7 healthy snack recipes

Photos by Leigh Beisch

There’s a critical moment when you or your kids are hungry for something right now, but the thought of making a good snack seems too complicated. What’s the harm in grabbing a bag of chips or a shrink-wrapped cookie or a handful of gummy bears? The problem, of course, is that all too often those less-than-healthy options become the norm, and they end up sabotaging your and your family’s nutritious-eating and weight-management goals.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Cooking at home is by far the healthiest choice (though there are some convenient purchased snack options that offer solid energy and nutrients). With just a little forethought, a supply of wholesome ingredients, and a small time investment, you can enjoy nourishing, eco-friendly snacks that dazzle the taste buds and leave unhealthy competitors behind.

Alan Roettinger is a writer, food designer, blogger, and public speaker. His most recent cookbook, Speed Vegan  (Book Publishing, 2010), offers quick, easy, plant-based dishes for the time-pressed home cook.