Healthy Recipes Mealtimes Healthy Snack Recipes 20 Snacks You Should Be Making, Not Buying By Alex Loh Alex Loh Alex Loh is EatingWell's associate food editor. As part of the food team, she creates healthy, delicious recipes for the EatingWell audience. Alex also writes informative food and cooking articles that range from how to store ground beef to the best picks from Trader Joe's. Alex conducts product and taste tests to find the best options, from salad spinners to salsas. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Published on May 30, 2020 Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, is nutrition editor for EatingWell. She is a registered dietitian with a master's in food, nutrition and sustainability. In addition to EatingWell, her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Real Simple, Parents, Better Homes and Gardens and MyRecipes. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Trending Videos Close this video player Once you make these snack recipes, you won't want to buy the store version again. These homemade versions are much healthier options and you can customize flavors depending on your tastes. Since these snacks aren't processed, the sodium levels are much lower than store-bought ones. Recipes like Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Granola Bars and Air-Fryer Crispy Chickpeas are tasty, nutritious and the perfect afternoon bite. 01 of 20 Peanut Butter Energy Balls View Recipe These healthy peanut butter and chocolate energy balls deliver a mixture of simple and complex carbohydrates to help fuel you up whenever you need a little boost. They're no-bake and easy to make with ingredients you probably have on hand, like oats and nut butter. Feel free to experiment with different mix-ins--for example, dried fruit or chopped nuts--in place of the chocolate chips and coconut. Source: Eatingwell.com, August 2019 02 of 20 Cinnamon-Sugar Roasted Chickpeas View Recipe Roasting canned chickpeas until crispy makes a simple and healthy snack. In this riff on candied nuts, chickpeas are coated with cinnamon sugar to make them irresistible! This snack is best enjoyed the day it is made. Source: EatingWell.com, August 2018 03 of 20 Lemon-Parm Popcorn View Recipe Perk up your popcorn with a bit of lemon pepper and Parmesan cheese. Source: EatingWell Magazine, January/February 2011 04 of 20 Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Granola Bars View Recipe These easy-to-make homemade granola bars are inspired by the flavors of a classic oatmeal chocolate chip cookie. But feel free to vary the mix-ins to your preference. We tested several sticky sweeteners, including maple syrup and honey, but found brown rice syrup held the bars together the best. Source: EatingWell.com, October 2017 05 of 20 Microwave Potato Chips View Recipe You don't need a deep fryer to make crispy potato chips. We toss thinly sliced potatoes with just a touch of olive oil, pop them in the microwave and voilà! Crispy, crunchy homemade potato chips with 8 grams less fat per serving than regular chips. Source: EatingWell Magazine, January/February 2009 06 of 20 Homemade Trail Mix View Recipe Try this with portable mix with any combination of dried fruits and nuts. Source: EatingWell Magazine, Fall 2002 07 of 20 Pumpkin Seeds with Everything Bagel Seasoning View Recipe Everything bagel spices give these roasted pumpkin seeds an extra hit of flavor that's delicious any time of day. Source: EatingWell.com, October 2017 08 of 20 Mango-Date Energy Bites View Recipe Sweet, sticky dates act as the glue for these no-cook energy balls. Perfect for hikes or during sports, this healthy snack travels well. 09 of 20 Sweet Potato Chips View Recipe Make perfectly crunchy veggie chips at home with this healthy recipe. Use a mandoline to slice the sweet potatoes extra-thin for the optimum crunch! Source: EatingWell.com, December 2016 10 of 20 Air-Fryer Crispy Chickpeas View Recipe Air-fried chickpea snacks are intensely flavored and incredibly crunchy. Drying the chickpeas is essential to a good crunch, so don't skip this step. If you have time, leave them out on the counter to dry for an hour or two before frying. Source: EatingWell.com, January 2019 11 of 20 Chile-Lime Peanuts View Recipe These spicy nuts were inspired by ones sold by street vendors across Mexico. If you can only find salted peanuts, omit the added salt. Add the maximum amount of cayenne pepper if you want an extra hit of spice. Source: EatingWell Magazine, November/December 2010 12 of 20 Homemade Multi-Seed Crackers View Recipe Turn leftover brown rice and quinoa from dinner or meal-prepping into these delicious crispy crackers that are loaded with three good-for-you seeds--and create an everything-bagel flavor, without the bagel. The whole grains that make up this copycat cracker recipe add lots of fiber for a healthy snack that pairs perfectly with hummus or cheese. Source: EatingWell.com, August 2018 13 of 20 Apricot-Sunflower Granola Bars View Recipe Easy to make at home, these nut-free granola bars can be adjusted to your taste preferences. Simply vary the add-ins to your taste, swapping 2 cups of any combination of small (or chopped) dried fruit, seeds and/or chocolate chips for the apricots and seeds in this version. We tested several sticky sweeteners, including maple syrup and honey, but found brown rice syrup held the bars together the best. Source: EatingWell Magazine, September/October 2017 14 of 20 Fruit Energy Balls View Recipe Make a big batch of these no-bake energy balls to keep on hand when hunger strikes or you need a healthy pick-me-up. Source: EatingWell Magazine, March 2019 15 of 20 Roasted Buffalo Chickpeas View Recipe Soaking chickpeas in vinegary hot sauce gives them a mouthwatering tang before they crisp up in the oven. The result? An addictively crunchy snack that's actually good for you. Source: EatingWell.com, November 2017 16 of 20 Everything Bagel Microwave Popcorn View Recipe Full of umami-rich flavors inspired by the classic bagel, this easy popcorn snack is sure to make your mouth water. Source: EatingWell.com, November 2018 17 of 20 Sweet and Salty Roasted Nuts View Recipe Spicy seasonings add a bit of zing to roasted nuts for an appetizer that's perfect for any occasion. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine 18 of 20 Coconut Fruit & Nut Bars View Recipe With just five ingredients, these simple, no-bake energy bars are tastier than any bars you can buy! Dates, cashews, almonds and coconut whir up in the food processor for an easy homemade version of a Larabar. Pack one up for a healthy snack for work, or send some off with your kids for an energizing snack before soccer practice. Source: EatingWell.com, October 2018 19 of 20 Spiced Crackers View Recipe Give plain crackers a flavorful boost when you roast them with paprika and oregano. For a touch of smokiness, try smoked paprika instead of regular. Serve with hummus, cheese or your favorite dip. Source: EatingWell Magazine, November/December 2018 20 of 20 Gorp View Recipe Try customizing this basic recipe with your favorite dried fruits and nuts. Source: EatingWell Magazine, Spring 2004 Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit