Mix and Match Snack Hacks for Busy Days
As the days get colder and busier it always helps to have some delicious snacks on hand. Be sure to check out the latest blog post on our new retail snacks if you haven’t already. However, if you’ve run out Fit Kitchen snacks and are turning to your pantry, we have some ideas for you!
In this post we’ve included three “Mix and Match” snack ideas that are sure to keep you satisfied while keeping things interesting. The “Mix and Match” idea is that you can use whatever ingredients you have at home, or whichever are your favourites, to create the perfect snack. Keep reading to check out our ideas for customized Trail Mix, Snack Plates and Homemade Granola Bars.
Mix and Match Trail Mix
Trail mix is an old standard that is an essential part of any lunch bag for good reason. It’s sweet, salty, crunchy and satisfying. It’s also incredibly easy to adapt and customize with your favourite ingredients. Don’t like raisins? Replace with a different dried fruit. Allergic to nuts? Add seeds or roasted chickpeas instead. The combinations are endless. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Nuts – Peanuts, Cashews, Almonds, Pistachios, Macadamia Nuts, Walnuts, Pecans
Seeds – Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds, Sesame Seeds, Hemp Hearts
Dried Fruit – Cranberries, Raisins, Cherries, Blueberries, Coconut, Apricots, Banana Chips, Pineapple, Mango
Chocolate – Chocolate Chips, M&Ms, Cocoa Nibs, Chocolate covered nuts or dried fruit, chocolate covered puffed quinoa
Other Mix-Ins – Roasted Chickpeas, Roasted Lentils, Popcorn, pretzels, cereal, yogurt covered nuts or dried fruit, mini marshmallows
Combination Ideas:
Tropical Trail Mix – Cashews, Macadamia Nuts, Dried Coconut, Dried Pineapple, Banana Chips
Movie Theatre Mix – Peanuts, Almonds, M&Ms, Popcorn, Yogurt covered raisins
Greens & Seeds Mix – Pistachios, Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds, Dried Blueberries, Cocoa Nibs
Nut Free Trail Mix – Roasted Chickpeas, Pumpkin Seeds, Dried Cranberries, Dark Chocolate Chips
Mix and Match Snack Plates
If you haven’t heard about snack plates, then we’re here to convince you why you need to try them! Like the Girl Dinner trend, but better. Think about a charcuterie board but with more variety and different food groups. Snacks plates can include elements like meat, cheese, vegetables, crackers, dips and nuts, but the possibilities really don’t stop. A snack plate can be a great meal after a long day, a fun appetizer for a gathering of friends, or an easy snack for kids in between school and sports. See below for some ideas on how to craft your perfect plate:
Protein – Cheese, Salami, Chicken Salad, Tuna Salad, Hard Boiled Eggs, Smoked Salmon, Tofu
Vegetables – Carrots, Cucumber, Bell Pepper, Cherry Tomatoes, Snack Peas, Broccoli, Cauliflower
Fruit – Grapes, Strawberries, Apple, Pear, Peach or Melon Slices, Mandarin Orange Segments
Grains – Crackers, Tortilla Chips, Crostini, Pita Bread, Pretzels
Dip – Hummus, Tzatziki, Baba Ghanoush, Salsa, Guacamole, Olive Spread
Other Add-Ons – Pickles, Olives, Nuts, Dates, Edamame, Roasted Chickpeas
Mix and Match Granola Bars
Granola bars are a staple that we all keep handy to throw in our gym bag or backpack. Did you know that they’re super easy and healthy to make at home! Making them yourself means you can customize the flavour to your liking and skip out on all the sugar and artificial ingredients in the store-bought ones. Find a link to one of my favourite recipes HERE along with lots of ideas for variations. If you want the short version, keep reading.
This master recipe combines the following ingredients to make a no-bake and gluten free bar:
- 1/2 cup Honey
- 1/3 cup Coconut Oil
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 pinch Salt
- 3 cups GF Rolled Oats
- Up to 1 cup of Mix-Ins*
- 1/3 cup Nut Butter (Optional)
- 1 tsp Cinnamon (Optional)
- 2 Tbsp Cocoa Powder (Optional)
*Mix-in Ideas – Dried Fruit, Mini Chocolate Chips, Nuts, Seeds, Shredded Coconut, Toffee Bits
Directions:
- Bring the coconut oil, honey and nut butter if using, to a simmer on the stove and cook for just 1 minute.
- Stir in the vanilla and salt, and let mixture cool for about 15 minutes.
- Add the remaining ingredients to the mixture and then press into a 9×9 inch baking pan lined with parchment or foil.
- Press mixture into pan hard to make sure the bars bind together well. Then refrigerate for about 4 hours before cutting into bars.
- Store bars in the fridge for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.
We hope these recipes and ideas help introduce some new snacks into your weekly repertoire. The beauty of these recipes is their adaptability, and the endless ways you can customize them to fit your diet and taste preferences. So, the next time you’re faced with that mid-afternoon slump or late-night craving, remember these snack ideas for a last minute bite!
