all-day adventures.
05of 11Jason Mraz’s Avocado Green SmoothieView RecipeTo make this green smoothie recipe a meal-in-a-glass, musician Mraz adds a tablespoon of coconut oil and some sprouted flax or chia seeds.
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Jason Mraz’s Avocado Green Smoothie
To make this green smoothie recipe a meal-in-a-glass, musician Mraz adds a tablespoon of coconut oil and some sprouted flax or chia seeds.
06of 11Homemade Trail MixView RecipeTry this with portable mix with any combination of dried fruits and nuts.
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Homemade Trail Mix
Try this with portable mix with any combination of dried fruits and nuts.
07of 11No-Sugar-Added Oatmeal CookiesView RecipeClassic oatmeal cookies without all the sugar, these better-for-you gluten-free treats get their sweetness from ripe bananas and chopped dates.
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No-Sugar-Added Oatmeal Cookies
Classic oatmeal cookies without all the sugar, these better-for-you gluten-free treats get their sweetness from ripe bananas and chopped dates.
08of 11Sweet and Salty Roasted NutsView RecipeSpicy seasonings add a bit of zing to roasted nuts for an appetizer that’s perfect for any occasion.
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Sweet and Salty Roasted Nuts
Spicy seasonings add a bit of zing to roasted nuts for an appetizer that’s perfect for any occasion.
09of 11Strawberry-Blueberry-Banana SmoothieView RecipeA smoothie with strawberries, blueberries and banana is delicately sweet and entirely kid-friendly, even with a boost of protein from hemp seeds. Freeze the fruits ahead of time for an extra frosty texture once blended.
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Strawberry-Blueberry-Banana Smoothie
A smoothie with strawberries, blueberries and banana is delicately sweet and entirely kid-friendly, even with a boost of protein from hemp seeds. Freeze the fruits ahead of time for an extra frosty texture once blended.
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Chile-Lime Peanuts
11of 11Flourless Banana Chocolate Chip Mini MuffinsView RecipePulsing rolled oats with eggs, banana, brown sugar and oil creates the moist dough of these chocolaty muffins without a bit of all-purpose flour. These are two-bite muffins with a dense and gooey texture. They’re delicately sweet and rich, too, so baking them as mini muffins makes them a perfect snack or quick morning bite.
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Flourless Banana Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins
Pulsing rolled oats with eggs, banana, brown sugar and oil creates the moist dough of these chocolaty muffins without a bit of all-purpose flour. These are two-bite muffins with a dense and gooey texture. They’re delicately sweet and rich, too, so baking them as mini muffins makes them a perfect snack or quick morning bite.
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