There’s no reason to feel bad about treating yourself to a snack every and then. However, regarding your well-being, ensuring that most snacks are packed with nutrients rather than sugar is important.
In this blog post, we will explore ten simple innovative snack recipes that satisfy your sugar cravings.
10 Healthy Alternative Snacks
These recipes do not involve the use of sugar, so you can rest easy and focus on enjoying these delicious recipes. Let’s get started!
1. Banana Oat Energy Bars
Banana Oat Energy Bars – One of the popular innovative snack recipes in the health community, this combines Grated carrots and apples with mashed banana, unsweetened applesauce, rolled oats, and chopped peanuts.
Ingredients
- 2 cups of rolled oats
- Two bananas, must be mashed
- Two carrots, grated
- one apple, grated
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- ½ cup chopped peanuts
Instructions
- Begin by preheating your oven to around 350°F (175°C).
- Next, use a cooking spray to “butter” a 9×13-inch baking dish(or one of a similar size).
- Combine the oats, bananas, carrots, apples, applesauce, and peanuts in a mixing bowl; spread the mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish.
- You need to bake it for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
2. Gourmet Microwave Popcorn
Popcorn has several advantages – it’s low in calories and high in fiber. However, if you buy packaged pre-popped popcorn, watch for added sweeteners. The healthiest popcorn is made at home, where you can regulate the salt and butter.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup unpopped popcorn
- salt to taste
- one teaspoon of olive oil, or more if needed
Instructions
- Fill a brown paper bag halfway with popcorn. Fold the top of the bag several times to tightly seal it.
- Microwave on High settings for 2 minutes or until the popping stops.
- Open the bag with caution. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt. Shake the bag again to distribute the seasoning.
3. Guacamole
Guacamole worthy of a restaurant is only a few ingredients away. This top-rated guacamole recipe is surprisingly simple to create. You’ll return to it again and again!
Ingredients
- three avocados – peeled, pitted, and mashed
- one lime, juiced
- one teaspoon salt
- two Roma (plum) tomatoes, diced
- ½ cup diced onion
- three tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- one teaspoon minced garlic
- Ground cayenne pepper (But this is optional, can you avoided)
Instructions
- Combine avocados, lime juice, and salt in a medium mixing bowl.
- Stir in tomatoes, onion, cilantro, and garlic. Add some cayenne pepper to the mix if you like.
- Serve immediately, or cover and chill for 1 hour to enhance the flavor.
4. Chickpeas (Roasted)
Chickpeas, when roasted, are a fantastic source of fiber. Here’s how you can make them.
Ingredients
- 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, drained
- two tablespoons olive oil
- one pinch of garlic salt, or to taste
- one pinch of cayenne pepper, or to taste
- one pinch of salt, or to taste
Instructions
- Begin by preheating your oven to around 450°F (230°C).
- Blot the chickpeas with a paper towel to dry them.
- In a mixing dish, combine chickpeas and olive oil. Add the other ingredients as per your tastes.
- On a rimmed baking sheet, spread chickpeas.
- 30 to 40 minutes in a preheated oven until browned and crispy; keep an eye on them to avoid burning.
5. Hummus Made in Minutes
Learn how to create this quick innovative snack at home in minutes with this very simple recipe.. Excellent with vegetables or pita chips. It goes with everything!
Ingredients
- 1 (15-ounce) can of garbanzo beans, drained, liquid reserved
- one tablespoon lemon juice
- one tablespoon olive oil
- one clove of garlic, crushed
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon salt
- two drops sesame oil, or to taste (Optional)
Instructions
- In a food processor, blend garbanzo beans, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, cumin, salt, and sesame oil; stream reserved bean liquid into the mixture as it blends until the desired consistency is obtained.
6. Almond Butter Apple with Cinnamon
This nutritious snack transforms from ordinary to extraordinary with a touch of cinnamon.
Ingredients
- one medium apple
- one tablespoon of smooth almond butter
- Pinch of ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Cut the apple into eight pieces after coring it. Spread almond butter on each slice and sprinkle with cinnamon.
7. Strawberry- Banana-Blueberry Smoothie
A strawberry, banana, and blueberry smoothie is slightly sweet and kid-friendly, even with a protein boost from hemp seeds. Freeze the fruits ahead of time for a more icy feel when mixed.
Ingredients
- ½ cup frozen strawberries
- ½ cup frozen blueberries
- one small ripe banana (frozen, if desired)
- ¾ cup unsweetened cashew milk, chilled
- one tablespoon cashew butter
- one tablespoon of hulled hemp seeds
Instructions
- In a blender, put in strawberries, blueberries, bananas, cashew milk, cashew butter, and hemp seeds.
- Process until smooth; add additional cashew milk if necessary to get consistency. Serve right away.
8. Peanut Butter-Oat Energy Balls
Sweet, sticky dates hold together these no-bake energy balls. These no-bake energy balls are a testament to how creative snack recipes can transform simple ingredients into a delectable treat.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup chopped Medjool dates
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ¼ cup natural peanut butter
- Chia seeds for garnish(optional)
Instructions
- Soak dates for 5 to 10 minutes in a small dish of boiling water. Drain.
- In a food processor, put in the soaked dates, oats, and peanut butter and blend until very finely chopped. Make 12 balls (about a tablespoon each). Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes before serving.
9. Meyer Lemon Avocado Toast
Meyer Lemon Avocado Toast is a flavorful breakfast you will love!
Ingredients
- two slices whole grain bread
- ½ avocado
- two tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, or more to taste
- one teaspoon of Meyer lemon juice, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon Meyer lemon zest
- one pinch of cayenne pepper
- one pinch of fine sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon chia seeds
Instructions
- Toast bread slices for 3 to 5 minutes, depending on preference.
- In a mixing bowl, mash the avocado; whisk in the cilantro, Meyer lemon juice, Meyer lemon zest, cayenne pepper, and sea salt.
- Finally, proceed to top the bread with the avocado mixture and chia seeds.
10. Mango and Strawberry Greek Yoghurt Bark
This nutritious frozen yogurt bark recipe is simple and enjoyable to create.
Ingredients
- 2 cups 2% Greek yogurt
- 1 cup diced mango
- five strawberries, sliced
- ¼ cup unsweetened shredded coconut, toasted
- zest of 1 lime
Instructions
- Mix the Greek yogurt and mango until smooth in a blender.
- Spread the ingredients into an even 14-inch layer on a sheet tray coated with parchment paper. Sprinkle with sliced strawberries, shredded coconut, and lime zest to serve.
- Freeze uncovered for about two hours or until completely frozen. Serve immediately after breaking into pieces. Keep any leftover bark in the freezer.