Becoming a mom was the catalyst that sparked a healthier lifestyle for me and my family. Now, as a mom of four, I have learned that one of my biggest responsibilities is to always have snacks on hand. Whether it’s for a hangry toddler, who is seconds away from a meltdown in the store, or for me, who once again managed to feed four tiny humans, but neglected to feed myself.
I usually opt for meat sticks and bars while on the go, but when hunger strikes at home, I prefer to make “mini meals” instead of healthy, processed snacks. With a little bit of planning and prepping ahead, I can usually come up with a healthy snack that will hold me or my kids over until the next meal. I’ll share some of my favorite Whole30® compliant snacks and recipes below.
1. Hot Dip
The number one question I get on social media is, “What’s hot dip?” I wish I could tell you it’s super fancy, but it’s really just homemade mayo with hot sauce. Try dipping veggies like carrots and peppers in it or eating some leftover chicken or pork with it. I love sneaking in additional ingredients like Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides, which is flavorless and odorless. (Besides being a professional snack dispenser, I’m also a magician.
Ingredients:
- 1 C avocado oil
- 1 egg
- 1 T lemon juice
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 scoop Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
- 2 T (or more or less) hot sauce
Directions:
- Blend everything with an immersion blender in a wide mouth mason jar.
Note: If you leave out the hot sauce, you’ll have homemade mayo! Sometimes I’ll make mayo, pour half of it into a second jar, and then stir in my hot sauce to make hot dip. That way I’ll have two dipping options for my little humans to choose between.
2. Hard Boiled Eggs with Hot Dip and Everything Bagel Seasoning
If you’re not making a dozen hard boiled eggs at the beginning of each week, you’re missing out on one of the easiest ways to snack healthy. I love a good deviled egg, but I don’t usually have the time to make them, so I’ve settled on these hard-boiled eggs with hot dip and everything bagel seasoning, and they’re pretty tasty! I make my hard-boiled eggs in my Instant Pot. Here’s what I do:
Ingredients:
- Eggs
- 1 C water
- Everything but the Bagel Seasoning, to taste
Directions:
- Pour 1 cup water into the bottom of your Instant Pot.
- Add the stainless-steel tray to the bottom of the IP and stack eggs on the tray.
- Secure the lid and seal the venting valve.
- Select “manual” and adjust the timer so it reads 5 minutes.
- Once the cooking cycle has completed, quick release the pressure and wait for it to escape.
- Once safe to open the lid, remove the eggs and place them in an ice bath for at least 10 minutes.
- Peel the eggs and store them in the fridge until ready to use.
- When hunger strikes, cut an egg in half, add a spoonful of hot dip on top and sprinkle with everything bagel seasoning.
3. Lettuce Wraps with Lunch Meat and Pickle Spears
While you have some mayo or hot dip on hand, here’s another simple snack for you! I love these because they have protein, veggies and healthy fats to keep me satiated until mealtime. Besides the homemade mayo, I almost always have the rest of these ingredients on hand, which means I can easily throw them together before anyone gets too hangry. As always, you’ll want to read labels closely to make sure that the lunch meat and pickles are Whole30® compliant, but once you find a brand that works for you, simply keep it as a staple in your fridge.
Ingredients:
- Romaine leaves
- Whole30® compliant lunch meat
- Pickle spears
- Mayonnaise, hot dip, mustard or whatever you like on a sandwich
Directions:
- Take a crunchy, sturdy lettuce, like romaine, and set it on a plate.
- Spread some mayo on the lettuce.
- Take a piece or two of lunch meat and wrap it around a pickle spear.
- Place the wrapped pickle on top of the mayo and then fold the lettuce leaf.
4. Cilantro Guacamole
If my husband proposed to me with an avocado, I would’ve said yes! I love them (and him) that much! You’ve seen the memes about avocados being perfectly ripe for, like, one minute, right? As soon as I notice that my avocados are getting soft, I throw them in the fridge, and they’ll last me another week in there! Now that I have them on hand, I can easily throw together guacamole in a matter of minutes. We dip veggies or eat it by the spoonful! I prefer mine with fresh cilantro, but if that’s not something you keep stocked in your fridge, you can just substitute dried cilantro.
Ingredients:
- 3 large (6 small) avocados
- 2 scoops Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
- 1 C fresh, chopped cilantro (or 1 T dried cilantro)
- 1 T lime juice
- 1 t salt
- 1/2 t cumin
- 1/4 t pepper
Directions:
- Mash the avocados until smooth, and then stir in the rest of the ingredients.
5. Sweet Potato Toast
If you’re anything like me, you don’t always have time to peel and slice sweet potatoes . . . but did you know you can buy frozen sweet potato toast in most grocery stores now? The brand I use takes 15 minutes to bake in the oven, and in that time I can prep the rest of the ingredients. Here are two suggestions for what to put on your sweet potato toast, but feel free to use what you have on hand and make it your own!
Ingredients:
- 2 T nut butter
- 2 scoops Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
- 1 small banana, sliced
- Unsweetened coconut flakes
- Cinnamon
Directions:
- Mix collagen into nut butter.
- Spread the nut butter on the cooked sweet potato toast.
- Layer banana slices on top.
- Sprinkle unsweetened coconut flakes and cinnamon to taste.
Savory Potato Toast
Ingredients:
- 2 T guacamole
- 2 scoops Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
- Leftover protein, like diced chicken or ground beef
Directions:
- Mix collagen into guacamole.
- Spread the guacamole on the cooked sweet potato toast.
- Add the leftover protein on top and dig in!
When it comes to leading a healthy lifestyle, you have to be prepared. That doesn’t necessarily mean you need to have every meal of every day planned out, but you need to have a few essentials on hand (and prepped, preferably) to pull from. By keeping a few simple ingredients stocked in your pantry and fridge, you can throw together nutrient-dense snacks and meals to stay nourished and buy yourself some time to figure out the bigger plan. If I can manage to get healthy food on my plate while breaking up sibling squabbles and potty training a toddler, then there is hope for anyone who wants to change their life! Here’s to snacking healthier and enjoying delicious food in 2020!