In this article, you’ll find a list of my favourite healthy snacks for when you’re on the go. These snacks are free of gluten, grains, dairy, soy, industrial vegetable and seed oils, artificial sugar and sweeteners and other unhealthy ingredients. If you’re following a paleo, low-carb, keto, AIP or plant-based diet, there’s lots of great options here for you.
How often do you find yourself in the air, on the road, behind a desk or running errands with no healthy food options when your hunger pains strike?
In today’s fast-paced world it’s easy to get suckered into the overwhelming amount of crappy snack options. Not only are people pressed for time these days, but they’re also short on places to get good quality food and snacks.
Keeping your kitchen stocked with easy ‘grab and go’ snacks is a great way to avoid getting caught in old eating patterns.
Below, you’ll find a list of snack foods that I keep my cupboards, fridge and freezer stocked with. On days when I’m on the go, I pack my bag with a couple of these items in case hunger strikes and I’m still far from home.
Healthy Snacks When You’re On The Go
Pack these wholefood snacks in a zip-lock bag or container and take them with you …
Do you remember the days when you use to ride your pedal bike out to the local convenience store, pull out couch change from your pockets and go to town on Sour Keys, Fun Dip, Ring Pops, Big Foot – and a giant Freezie if you had enough coin?!?!
If I had to draw “Jen’s Food Plate” (from age 4 to 24), I’m certain 50% of that plate consisted of candy. No doubt about it, I was hooked on the white crystals.
Going back to my little Jen days, I remember Halloween (and the months following) being a VERY stressful time of the year for me. I turned into a top secret agent trying to hide my hard earned candy from my three sugar hungry brothers!
I’d hide out under tables and in closets munching on Mars bars and Skittles, hoping that no one would see me or the killer hiding spots I had for my sack of gold (aka. plastic grocery bag of sugar). AND if my brothers managed to find and tap into my stash, little Jen grew mean and Sour Ball green!
My days of popping Cherry Blasters should have ended in my teens, BUT instead, University was the peak of my sugar addiction! I remember late night candy runs to the 7 Eleven down the street from my dorm. My roommates and I would load up on bags of candy to get us through our late night study sessions.
Then check out this brilliant move I made … during my last years of school, I moved into a condo that had a Tutti Frutti candy store attached to it! Let’s just say, things spiraled down at that point – and it didn’t look as pretty as the spiral on a Lollipop.
You might be wondering what happened after my University days? Well, the muffin top growing out of my jeans was enough for me to kick my 20 + years of sugar addiction. “Jen’s Food Plate” from age 25 onward changed drastically – and so did my health because of it.
Knowing what I know now, I realize that all the refined sugar I was consuming (in combination with other low-quality foods) had a lot to do with issues I was dealing with like acne, psoriasis, messed up and painful periods, mood swings, fatigue, weight gain, and IBS.
I was able to correct many of these issues by cleaning up my diet and steering clear of “foods” that contained refined sugars. I never want to go down the path of sugar addiction again so I do my best to avoid foods that may be a trigger for me.
FAQ ..
Q: Do you miss candy? A: Um, ya! Who wouldn’t?! ?
Q: Was it hard to kick your sugar cravings? A: Yes, but only for the first 2-weeks or so, then I was able to re-engage with society. ?
Q: What do you eat now when you crave candy while binge watching Game of Thrones with your BF? A: SmartSweets!!! ?
That’s right, I eat candy again – and I’m proud of it!
I never thought I’d see the day where I’d be munching on a bag of Gummy Bears or Sweet Fish (my personal favourite) and not feel guilty or shitty for it.
SmartSweets are brilliant – and I highly recommend them if you’re looking for a healthy, sugar free candy to satisfy your sweet tooth.
FRUITY GUMMY BEARS: Soluble fibre from tapioca, gelatin, chicory root fibre, citric acid, malic acid, fruit and vegetable juice (for colour), natural fruit flavour, coconut oil, stevia leaf extract, carnauba wax. GET IT HERE!
SOUR GUMMY BEARS: Soluble fibre from tapioca, chicory root fiber, gelatin, lactic acid, citric acid, rice flour, malic acid, fumaric acid, natural fruit flavor, fruit and vegetable juice (for color), coconut oil, stevia, carnauba wax. GET IT HERE!
SWEET FISH: Soluble fibre from tapioca, pectin, natural fruit flavor, citric acid, malic acid, carrageenan, fruity and vegetable juice (for color), coconut oil, stevia leaf extract, carnauba wax. GET IT HERE!
SOUR BLAST BUDDIES: Soluble fibre from tapioca, lactic acid, pectin, chicory root fiber, rice flour, fumaric acid, malic acid, citric acid, fruity and vegetable juice (for color), natural fruit flavor, coconut oil, carrageenan, spirulina extract (for color), stevia leaf extract, carnauba wax. GET IT HERE!
This easy Dairy Free Pesto is the perfect complement to so many dishes! It’s quick to make and adds a ton of flavour to vegetables, meat, fish & even eggs! Plant-based, paleo, low-carb & keto. AIP version provided (see recipe notes).
Is your herb garden bursting with the amazing aroma of fresh basil? Or maybe you’re like me and just adore the smell and taste of this beautiful herb?
Summer is the perfect time to create fresh and flavourful pesto sauce since you can easily find fresh basil in the grocery stores, at farmer’s markets and in your own backyard if you’re the green thumb type!
From time to time I make a batch of pesto and store it in a small mason jar in my fridge. This makes it super easy to add fresh flavour to almost all my dishes throughout the week. You can also store your pesto in the freezer for longer (ice cubes trays are great for this).
Pesto goes great with a variety of whole foods including:
DID YOU KNOW? Traditionally, basil has been used to help reduce bloating and water retention, stomach cramps, acid reflux, and even to kill stomach worms or parasites. In addition, basil can help restore the body’s proper pH by balancing acid levels. Healthy bacteria can flourish in the gut when acid levels are balanced which leads to better digestion and a stronger immune system.
This easy Dairy Free Pesto is the perfect complement to so many dishes! It's quick to make and adds a ton of flavour to vegetables, meat, fish & even eggs! Plant-based, paleo, low-carb & keto. See AIP version in recipe notes.
Pulse basil, pine nuts and garlic in food processor. Scrape sides if needed.
Slowly stream in olive oil as the food processor is running on low. Scrape sides occasionally.
Stir in sea salt and black pepper after processing.
Use right away or store in an air-tight jar in the fridge. Use within a week or store in the freezer for up to a month (ice cube trays are great for this).
Notes
For AIP version, omit pine nuts and black pepper and add 1 tbsp nutritional yeast.
My mission is to help women heal their gut, lose weight and feel great through simple and delicious smoothies, whole food nutrition & healthy lifestyle habits.
