5 Easy Summer Snacks

School may be getting started, but there’s plenty of heat left, so enjoy a few of these simple, healthy snacks! (These are great in any season!)

Spending time outdoors, in nature, at the cottage, and at barbeques doesn’t mean your clean eating has to slip. There are lots of easy, healthy snacks you can eat at your summer social events or on the road. Have fun trying new things as you explore different types of foods on your journey to healthier, vibrant, energized living. Part of being truly healthy is connecting to your food in the kitchen.It doesn’t have to take a lot of time. All of these snacks listed below will take you 10 minutes or less to make!

1) Superfood Trail Mix

Combine nutrient dense foods like raw nuts and seeds and sulfite-free dried fruit. Add in some superfoods like goji berries, mulberries, golden berries, and raw cacao nibs. Throw in some unsweetened shredded coconut flakes. There are so many different variations you can do to make a filling trail mix that is fun to eat and good for you.

2) Fresh fruit and nuts or seeds

If you don’t have time to make a trail mix, then grab an apple, orange, pear, or handful of nuts or seeds in a ziplock bag, and you’ve got a great quick snack that offers you protein, essential fatty acids, enzymes, and a variety of micronutrients. If you have time, cut up a fruit and enjoy some fresh pineapple or papaya, or just grab a container of antioxidant-rich berries, grapes, or cherries. Did you know that soaking your nuts and seeds makes them healthier and easier to digest? Read more on “Go Soak Your Nuts.”

3) Homemade Guacamole or Hummus with Gluten-Free Crackers

Avocadoes are so healthy, delicious, and filling. Make your favorite batch of guacamole with some gluten-free, healthy crackers or tortilla chips. Try a different variation of guacamole every time you make it. For example, use basil or parsley instead of cilantro, lemon instead of lime, add green peas or hemp seeds for extra protein, or even try berries or diced apples in it! Hummus doesn’t always have to be made with chickpeas either! Experiment with different beans like a lentils, black beans, or red beans. Try “Gracious Living Protein Guacamole."

4) Delicious Smoothies

Smoothie drinking doesn’t have to be boring! With a little bit of research and inspiration, you could make a different smoothie every single day for at least a month or more! There are so many amazing ingredients you could add to your smoothies to make it vegan, creamy, and rich, so it tastes like ice cream or dessert. Sunwarrior Warrior Blend is an amazing plant protein base to your smoothie that makes it uber creamy and divinely delicious, but also satisfying. When a smoothie is properly balanced, it becomes a complete, delicious meal in a glass! Read “9 Steps to Making the Best Smoothies In The World.”

5) Homemade Protein Bars

Protein bars are so easy to make, and the best thing is you can make a big batch and keep them in your fridge or freezer. You can make so many different variations with different nuts, seeds, superfoods, and natural sweeteners. They are also fantastic for satisfying chocolate cravings. When you use raw cacao, you are getting a dose of magnesium, a mineral many of us are deficient in. Try Grace’s “10 Minute Raw Chocolate Protein Bars.”

Here are a bunch of yummy smoothies to get you started!