Stock Up on Light and Tasty Summer Snacks

Summer is in full swing. Snacking can help you stay energized between meals and can help prevent overeating. If planned for, healthy snacks will help you avoid eating less-healthy food items such as chips or candy on impulse.

Most healthy snacks are easy to prepare ahead of time so you can grab them at a moment’s notice. If you are running out of ideas for easy and nutritious summer snacks, here are some that will leave you satisfied without packing on the pounds:

Watermelon is a summer fruit favorite and takes little to no preparation. Plus, if you store a whole melon at room temperature, the lycopene and beta-carotene (plant nutrients thought to benefit health) content will increase. Frozen grapes are refreshingly wonderful on a hot summer day. Also try frozen blueberries, watermelon, or strawberries.

You can round out a snack of fruit with an ounce of reduced-fat cheese, 1/8 cup of nuts, or an ounce of lean deli meat.

Fresh vegetables offer flavor and crunch. With farmers markets and families growing their own produce gardens it’s easy to find seasonal produce.You can serve low-fat cottage cheese with a selection of raw vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, and carrot sticks.

Trail mix is a high-energy and easily transportable snack. The nuts provide healthy fats and satisfying protein to keep you going strong.

Granola bars can be healthy snack to grab if you know what to look for. At the very least you want a bar that is made with whole grains and has at least 3 grams of fiber. Avoid those with a slew of artificial and processed ingredients if you can. 

Low-fat yogurt is a well-balanced snack in and of itself. A six-ounce serving of yogurt provides a nice dose of protein plus calcium, vitamins B-2 and B-12, potassium, and magnesium. You will also reap the digestive benefits of probiotics if your yogurt contains live and active cultures.

Fruit juice frozen pops are a great workplace snack if you have access to a freezer. Refreshing and usually low in calories (most I’ve seen have about 60 calories per pop), these are a great afternoon pick-me-up.

Air-popped popcorn is a whole grain in the same boat as oatmeal, barley, brown rice, and millet—grains that are known for their health benefits. Popcorn is also a good source of fiber, which helps to increase satiety and provide a sense of fullness. Pop some before your next road trip.

Raw almonds and other nuts can help lower your cholesterol when eaten as part of a balanced diet. Nuts make a great snack, too, because they are easy to store and take with you on outdoor adventures.

Fruit or veggie kebobs make a colorful and fun snack, especially for kids. Use your creativity to make the kebobs visually appealing as well as refreshingly delicious.

Apple slices or celery sticks with peanut butter is a classic snack any time of year and another that kids especially love.

Hummus and whole-wheat pita bread is a cool summer snack can be thrown together in a snap when you are craving something savory.