Up Your Summer Snacking With These Healthy Snacks

Eating healthy does not mean you can't enjoy snacks. Snacking is perfectly fine when you snack on healthy snacks. Take a look at some healthy snack options for summer.

 Summertime is my favorite time of the year. From working in my garden to relaxing by the pool, I love summer. While most people do not like the heat of the summer, I love the hot days. Warm weather allows me to wear shorts and summer dresses.

The warm weather of summer forces me to relax more and my new summer gazebo is my favorite place to hang out. I bring my laptop outside and do my work with the sound of my waterfall fountain. I also grab my favorite healthy snacks.  Keep reading to discover some of my favorite snacks that I am enjoying this summer.

Fresh Fruit

Fruit is the perfect healthy snack for summer. It is loaded with plenty of fiber and nutrition. Fruit also has plenty of water in it, so it refreshes you as you eat it. Some of my favorite fruits that I am snacking on right now are apricots, cherries, and honeydew melon.

 

 My favorite way to enjoy fresh fruit, especially melon is with a spicy mango-flavored rimming salt from Twang-a Rita. This rim salt may be designed for drinks but I love it on fruit. The rim salt gives my fruit a sweet and salty taste that is so good! I also use this rim salt on my glass when I am drinking a glass of iced tea. 

Delicious Iced Tea with Health Benefits

 My favorite iced tea that I am enjoying this summer is a Wellness Iced Tea from Herbaly. This iced tea is made with 7 simple ingredients and is loaded with healthy benefits. The tea has a wonderful scent and an incredible taste. I like to brew a big pitcher of this tea and keep it cold in my fridge. That way I can drink it all day.

The tea is certified organic and even the tea bags are made from plant-based ingredients. After you brew the tea, you can throw the tea bags in the compost pile.

Take a look at the Active Herbs, Roots, and Superfoods in the Wellness Tea

 ~ Organic Sencha Leaf

 ~ Organic Ginger Root

 ~ Organic Fennel Seed

 ~ Organic Dandelion Root

 ~ Organic Holy Basil Leaf

 ~ Organic Turmeric Root

 ~ Organic Lavender Petals

Healthy Chips with Protein

 I discovered some healthy tortilla chips from SimplyProtein®. These delicious tortilla chips have 7 grams of protein per serving. The chips are also vegan and gluten-free. The crispy protein chips come in three delicious flavors and are perfect for dipping in salsa. 

My favorite flavor of SimplyProtein Chips is the Sea Salt but I also love the zesty flavor of the Hint of Habanero Chips. The Hint of Lime Protein chips are also so delicious when dipped into homemade guacamole.

Salsa

Salsa is also a healthy snack option and I discovered a new flavor of salsa at Walmart. The Bettergoods Mango Chile salsa is so delicious. I love that it has a hint of spice that is not overpowerful. This salsa is perfect with the SimplyProtein chips. 

Nuts

Nuts like cashews and almonds are also great choices for healthy snacks. They are loaded with protein and healthy fats. So grab a handful of your favorite nuts. My favorite nuts to munch on are cashews, walnuts, pecans, and almonds.

Vegetables

 Raw and cooked vegetables are excellent healthy snacks to enjoy in the summer. You can eat your veggies by themselves or enjoy them with salsa or guacamole. Raw celery tastes great with peanut butter. I like to sprinkle some of the Twang-a Rita seasoning or everything bagel spice on my cooked veggies. My favorite summer veggies that I am enjoying this summer are fresh beet greens and yellow grape tomatoes that are growing in my tower garden.

Snacking is healthy

Some people avoid snacks as they think it is not good for their body but snacking is actually good for your body. Snacking helps you not overeat at meal times and it gives your body a steady supply of energy. So enjoy these healthy summer snack options.

Healthy Snacks and Sweets That You Need To Try

 Snacking is a favorite thing for most people. From chips to candy, snacks are everywhere and they were plentiful at the Snacks & Sweets Expo that I attended in Indianapolis. While sugar and junk food were everywhere, there were plenty of healthy snacks to taste.

