30+ Healthy On-the-Go Snacks
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Fuel up with these easy and healthier on-the-go snacks! From energy-boosting bites to protein-packed options, these store-bought and homemade snacks will keep you going all day long.
Why Have Nutritious Snacks on Hand?
Whether you’re toting hungry kids around to various activities, heading out on a road trip, or running out the door to go to work…a good store of wholesome, grab and go snacks is essential to having long-lasting energy and feeling good all day.
According to Harvard’s School of Public Health, there can be several benefits to snacking:
- Provides a boost of energy if several hours pass between meals and blood glucose levels drop.
- Helps curb your appetite to prevent overeating at the next meal.
- Provides extra nutrients when choosing certain snacks like fresh fruit or nuts.”
But…buying or prepping nutritious snacks isn’t always easy. We’re here to help.
We’re sharing our list of healthier store-bought snack ideas PLUS a huge list of homemade snack recipes. We included a variety of options with clean ingredients, many of which can be prepped ahead of time.
My Personal Picks
Sometimes lists like this can be overwhelming. To help you get started stocking up on healthy grab-and-go snacks, I’ll share my personal faves from this round-up below.
- Powerball Cookies – These are so easy to make with pantry ingredients, customizable to what you like or have on hand, and freezer-friendly.
- The BEST Homemade Popcorn – We LOVE this method. It’s cheap, easy, and tastes like movie theater popcorn but much healthier. Make a big batch and stash it little bags to grab and go.
- High Protein Pizza Muffins – One of these will keep you satiated for a long time. Boy they are so good!
- Whole Wheat Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins – I’ve been making these for 15 years and they never last long.
Store-Bought Grab-and-Go Snack Ideas
- Pistachios – These handy to-go packs are not only delicious and nutritious, but they’re also the perfect size to fit in your backpack, purse, lunch box, or gym bag.
- Skinny Pop – Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Non-GMO. Kids and adults love this!
- Bear Bites – A great alternative to graham crackers.
- Lara Bars – 100% real ingredients. Larabar makes simple and healthy snacks you can feel good about eating.
- Grass-Fed Mini Beef Sticks – All natural ingredients and high in protein. My high school athlete son takes these to school every day.
- Perfect Bar – I really like these. Made with great ingredients and tastes amazing. This flavor is not too sweet but still satisfies your sweet tooth while getting a little protein
- Oikos Triple Zero Yogurts – These individual Greek yogurts are high in protein and lower in sugar than most because they are partially sweetened with Stevia.
- Clementines – The perfect fruit to take on the go! They are best in the winter. Other fruits that travel well include apples, bananas, and grapes.
Homemade On-the-Go Snack Ideas
Pack up some of these nutritious, homemade snacks for when you’re on the go. I like to prep many of these ahead on the weekends.
Powerball Cookies
Oh these little orbs are absolutely delicious and a relatively healthy no-bake cookie. I stick them in the fridge or freezer and they can last for weeks (although they never stick around long!).
High Protein Pepperoni Pizza Muffins
These High Protein Pepperoni Pizza Muffins make the perfect grab-and-go lunch or snack. Each serving has 26 grams of protein and is made with 100% whole wheat. They’re soft, cheesy, and taste like mini calzones. Best of all? They freeze and reheat beautifully.
The Best Homemade Popcorn
This “real food” popcorn rivals any movie theater popcorn. Make a big batch in just a few minutes and then store in an airtight container. It lasts for 2-3 days when sealed.
Whole Wheat Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
Ok, you caught us. We are big muffin fans around here. And these are the ones I make the most!
Cheddar Chive Egg Bites
These protein-rich, little flavor bombs that will carry you through the day. You can make them ahead and store in the fridge for the week or in the freezer for 3 months.
Make Ahead Yogurt Parfaits
Whether you’re seeking a quick grab-and-go breakfast option, a satisfying snack, or a guilt-free after-dinner indulgence, these Make Ahead Yogurt Parfaits are the perfect solution. With their simplicity and versatility, you’ll find that preparing them is not only easy but also a delicious way to fuel your day.
Banana Breakfast Cookies
These all “real food” cookies are packed with protein, potassium, fiber, and calcium. They’ve been a family favorite for years.
Veggie Sticks with High Protein Ranch Dip
We eat way more veggies throughout the week when I slice up carrots, celery, broccoli, bell pepper strips, and cucumbers and place them in Pyrex glass containers in the fridge.
