With the rise in food costs, finding cheap healthy snacks can be a struggle, but no less important.
Having healthy snacks to eat during the day can help you keep your food budget down and give you an extra boost of energy throughout the day.
Still, coming up with ideas for snacks that are both healthy and affordable can be time-consuming.
Here are 28 cheap and healthy snacks to get you through the day.
1. Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt is a protein-rich dairy product that comes in a variety of flavors. At 20 grams of protein per 7 oz serving, this quick, nutritious snack is an excellent source of protein, and it pairs nicely with a serving of fruit or granola!
2. Hard Boiled Eggs
Hard Boiled eggs are a cheap, healthy, nutrient-dense snack. You can prep these and have them ready to go in your fridge, making them a great option to take to the office or school.
3. Banana
Bananas are very versatile and very inexpensive. You can throw them into a smoothie, serve it sliced on toast with peanut butter, dip them in dark chocolate, and freeze.
4. Watermelon
Fresh fruit is always an excellent healthy snack idea. And watermelon isn’t just a sweet and juicy treat; it’s packed with nutrients and not super expensive. You can slice it and serve or throw it into a smoothie!
5. Apples
Apples are an incredibly nutritious fruit that offers multiple health benefits. They’re rich in fiber and antioxidants. Apples are great on their own or paired with nut butter or cheese.
6. Grapes
Grapes are rich in several powerful antioxidants and are an easy cheap snack. You can eat grapes either on their own or pair them with cheese for an extra bit of protein for a more filling snack.
7. Toast
A loaf of bread is inexpensive, and you can add your own twist with toppings like avocado, cream cheese, nut butter, seed butter & banana. There are so many delicious combinations available.
8. Nuts
Almonds, cashews, and macadamia nuts are all loaded with healthy fats and protein to help keep you full between meals. They’re also shelf-stable, making them an excellent choice for snacks to take to work or school.
9. Cheese
Cheese is a protein-packed snack. You can grab a quick on-the-go string cheese, rollup cheese, and sandwich meat together or have it with a piece of fruit.
10. Muffins
Muffins are a sweet snack that is perfect for on the go.
There are many recipe variations; banana muffins, chocolate chip muffins, and cinnamon muffins. There is something for everyone.
Plus, you can make these ahead and freeze them until you are ready for a quick breakfast or snack on the go.
11. Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese is inexpensive and is a low-fat, protein snack. It’s an excellent high-protein snack to incorporate with fresh fruit or can be enjoyed on its own.
12. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a filling snack rich in fiber. Grabbing the oatmeal instant packets is great for shortening this snack to perfect portion sizes.
13. Oat Balls
Besides oatmeal, you can also use oats as the base ingredient for energy balls.
Oat balls are super simple to make, and most of the ingredients are items frequently found on hand in your pantry.
Choose your favorite combinations to create your favorite energy bites. For example, nut butter of your choice, like natural peanut butter, to bind everything together, honey for a touch of sweetness, a few chocolate chips or nuts, and you’ve got a quick healthy snack.
14. Hummus
Hummus is a popular Middle Eastern dip, typically made by blending chickpeas, tahini, garlic, olive oil, and lemon juice in a food processor. It’s a great plant-based protein and is super versatile. You can serve it with carrot sticks or other raw vegetables, with pita chips, or even spread it onto a sandwich.
15. Carrots
Carrots are nutrient-rich, a source of fiber, and inexpensive.
Baby carrots are a great kid-friendly snack. You can pair them with hummus, cheese, or eat them plain.
16. Cucumbers
A common misconception is that cucumbers are a vegetable when they are, in fact, considered a fruit. Cucumbers are high in nutrients but low in calories, making them a healthy snack idea.
They are refreshing and incredibly versatile. You can eat them plain, in a salad or on sandwiches.
17.Celery
Celery is an excellent snack if you are looking for low calories with a crunch. It’s a great source of important antioxidants and a budget-friendly snack.
Celery is excellent served with nut butter, with cream cheese, cut up in a salad, or just on its own.
18. Cherry Tomatoes
These small juicy fruits come in a variety of colors and are full of flavor!
Cherry tomatoes are sumptuous in pasta salads, crudités, and as a salad topper– there are so many delicious options.
19. Popcorn
Popcorn is a simple snack that’s high in fiber and low in calories. It’s a delicious snack if you want to add a little fiber into your diet or just need a quick pick-me-up snack.
20. Seeds
If you are looking for a crunchy snack option, look no further than seeds. They are a good source of healthy fats and vegetarian protein.
Flaxseeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds are some healthier seed options you can incorporate into your weekly snack menu.
21. Smoothies
Smoothies are a great way to ensure you’re getting your fruit and veggies in for the day. Throw some frozen fruit or veggies, almond milk, almond butter into a blender, and you’ve got a fast, healthy snack ready to go in just minutes.
If you’ve got leftover fresh fruit or vegetables that are starting to turn, smoothies are also an excellent way to use up what you have on hand, saving you money and cutting down on food waste.
22. Nut Butters
Nut butters are full of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, protein, and fiber, which will help you feel fuller for extended periods.
You need to be careful with portion control as nut butters calorie count can reach as high as 200 calories per 2 tablespoons.
Nut butters are great stirred into oatmeal, made into muffins or pancakes, muffins, smoothies, toast, celery, bananas, or apples.
23. Bell Peppers
Slice up a bell pepper or two, and you’ll have a cheap healthy snack ready to go!
These crunchy veggies are full of vitamin C and fiber, so if you are looking for a healthy snack with a crunch, don’t hesitate to grab a pepper or two the next time you’re at the grocery store.
24. Edamame
Edamame is a super quick and easy snack.
You can even shortcut the preparation process by buying a pack of frozen edamame, heating it up in the microwave, and you’ve got a rich source of protein and fiber.
Check your favorite cheap grocery store to stock up on what is sure to be your next favorite frugal snack.
25. Sweet Potato Chips
Baked sweet potato chips are a crispy, delicious salty snack. Slice your sweet potatoes into thin slices, coat with olive oil and spices, and bake.
26. Homemade Granola
Granola can be made with tons of variations in ingredients. Some popular healthy ingredients are oats, almonds, chia seeds, walnuts, dried fruit, sunflower, or pumpkin seeds.
These ingredients are loaded with good fats and belly-filling fiber.
The cost and health benefits depend primarily on the ingredients chosen.
27. Roll-Ups
Rolling up your favorite sandwich meat and cheese or veggies, is a super quick and easy snack on the go. This is the perfect snack for work or school and is super easy to make ahead of time.
You can get creative with your rollups. Start by layering lettuce, tomato, turkey, and cheese. You could even add some fresh avocado to the mix for another healthy fat!
28. Homemade Banana Bread
Banana bread is a comfort food that is great to have at any time. Unlike traditional banana bread recipes, you can give this dish a healthy spin by substituting refined flour and processed sugar with ingredients like 100 percent whole wheat flour and using natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup.
One of the best parts about baking homemade banana bread is that it freezes beautifully.
You can slice and freeze it, making this an excellent option for make-ahead snacks.
The Bottom Line
You may need to get strategic to combat the rising cost of food and save more money on groceries.
But having a list of cheap healthy food ready to go will make it easier to not just stay energized through the day but also cut back on spending money on food out.
Feature image is from Pexels.
This post originally appeared on Hello Sensible.
Kristen is the founder and content creator at Mom Managing Chaos where she teaches busy moms how to simplify and organize their life and finances. She writes about frugal living, budgeting, productivity and organization.