 This was my first time attending the Snacks & Sweets conference and I had a wonderful time. The event was a huge event that focused on snacks and sweets that are available in stores. I was simply amazed at all the booths that offered sugary and salty snacks for people to taste. I was also amazed that there were plenty of healthy snacks that I could try.

My focus while I was walking the floor at the expo hall was checking out healthy snacks that were also allergy-friendly. While checking out the booths, I noticed many familiar brands that I had met at Expo West. There were also plenty of new healthy snack brands that I needed to discover.

 While hunting down the snacks, I did have some snack-tasting requirements that I had to follow before I took a bite. This girl loves snacks but with my 4 food allergies, I needed snacks that contained no dairy, wheat, soy, or mushrooms. Mushrooms in snacks? Yes, they are now putting mushrooms in snacks like cookies and crackers.

Please note: I was provided with samples at no cost in exchange for an honest review/mention. I was not otherwise compensated for this post. I received a free entry to the Sweets and Snacks show as a member of the “media.” All opinions are my own. This post contains Amazon affiliate links. If you use these links, I’ll receive a small commission.

So many snack samples!

This huge snacking event also had so many samples that I could take home. So I made sure to grab some snack samples for myself and my boys. My boys love snacks, both healthy and not-so-healthy. So this mom gathered up plenty of snacks.

Sweet or Salty

When it comes to snacking, do you prefer salty or sweet? I am a salty kind of person but I also love my sweets. I try to snack on the healthy stuff but at times, I do love a good piece of chocolate. It just has to be dairy-free chocolate as I have a severe dairy allergy.

Snacking can be healthy and I am here to share with you some of my favorite healthy snacks that I discovered at the Snacks and Sweets Expo. I made three snack categories to make it easier to discover your favorite type of snack items.

~ All of the snacks contain no dairy, wheat, soy, or mushrooms

Sweet Snacks

~ Chocxo Chocolate Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups - These delicious creamy peanut butter cups are not only dairy-free and gluten-free, they are also low in real sugar, organic, Keto certified, kosher, and contain no artificial sweeteners. 

~ Lovo Chocolate Bars - These creamy chocolate bars are made with different types of plant-based milk like oat milk and coconut milk. They are 100% plant-based, vegan, Non-GMO, gluten-free, and Swiss-made

~ Free 2b Sunflower Butter Sun Cups - Those who have nut allergies can enjoy these sunflower butter cups as they are School-Safe and allergy-friendly. They are also Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, and Soy-Free.

~ Bobos Oat Bites - These sweet bites start with organic oatmeal and other delicious organic ingredients. They are dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, wheat-free, soy-free, and contain no trans fats, refined sugars, and corn 

~ Dan The Baking Man - These guilt-free cookies are made with real ingredients and contain no wheat, dairy, soy, or white sugar. The gluten-free cookies come in 3 delicious flavors ~ Chocolate Chip Chunk, Rainbow Sprinkles, and Matcha White Chip.

~ Pur Chewing Gum - This flavorful chewing gum contains no aspartame or sugar. It is also vegan and made with 100% Xylitol. So chewing Pur is good for your teeth. Pur comes in many delicious flavors like chocolate mint and peppermint.

~ Alter Eco Chocolate - This dark chocolate is fair trade and made with 90% pure dark cocoa. It is also Keto-friendly. The touch of Madagascar vanilla makes sure you won't miss the sugar and it guarantees a smooth, creamy melt-in-your-mouth taste.

~ Theo Chocolate - Theo has three new delicious plant-based chocolates that are 70% dark chocolate. The creamy chocolate bars are made with fair Trade organic & non-GMO ingredients. They are also soy-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free. The flavors include Peanut Butter Brittle, Cashew Caramel Crunch, and Hazelnut Crisp.

~ Smart Sweets - This low-sugar gummy candy will satisfy your sweet tooth. Made with stevia and made without any major allergens as ingredients (no tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, milk, eggs, fish, or shellfish. They are sweet soft, and juicy.