Veggies are great by themselves, but we love to dip them! Try making our popular high protein Ranch dip and storing in small to-go containers along with baggies of veggies.
Baked Ham and Egg Cups
Ham and Egg Cups might just blow your mind. They did mine. With only three main ingredients, this high-protein recipe could be one of the easiest snacks ever.
Fruit Pizza Roll-Up
Wrap up your favorite fruits, some cream cheese, and a little honey inside a whole wheat tortilla. My kids make these themselves to eat on the way to sports practices.
Peanut Butter Protein Bars
Cut up and wrap these bars separately in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator or freezer for a quick and healthier treat. The refrigerator also keeps them from melting in warm little hands in the car!
Hard Boiled Eggs
Boil eggs, peel and store in the fridge for a filling, protein-rich snack that can be eaten almost anywhere.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls
These freezer-friendly, no-bake oatmeal energy bites come together in minutes and are full of all real food ingredients. I don’t feel quite so bad grabbing a few of these delicious, chocolatey treats! Great for after-school snacks too!
Homemade Chex Mix
This Homemade Chex Mix recipe is easy to whip up, makes your home smell ah-maze-ing as it bakes in the oven, and is an addictive snack food that has proven to be a crowd favorite for decades. The recipe comes from my grandma and its secret sauce is the key to its deliciousness.
Zucchini Breakfast Cookies
Zucchini for breakfast!? Yep. And bananas, oats, and nut butter, too. All in one transportable, super nutritious, tasty COOKIE.
Banana Pumpkin Bread
This is hands-down my family’s favorite whole wheat sweet bread (or muffin) recipe. It’s moist and filled with good-for-you ingredients. Slice the bread and wrap individually. Store in a freezer bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. You may also like our high-protein Gluten-Free Banana Muffins.
Baked Apple Chips
by Delighted Momma
SO good!! The perfect healthy treat!…plus they made my house smell delicious.
Crispy Kale Chips
by Sweet Cayenne
A quick, healthy alternative to potato chips when the craving strikes! Change up the seasoning depending on your mood.
Gluten-Free Banana Muffins
These are some of the easiest and BEST Gluten Free Banana Muffins I’ve ever had. They are made with all real food ingredients and absolutely moist, delicious, and healthy!
Cinnamon Tortilla Rolls
With only 4 pantry ingredients, these are easy enough for kids to make, and they really do taste like mini cinnamon rolls. Yum!
Fruit Salad
Put a little fruit salad in a small Pyrex container with lid. Perfect when riding in the car or at a sporting event.
Turkey Snack Box
by Carmy
Put together a custom lunchable with your kiddos favorite foods.
Protein Cookies
by The Clean Eating Couple
These easy vegan protein cookies can be made with any protein powder and are so delicious! Gluten-free, dairy-free, easy to make, and tasty.
Homemade Granola
This simple granola recipe is one of the easiest and tastiest you will find on the Internet. It’s got 5 main ingredients but you can easily add more if you want to jazz it up. Such a simple, healthy snack!
Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups
by Our Best Bites
Besides the fact that these taste simply amazing, you control exactly what goes in there, and I love that.
Chocolate Banana Muffins
Ok, you caught us. We are big muffin fans around here. But, cross my heart, these baked goods are actually pretty darn good for you and so yummy!
Forget the days of blood sugar crashes or afternoon fatigue. With these healthy grab and go snacks on hand, you’ll always feel prepared and nourished when you’re on the go.
Thank you for all the great gf ideas! I sometimes forget some of these. Love the kind bar recipes!
You’re welcome! I have to keep a list like this for myself, too. 😉
I am always looking for on-the-go snacks. Thank you for sharing. I have a snack bucket in my car for those times we are at the park, or swimming, or running errands, or whatever later than I anticipated or planned and the kids are starving. I like to keep things in there that are healthy but do not require refrigeration. My kids, the oldest is nine, still like the fruit and veggie pouches found in the baby food aisle. If your kids know how to read and have an aversion to the word “baby” you can sometimes find “big kid” veggie pouches in the same aisle as the applesauce pouches. These are great to leave in the car just to have on hand. We also love the Stretch Island Fruit Co, all natural fruit leathers. I will be adding things from this list to our repertoire. Thank you.
Thanks for the ideas! I get ya about the “baby” thing, though. My son would probably turn his nose up. Ha, ha!
Thanks for the great ideas!
You’re welcome! Thanks for sharing them with others, Ashley!