16 Snacks For Easy Meal Prep

Alright confession time. I'm a snacker. I've tried to get help for it, but the group kicked me out for sneaking snacks in. lol. Okay, if your like me, your on the go and need easy snacks. And not just easy snacks, healthy easy snacks. I've put together a list of snacks for easy meal prep that I can always rely on!

Remember sometimes healthy snacks can be ruined with processing or added sugar, so always go for au natural! 

1. Bananas and PB

I love mixing up 1 tbsp of natural almond butter and 1 tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut. Then I slice my banana and dip. It is absolute heaven in my mouth!

2. Fruit

Ya you heard me. Plain and simple. Fruit. Easiest way to have it ready, wash and slice when brought home. I like to fold a piece of paper towel in the bottom of the container. This prevents them from going moldy to quick.

3. Popcorn

Popcorn is one of those snacks that if you love it, you LOVE it! As long as it's air popped and measured into a portion, I approve! I had a friend recommend coconut oil on top, try it! I promise it won't disappoint.

4. Roasted pumpkin/squash seeds

If you enjoy spaghetti squash like me, what do  you do with your seeds? Don't waste them, roast them. Toss in healthy fat (avocado or olive oil), salt and pepper and bake them. Excellent salty snack.

5. Veggies and guacamole

One of the best snacks I pack for work is a big ole bag of veggies. My favs are carrots, celery, radish and cucumber. Really they can be what ever you prefer, just rinse,cut and bag. I like the convenience of the mini guac cups from Costco.

6. Apple chips

If you haven't sampled these at costco, you must be going on the wrong days. I love love love apple chips. Best part is they're organic, no additives, just dried apple slices. 

7. Cottage cheese

This is another one of those love or hate foods. But honestly a great source of protein to keep you full till your next meal. You can also spice it up with some cinnamon, salt or a dab of honey.

8. Fruit and yogurt

I always stock strawberries and pineapple in my fridge. Slice them up and add some greek yogurt, and you have a total tasty snack.

9. Apples and pumpkin spice

A summer favourite for me when the apples are the sweetest, slice and sprinkle with some pumpkin spice. It's almost like biting into an apple pie!

10. Shakeology

What list would be complete without the best snack, Shakeology! I mix mine with 1/3 coconut milk 2/3 water for an extra creamy texture. Toss in some berries or 1/2 banana, and you sure to kill any bad craving in its tracks.

11. Kale chips

Oh kale, how for thy love you! The best way to eat kale is bakes with olive oil and salt! Although, I've seen a ton of recipes on Pinterest with different seasonings. Another thing you must try, if you haven't already.

12. Homemade trail mix

No store bought! They're full of added salt and too many yogurt balls. Instead head to your local bulk food store and pick up some or your fav unsalted nut varieties. Take them home and mix in a big container. reach in for 1/2 cup when you need a snack.

13. Hard boiled eggs

Another very easy snack. I boil mine for 12 minutes, peal and bag in pairs. Store in the fridge and grab on the go. Now since they are pre-pealed, no mess either.

14. Lara bars

please save these for emergencies. I mean no groceries in the fridge and you gotta make a few errands before hitting the grocery store. My two go to flavours are Coconut Cream and Apple, but really they all taste great!

15. Celery and PB

I'll be honest, I say PB but I really mean almond butter. I follow a mostly paleo diet, so legumes are off the menu. That's okay though, almond butter does me just fine.

16. Spinach salad

Sometimes this can easily become a meal with some meat added, but also great as a snack. I enjoy mine with strawberries, walnuts and balsamic vinaigrette.

Hope these help a little when prepping for the day.

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10 Tips That Make Meal Prep Easier For Me

So I'm gonna start off with a bit of history about the old me. Lets rewind back to a year ago. Meal prepping was not my forte. It meant pulling out the chicken nuggets and KD when I got home, turning on the oven and starting the water. Do you see meal prep anywhere there?? Nope. Nadda. It just didn't happen. 

So, lets fast forward a year to today. I know I need to sit down every week and plan what the famjam is eating. I need to prep my meals for work and make sure hubby has food for those days too. Technically I have 2 jobs, one is Health and Fitness Coach and the other is Licensed Pharmacy Technician in a hospital. So this momma is busy and needs to plan ahead to stay on track. 

Over the last year I've tried many ways and plans of attack on meal prepping and these are my top 10 tips!

1. Make a plan

As the saying goes, "Failing to plan, is planning to fail". Same applies to your meal prep. You have to know what the heck your eating to buy groceries and prep it. And trust me, once you start planning and prepping meals, you will actually save on groceries. This happening because you won't waste as much. How many of you chuck veggies or fruit because you intended to eat it, but just didn't fit it in??

PRO Tip: Save your plan and use it for another week. You don't have to start from scratch every week, maybe have a few plans you rotate through!

2. Stick to your grocery list.

Once you have your plan, make your grocery list. Write down everything you'll need for the next week and go with the intentions of only buying that. Are you an impulse buyer? Think of it this way. If it doesn't fit into your meal plan, you don't need it. By sticking to your list, you will minimize your impulse buying. I promise.

3. Don't forget about Shakeology

This is a non-negotiable. Write it down everyday. Remember this takes the place of a snack or meal. I like to have mine early morning after my workout, and eat breakfast at work on my first break.

4. Keep snacks simple.

When your cooking and prepping all you meals for the week, it's important to keep it simple. During the week is not the time to try out that new Pinterest recipe. Save that for Saturday night, when you have the time to get what you need and make it. I like to build my snacks with a protein and a fruit or veggie. Always cut and bag all your veggies, so they're easy to grab and pack.

5. Cook foods all at once.

If you've seen my IG or SC posts, I cook mass amounts of food on cookies sheets. Your oven can hold a lot and has various racks for a reason. Use  them. You'll also save on your utility bill, not running the oven for hours a week.

6. Look for short cuts.

Buy pre-cut veggies and rotisserie chicken, for example. As long as it's not preocessed, you're all good! I like to hard boil a bunch of eggs (8-10) and leave them in the fridge for easy picking. Protein ready for any busy momma! 

7. Prep your salad for days. I went to Walmart and bought 8 round salad containers. I buy the 5 bag of romaine lettuce from costco and have a salad party. Cut them all up, rinse and spin, then divide between bowls. These cool containers even have a little dressing container inside. No mess and easy to take anywhere.

8. Mix things up.

It can be totally tempting to eat the same thing everyday. Heck I've been guilty of it a time or two. But its also the quickest way to get sick of things and fall off the wagon. The best plan is to have 2 lunch options and 2 supper options, then alternate each day. Variety is the spice of life.

9. Invest in food storage containers.

Try different brands and styles. Then when you find what you like, stock up. Toss what you don't like and organize your storage space. I used to have a pile of mix matched containers, it was a mess and I dreaded pulling them out. Not to mention, nothing stacked properly in my fridge. Lets me real it's not just me food in the fridge. Here's what I use for my cooked lunch and supper meals.

10. Keep your eyes on the prize!

All this meal prepping and clean eating is for a reason. To gain back you health and your life. Some days, its going to seem hard or even impossible to reach your goals. It takes time to build new habits. But once you figure it all out, you'll wish you would have started sooner!

Remember, YOU GOT THIS!

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