~ Nugo Bars - These protein bars taste like candy bars but are loaded with plenty of nutrition like protein and fiber. The gluten-free and vegan bars come in so many delicious flavors like chocolate pretzel and peanut butter. You will have a hard time choosing which bar to enjoy after the gym or as a meal replacement.

~ Lindt LINDOR OatMilk Dark Chocolate Truffles -When I got my dairy-allergy diagnosis, the one chocolate that I had a hard time giving up was Lindor Truffles. So I was so excited to try their new dairy-free truffles. They did not disappoint me as they still had the same creamy smooth chocolate center.

Salty Snacks

~ Top Fox Snacking Seeds - These snacking seeds are so delicious! The flavor-infused sunflower and pumpkin seeds are free of the Top 9 Food Allergies. The seeds go through a unique POP-ROASTED process. The result is an amazing nutty, super crunchy taste that your taste buds can't resist. The best part is they come with no shells.

~ Crunchmaster Crackers - These crunchy baked rice crackers are gluten-free and so delicious! They are perfect for dipping into your favorite dips and for eating by themselves. They come in many varieties like multi-seeded and avocado. 

~ Love Corn - These are better-for-you crunchy corn snacks that are made with simple ingredients and come in bold flavors. They are made with whole crunchy corn kernels, sunflower oil, and seasoning. They are a low-sugar, NON-GMO, kosher, gluten-free & vegan-certified plant-based snack.

~ Henrietta Said Peanuts - Satisfy your wing cravings with these vegan spicy wing-flavored peanuts. They come in 4 delectable flavors ~ Lemon Pepper, Buffalo, Ancho Kinchi, and Nashville Hot.

~ Enjoy Life Lentil Chips - These crunchy lentil chips snacks are allergy-friendly and free of the top food allergies. They are certified gluten-free, wheat-free, peanut-free, tree nut-free, dairy-free, casein-free, soy-free, egg-free, sesame-free, mustard-free, lupin-free, fish-free, shellfish-free, and crustacean-free. They come in many delicious flavors.

~ Season Sardines - These sardines are the perfect high-protein snack. They are rich in omega-3s and are wild-caught. They are also full of flavor and protein. These snack-pack sardines are full of essential vitamins & minerals.

~ Festive Chickpeas - These crunchy snacks are made from chickpeas and are so delicious. They're the perfect snack for adults and kids alike! These healthy bean snacks are packed with protein, iron, and potassium, making them a guilt-free option for munching. Unlike most potato chips and pretzels, they are low in sodium and saturated fats, ensuring a satisfyingly salty alternative without compromising on taste

~  Wonderful Pistachios - These are no-shell pistachios that come in many delicious flavors like Chili Roasted, Honey Roasted, and Roasted Salt. These plant-based protein snacks are Gluten-Free, Kosher Certified, Halal Certified, and Non-GMO Project Verified.

~ Crazy Go Nuts Walnuts - These delicious glazed flavored walnuts come in many flavors like Maple, and Oatmeal Cookie. They are made with 100% California walnuts and contain no added colors, preservatives, or corn syrup.

Energy Snacks

~ Verb Energy Bars - If you are looking for a healthy and delicious afternoon pick-me-up or a before-the-gym energy snack, these caffeinated snack bars are perfect for you. They have as much caffeine as one espresso from Organic Green Tea and come in many delicious flavors like Birthday Cake and Cookie Dough. The snack bars are vegan and gluten-free They are the perfect healthy treat to replace those sugary cups of coffee.

~ Quantum Energy Bars - These caffeinated snack bars are made with wholesome ingredients and plenty of protein. They contain 100 mg of natural caffeine from green coffee beans and are plant-based. They are the perfect snack to give you steady energy for the gym or the workday. They come in many delicious flavors.

~ Rev Gum - This energy gum has 100mg of caffeine - for maximum energy on the go and is perfect for the gym. Get the energy you need without jitters or sugar crashes, all while freshening your breath.

