Best Healthy Snacks for Busy Summer Days

Most of us only have two modes during summer: lazy Sunday afternoons and week days packed full of activities. Unfortunately, a lot of us resort to fast food and junk when things get hectic. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Here’s a list of the best healthy snacks for the dog days of summer:

1) Fruit and nut butter.

Fast, fresh, and generally heat-proof, the fruit and nut butter combination is a perfect combination of carbs, protein and healthy fats to keep you going all summer long. Some of the best combinations are sliced apples with almond butter, sliced pears with peanut butter, and strawberries with (low-sugar) chocolate hazelnut butter. Yum!

2) Edamame.

Thaw, throw them into a ziploc bag, and run out the door. Edamame are delicious, mess-free, and loaded with protein. They’re also a delicious way to make sure kids get their veggies.

3) Dried fruit and nuts.

Bagged trail mixes are often loaded with sugar and too much chocolate, so make your own! Simply put together a mix of your favorite dried fruits and nuts, divvy them up into ziploc bags, and be on your way. Almonds, walnuts, peanuts, dates, raisins, dried apricots, and dried cherries are all great additions to your homemade trail mix.

4) Vegetables and hummus.

This snack option is very versatile– you can slice up whatever vegetables your heart desires, pair it with your favorite type of hummus, and call it a meal. Some of the common veggie choices are carrots, celery, and sliced cucumbers. If you want to make it even healthier, use homemade hummus.

5) Cereal.

Cereal isn’t just for breakfast. Pick a low-sugar variety of cereal loaded with nuts, seeds, and whole grains, pour it into a tupperware container, and be on your merry way!

6) Whole fruit.

This is the laziest snack in the world: toss a couple apples, bananas or nectarines into your bag, grab a water bottle, and go. It’s even faster than hitting the drive-thru!