Healthy Snack Ideas for Your Self-Quarantine

You already know about hummus and veggies, coconut milk yogurt with paleo granola and fruit, corn-free tortilla chips with salsa - that’s not the kind of snack list you need right now. So here are some out-of-the-box snack ideas to mix things up a bit while we’re all home-bound.

Avocado Halfsies

• Cut an avocado in half, remove the pit
• Squeeze lime or lemon juice on it
• Level up: add a sprinkle of freeze dried red onion, fresh or dry cilantro, and/or a dash of hot sauce
• Enjoy with a spoon and use the peel as a “bowl”

Nuts on a Log

A crunchy snack so you don’t go “nuts”.

• Celery sticks with nut (or seed) butter
• Level up: add raisins or dried currants for an update on “ants on a log”

Cucumber Tea Un-Sandwiches

Like tea sandwiches but not.

• Slice cucumbers
• Spread a layer of Kite Hill dairy-free “cream cheese” or ricotta “cheese”
• Level up: add small pieces of wild caught smoked salmon (or whatever smoked salmon you were able to snatch up at Costco) and sprinkle a few capers on top
• Variation: this also works with egg salad topped with TJ’s “Everything but the Bagel” seasoning blend
• Enjoy with a cup of tea and pretend you're in England. Pinkies up!

Not-BLTs

This one stands for brown rice tortilla, lettuce and tomato.

• Cut a brown rice tortilla into quarters and toast them
• Add a thin layer of olive oil-based or avocado oil-based mayo (like Sir Kensington’s or Chosen Foods)
• Layer with sliced tomato and your favorite lettuce (or what you were able to find in the store - this works great with butter lettuce or romaine)
• Level up: nitrate free turkey bacon

(Don’t) Go Bananas

This frozen treat is sure to be a kid-favorite, and you guys deserve it because homeschooling is hard on everyone. (Yes, we know we don’t usually recommend bananas, but desperate times call for flexibility, right?)

Yield: 2 servings

• 2 ripe bananas (best if frozen), cut into 1 inch chunks
• 2 cups almond milk or other unsweetened non-dairy “milk”
• 2 tbsp creamy almond butter or other nut butter
• 2 scoops of vanilla or chocolate protein powder (Plant Fusion works well)
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon 
• Optional: 2 tsp raw or manuka honey
• Small handful of ice cubes (about 4-5 ice cubes)

Add all ingredients to a high speed blender, adding the almond milk first. Blend until smooth. If the smoothie is too thin, add more ice. If it’s too thick, add more almond milk.

Vitamin C-for-All

Any of these combos are super high in vitamin C, which is good because everyone is sold out of Buffered Vitamin C supplements.

• Bell peppers with lemon juice
• Fruit salad with strawberries, mango, papaya and kiwi
• Roasted broccoli, cauliflower and brussel sprouts tossed in lemon juice and avocado oil 
• Kale chips tossed in - you guessed it - lemon juice! And sea salt.

Hopefully, this list has given you some ideas to perk up your snacks. Thankfully, produce sections have remained plentiful, a stark contrast to those empty toilet paper aisles and chicken shortages. Remember, the more vegetables and fruits you and your family manage to eat each day supports your immune system, so keep doing your best. And if you find you need a little extra support or personalized advice, we’re here for you.

ROBIN FOROUTAN, MS, RDN, HHC Robin is a registered dietitian nutritionist specializing in Integrative Medicine, Functional Medicine and holistic healing modalities. She helps her clients address complicated conditions and return to wellness.	STEPHANIE MANDEL, NC, HEALTH COACH Stephanie is a Holistic Nutrition Consultant and Emotional Freedom Technique practitioner with a passion for helping her clients fulfill their potential through both emotional and physical optimization.