~ Awake Chocolate - Delicious chocolate with caffeine. Each bite contains the caffeine equivalent of 1/2 cup of coffee with no bitter aftertaste. The chocolate is Non-GMO Project Verified, Certified Gluten Free, and Kosher Certified; Each delicious bite contains no artificial flavors or colors.

I had a blast at the Snacks and Sweets Expo and enjoyed discovering all of these healthy snacks. So click on the links to discover more about each snack item. I guarantee that you will add many of the snacks to your shopping list.

Healthy After School Snacks That Kids Will Eat

Sponsored post: This post was sponsored by Pretzel Pete and I received samples of other mentioned products.

It seems that my kids are always hungry

  If you have kids in school, you know how hungry they can be when they get home from school. My boys are starving when they walk in the door after school and after they take their shoes off they head straight to the refrigerator. I have to stop them in their tracks and remind them to first wash their hands before they eat. Schools can be a breeding place for germs so washing hands helps keep my boys from getting sick. I also use some amazing natural products to keep my kids healthy during the school year, discover them HERE. After my boys wash their hands, they are free to have a healthy snack of their choice. I let my boys choose their own snacks as they are older and they know how to prepare their own snack. I stock the pantry and fridge with healthy food options and rarely have junk food in the house so I don't have to worry about my boys eating too many sweets. We on occasion do have ice cream in the freezer or candy in the pantry and the boys know that they have to ask permission to eat those. I don't forbid junk food, I just don't buy it and the boys can have it on occasion. My boys do a good job of eating nourishing food but do need reminders to eat more fruits and veggies.



Have healthy snacks available

 I hear from too many people that they have a hard time not eating junk food like chips, fried foods, and cookies. I like to tell them to not allow the food in the house if it is tempting you. My motto is to buy more fresh food from the farm and less food from the factory. There are plenty of healthy options of food that comes from factories and there is nothing wrong with buying snacks like pretzels, wheat crackers, granola bars, etc. Just try to eat more food like fruits, veggies, nuts, and other plant-based food for a healthy body. I always remind my boys to include a fruit or vegetable and a protein with their snack. So I have snack options available that my boys like so it makes it easier for them to have a healthy snack. My boys have their favorite snacks but I am always introducing them to new healthy snacks Here are some snacks that my boys love to eat for after-school snacks.

Pretzels are the best snack
  My boys think that pretzels are the best food for after-school snacks. They love the crunch and the salty flavor of pretzels. Pretzels are made with simple ingredients like wheat flour. When I buy pretzels, I make sure to get ones without preservatives, artificial coloring and trans-fat. My boys like when I buy them the gourmet pretzels and so does my husband. My husband really likes the honey mustard and onion flavored pretzels. So my family was happy when a box of Pretzel Pete pretzels arrived at our house. My boys were excited to try the many different gourmet pretzel flavors. The flavors of the pretzels were unique and sounded so delicious. I really liked that the pretzels are made in a nut-free manufacturing plant so my older daughter who has a peanut allergy can enjoy them when she comes over to visit.

 When the Pretzel Pete pretzels arrived, my boys could not wait to try them. My boys liked that there was a cheese pizza mini twist pretzel as they do love pizza. My husband had to try the Honey Mustard & Onion Nuggets. The box contained so many different types and flavors of pretzels. There were mini pretzel twists and pretzel nuggets. I loved that some of the bags were sized for one person and would make portion-control so easy for school lunches.

Purchase Pretzel Pete Pretzels and save 15% with discount code 15mombest on Amazon

  Pretzel Pete Pretzels come in flavors like cheese pizza, garlic parmesan, smokey barbecue, and salted caramel. These were not your typical store-bought pretzels they were fancy gourmet pretzels. These delicious pretzels were seasoned with delicious flavors that were hot, spicy, salty or sweet.

 My husband grabbed a couple bags of the Pretzel Pete pretzels so he could bring them to work for his snack drawer. I am glad that my husband likes to eat healthy snacks. These gourmet pretzels came in flavors that even grownups would enjoy.

