Healthy snacks are a great idea all year round: They’re an excellent way to make sure you’re getting proper nutrition when those mid-afternoon munchies hit you hard; they give you lots of energy to stay focused and alert; and they keep you on track to meet fitness goals. But healthy snacks are especially handy in the fall. That’s when cold weather can make you more prone to head indoors and curl up with a pumpkin spiced latte than suit up and go for a jog in 40-degree weather (no judgment, we're right there with you!). Fall is also when opportunities to indulge in holiday treats start up on almost a daily basis.
Be prepared to swerve temptation with satisfying, healthy fall snacks that you can make yourself in a few easy steps with fresh ingredients. While simple snacks like apples, dry-roasted nuts, and baby carrots are great, quick, and healthy hunger tamers, homemade snacks are a smart way to check off a few nutrition benefits in one treat. They also beat out many store-bought healthy snacks that claim to be healthy but can actually be empty calorie bombs that are loaded with hidden sugars, and a truckload of artificial ingredients to make up for flavor and nutrients lost during processing, as well as not-so-great fats. Check out these satisfying healthy fall snacks that require just a little of your time for delicious results, and get even more ideas for amazing fall bites from Noom, the weight-loss and healthy lifestyle program.
Dried 5-Spice Asian Pears
Packaged dried fruit tend to be weighed down by buckets of sugar, pretty much rendering any health benefit null and void. This recipe is the soul of simplicity with just a few ingredients and no added sweeteners, just the floral bouquet of Asian pears (great for heart, blood and bone health) layered with Chinese 5-spice powder (featuring cinnamon and peppercorn). Best of all, your oven does most of the work. Get the full receipe instructions at againstthegrain.com.
Butternut Squash Hummus
Hummus is a classic healthy snack boasting lots of fiber, protein, and healthy fats, one of many ideas suggested by Noom, to incorporate the Mediterranean diet in your weight loss plan. But add the delicate flavor and vitamin power of fall favorite butternut squash to the traditional chickpea spread, and, well, mind blown. Butternut squash helps keep skin and hair healthy, aids digestion and is full of potassium. Food Network star Ina Garten also uses Greek yogurt, which makes it boosts the protein. Get the recipe at foodnetwork.com.
Black Bean Chocolate Chili Cherry Cookies
This cookie is miraculously decadent in taste but not in empty calories: It combines the richness of dark chocolate; a sweet-and-tart punch from dried cherries (you can also use dried cranberries); and a bit of a kick, thanks to a dash of cayenne pepper. But it’s the black beans — which you can’t taste — that make it a truly healthy fall snack. They’re high in protein, fiber, and antioxidants that lower the risk of heart disease and cancer. For the full recipe, visit mynewroots.org.
Fig and Cottage Cheese on Crispbread
Is there a fruit more glorious than the fig, whose season stretches into early fall? It’s got beautiful colors, a luxurious texture, and a sweet center — and is a little known source of calcium and iron. Combined with high-protein cottage cheese and a crispbread or whole wheat toast, it's a satisfying fall snack. The topper is amazing, too: creamy pistachios, which help lower blood sugar, and are one of 30 perfectly portable post-workout snack ideas featured on Noom. For the fig and cottage cheese recipe, visit fruiteriedollard.com.
Oil Free Baked Veggie Chips
Fall vegetables are easy to turn into healthy fall snacks — just turn them into oil-free, baked chips! Featuring red and golden beets, zucchini, carrots, sweet potatoes, and rutabaga, this batch of crispy mostly root veggies gives you a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. Just top them with your fave spice or herb mix, and you’re set. Get the info on how to make them at thebigmansworld.com.
Pumpkin Spice Latte Energy Bites
Who’s ready to change the name "fall" to pumpkin spice season? Yeah, us too, especially when we can get the flavor of the iconic Starbucks pumpkin spice latte without the hardcore calories, thanks to these vegan energy bites. The protein balls rely on pureed pumpkin and a touch of stevia for a mild sweetness, and oats and a plant-based unsweetened protein powder for an energy boost. Best of all, no baking necessary! Learn how to make them at amyshealthybaking.com.
Grain Free Multi-Seed Crackers
File this under things we had no idea existed: A cracker that's all seeds, no grains. And what super seeds they are! Pumpkin, flax, chia, and sunflower seeds pack these I-Can't-Give-Up-Crackers crackers with fiber, a myriad minerals, and healthy fats. The recipe is ultra-simple and they're done in an hour, ready to be enjoyed with your favorite healthy dip. Get the full instructions at eatingrules.com.
Roasted Eggplant Yogurt Dip
Two superstar fall ingredients, eggplant and pomegranate, shine in this take on Middle Eastern baba ganoush or labneh, with Greek yogurt added for extra protein. More protein means more fuel to build lean muscle with a 15-minute dumbbell workout cooked up by Noom. Dip everything from pita chips to endives into this snack, and you’re getting walloped with vitamin C, fiber and potassium—not to mention tons of flavor. Get the recipe at toriavey.com.