 I liked that the bags of pretzels had the ingredients and allergens list on them. That way I could enjoy the pretzels that did not contain any dairy. My dairy allergy is not severe so I was ok with the pretzels being produced on shared equipment that also manufactures products with dairy. As long as dairy is not in the ingredients, I could enjoy the pretzels so that meant that I could enjoy the honey mustard and salted caramel pretzels. Enjoy them was what I did. I ate these gourmet pretzels by the handfull. I think the pretzel nuggets were my favorite as they had great crunch in bite-size pieces. The boys and I ate the pretzels for an after-school snack. I like that pretzels are a healthy snack that is ready to eat. When my boys are not enjoying pretzels for their after-school snacks they do have some other snacks that they enjoy and I made a list of them so you can get some ideas for healthy after-school snacks for your kids.

Purchase Pretzel Pete Pretzels and save 15% with discount code 15mombest on Amazon

While pretzels seem to be a family favorite for snacks, my boys also other healthy snacks and below is a list of some snacks. The list includes some new healthy and delicious snacks that we recently discovered.



Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
  My boys love their peanut butter sandwiches and love them for snacks. Peanut butter is a healthy source of protein so this a good choice for a snack. If your kids have nut allergies, then this homemade honey sunflower seed butter is a great substitute. My boys love their sandwiches with homemade honey wheat bread and I encourage them to have some apple slices with their sandwich.

    If your kids are crazy about peanut butter, they just might love these frozen protein ball snacks from Crazy Richards. My boys love the bite-sized snacks that are made with simple ingredients. I love that these all-natural snacks are dairy-free and mess-free. The peanut butter balls are made with dried fruits, oats, and other delicious ingredients that are plant-based, gluten-free, and non-GMO. They make snacking fun but are also great for school lunches. These frozen protein balls come in three flavors like PB & strawberry, PB & cacao, and cinnamon oatmeal.

Apple nachos
 A favorite fall snack that my boys love is apple nachos. You simply drizzle some warm nut butter, that you heat up for a couple of seconds in the microwave, over apple slices. Then sprinkle granola or crushed pretzels on top of the apples. This is a snack that kids can make themselves.





Yogurt parfaits
  My boys can always find vanilla yogurt in the fridge and homemade granola in the pantry. So they can easily make a yogurt parfait with fresh or frozen fruit. Sometimes I will add a tablespoon of chia seeds to some yogurt the night before and then stir in some fruit puree the next day for another type of yogurt parfait. When I have time, I make homemade yogurt with an electric blanket. To add some awesome flavor to the yogurt parfait and some powerful omegas, I like to sprinkle flavored hemp hearts on the yogurt. These raw hemp hearts are so delicious on their own too and they are loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, omegas, and fiber.

Protein bars
  One of my favorite snacks is protein bars and my boys love them too. We recently discovered some delicious Hemp Bars that have 11 grams of protein in them and come in amazing unique flavors like Pumpkin Seed and Spice and lavender pistachio & blueberry. These delicious protein bars are gluten-free and plant-based and loaded with powerful nutrition. So kids can grab one from the pantry when they get home from school.

Hummus and veggies
 Hummus is always a great way to get kids to eat more veggies. I always have some type of homemade hummus in the fridge so it is easy to grab for a snack with some raw carrots. It is so easy to make hummus with a can of beans. My favorite flavor of hummus is a spicy carrot hummus. Head over HERE to get my easy recipe.



Bagels that are loaded with protein
  When we have greek yogurt in the house the boys love to help me make two-ingredient bagels in the air fryer. These bagels are loaded with protein and can also be made in the oven. My boys love shaping the dough into bagels. We always make a double batch so the boys can have them for snacks all week. These bagels are soft and chewy and taste great with cream cheese or peanut butter. The bagels are also great for sandwiches.





Dried fruit

  Dried fruit is another favorite snack that my boys like. I like these portion pack dried fruits from Sunny Fruit as the pouches keep the fruit soft, unlike the ones that come on boxes. My boys got to sample the raisins, figs, and apricots and they loved how moist they were. I love that they are organic and have no added sugar. These snacks are also gluten-free and nut-free and loaded with fiber.

Fruit smoothies



 Smoothies are a great way to get more fruit into kids. My boys can use the mixer and make their own fruit smoothie. I always have frozen blueberries or mangos in my freezer. My boys like mixing the frozen fruit with plant-based milk or vegan protein powder. Sometimes they mix up a banana with chocolate milk and peanut butter for a delightful healthy chocolate treat.

Gluten-Free Chocolate Mocha Protein Brownies

 My boys are glad that I love to bake. They love when I mix up a batch of healthy brownies that are loaded with protein. These delicious brownies are also gluten-free so you can say yes to chocolate brownies for an after-school snack. These brownies can also be made dairy-free and vegan with vegan chocolate chips and an egg substitute. Other sweet treats that I make into healthy versions with vegan protein powder are Dairy Free Peanut Butter Pretzel Protein Bites and Dairy-Free Vegan Chocolate Protein Pancakes.

Healthy cookies



 Yes, cookies can be a healthy after-school snack. You just need to use nutritious ingredients like almond butter or homemade honey sunflower seed butter. Adding ingredients like chia seeds and oatmeal makes the cookies nutritious. You can even make the cookies low sugar if you use a natural zero-calorie sweetener that mixes and tastes like sugar. I love dipping these cookies in vegan chocolate chips and sprinkling them with salt for a delightful taste.

 Since my boys are wanting to do some cooking on their own, I got them a cookbook that teaches them some basic recipes. These recipes are ones that will help them survive adulthood so they won't starve when they live on their own. My youngest son is excited to make granola by himself and some of the other recipes. This cookbook has some great recipes in it that I even want to make.

The Anti-Cookbook also:
•    Breaks down recipes in an easy to follow format
•    Shows how cooking doesn’t need to be complex
•    Reminds us that food is not only nourishment but a chance to sit around the table, share stories and create memories

 These are just some of the healthy after-school snacks that my boys love to eat. Snacking is good for kids and holds them over until dinner. When you replace the junk food in your pantry with healthy snacks, you can feel good about your kids eating a snack after school. These healthy snacks are also great options for school parties and school lunches.

Mochi Is The Perfect 90 Calorie Dairy Free Snack For Summer

    I discovered a delicious dairy-free 90 calorie snack!

          I received samples of My/Mo Mochi Cashew Cream Frozen Dessert.

  I had to give up my favorite summer treat this year as my lactose problems are getting worse. I think it has something to do with getting older or maybe my healthier diet. I am not quite sure but when I eat ice cream, I feel sick for several hours. I can still eat cheese and yogurt which is good but just not things with fresh milk in it. I used to be able to eat ice cream in small portions but not anymore. So I have been having to buy sorbet when I want a frozen treat. Now sorbet is delicious but is not ice cream. I was happy to discover a new dairy-free 90 calorie frozen treat that tastes just like creamy ice cream. This delicious treat satisfies my ice cream craving and then some. 

  My/Mo Mochi Cashew Cream Frozen Dessert is a miraculous match of magnificent mochi dough with marvelously mouthwatering ice cream. These frozen treats take a scoop of frozen cashew cream and wrapped in pillowy mochi dough. These bite-size non-dairy treats come in four amazing flavors! My favorite flavor is the salted caramel. Each bite contains only 90 calories. So I get a treat that is also guilt-free! My/Mo Mochi Cashew Cream Frozen Dessert is also gluten-free and soy-free. The best part is I can find these yummy dairy-free frozen treats at my favorite store.

 My freezer is now stocked for summer with My/Mo Mochi Cashew Cream Frozen Dessert treats and my boys are not allowed to eat them as they don't have dairy issues. I did get them a box of their own My/Mo Mochi Ice Cream, these are the same delicious treats but they are made with ice cream instead of cashew cream. TheMy/Mo Mochi Ice Cream also comes in 8 different flavors.

Which My/Mo Mochi Cashew Cream Frozen Dessert would you like to try?

https://www.mymomochi.com/