Portable Snacking Tips and Ideas

Remember the 'Healthy' with the 'To-Go'

-- By Laura Bofinger, Staff Writer

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Eating is no longer an activity only experienced around the table with friends and family. Quick, how many times this past week have you eaten on the run? No place is safe either – the car, your desk, maybe even the shower! Our time is strapped and we need food that’s easy to grab ‘n’ go. And during this mad-chaos of finding food on our way out the door, one detail is easy to forget – making sure that the choices we make are healthy.

Unfortunately, it’s mostly the bad stuff that falls into the "fast" and "easy" categories – chips, candy bars, sodas, etc. Well, what if we took some time and ingenuity to make our own healthy snacks portable and easy for on-the-go eating?

I’m talking about things that can fit into the top drawer at work (not jelly beans or Kisses!) or snacks prepared ahead of time that can be popped into a lunch bag. Yes, some of these items WILL require some thinking ahead. Some might even require refrigeration or special containers. But they are fast, simple, and easy. Most take less than 5 minutes to prepare. You’ll also be thankful that you’ve saved yourself the cash that normally goes to vending machines or convenience stores. Your body will be grateful as well. The benefits of health outweigh the costs.

Check out these suggestions.

Celery sticks with peanut butter and several raisins on top
Rice cakes with peanut butter (good for getting a protein punch)
Low-fat cheese cubes
Hardboiled eggs
Deviled egg (wrapped in plastic wrap)
Fruit yogurt cup (add in some fresh fruits or nuts for a boost
Trail mix
Nuts or nut mix (stick to just a handful)
Vegetable sticks with a little packet of dip (lowfat salad dressing packets found in salad bars work as easy-to-pack dip)
Broccoli or cauliflower bites
Half of a turkey or tuna sandwich on whole-wheat bread
Cucumber slices (lightly salted or with nonfat Italian dressing)
Yogurt and granola
Leftover chicken or turkey slices (great to eat cold)
Healthy fiber-rich or grain cereal (great to eat dry from a baggie)
Pickles (wrapped in foil or plastic wrap)
Box of raisins or other dried fruit
Half a large whole wheat bagel with light cream cheese
Apples, bananas, strawberries (any fruit works, these are naturally portable)
Mixed berries (these freeze well in plastic bags)
Whole-wheat crackers and low-fat string cheese
Grapes in a baggie
Fruit smoothie in a thermos
Tuna and cottage cheese in mini-containers

The trick here is to be prepared and get creative! Get your fresh fruits and vegetables on the weekend in preparation for the week’s snacking. Keep small-sized plastic containers for packing up small portions. Take note of the healthy foods you need to keep stocked in the house for future quick and healthy snack preparation. These will become automatic items for your grocery list. You may find that you start to replace a few nonessential, calorie-wasting items with your new healthy snack list.

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About The Author

Laura Bofinger
As a freelance writer, Laura uncovers some kind of inspiration every day when she writes about health and fitness.

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Member Comments

1SALLY2

My husband and I do lots of day trips on our own and with a group we are members of.
I always pack my insulated lunch bag with a home made ice pack, crushed ice in double bagged sandwich size zipper baggies, this keeps the melted ice from leaking out. I pack a mid morning and mid afternoon snack, both being a protein and veggie combo. We only bring water along for drinking and of course our Coleman water jug for refilling. I have lost 19 lbs with 34 more to lose. I gained my excess weigh over 30 years of mindless eating. I am aiming to make my goal weight in 24 months. - 2/16/2013 1:21:23 PM
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1SALLY2

My husband and I do lots of day trips on our own and with a group we are members of.
I always pack my insulated lunch bag with a home made ice pack, crushed ice in double bagged sandwich size zipper baggies, this keeps the melted ice from leaking out. I pack a mid morning and mid afternoon snack, both being a protein and veggie combo. We only bring water along for drinking and of course our Coleman water jug for refilling. I have lost 19 lbs with 34 more to lose. I gained my excess weigh over 30 years of mindless eating. I am aiming to make my goal weight in 24 months. - 2/16/2013 10:05:28 AM
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EJEANNIE68

I was hoping this would have some options for me, I have IBS and can't eat eggs, raisins, nuts, tuna or granola and hate bananas & yogurt :( - 2/3/2013 6:14:11 PM
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IDJ1973

great ideas. - 1/30/2013 12:51:01 PM
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WAYCAT

I'm pleased to see that a lot of the items on this list I already have in my cupboards.

Some of the ideas I would consider to be a meal rather than a snack, for me at any rate.

But I guess in that case it's easy to make half portions. - 1/17/2013 3:35:58 AM
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LMIHALAK

Great Info - 1/1/2013 10:31:37 AM
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SWEETLIFE3

Always surprised that these articles have so many good ideas I never thought of... wish SPARKPEOPLE would include some of these choices on the meal plans. Not enough choices so I freeform and that's generally when I get off track and swing too far in one direction ie carbs - 11/6/2012 10:20:08 PM
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MURIEL395

Just starting tomorrow...have 20 morew pounds to lose. - 11/6/2012 2:20:48 PM
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RJSAMS

I buy trail mix from the local coop in bulk and pre-measure it into snack-size baggies or food sealer bags. Easy to grab, portion control and a shot of protein. - 11/6/2012 1:42:26 PM
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EMILYJVG

HUMMUS! especially instead of dressing for veggie dip! - 11/6/2012 12:49:54 PM
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ULISED

Another good one is a mini banana. They are sweeter than regular bananas and have fewer calories, but are so good! You can ususally find them with the more exotic fruits in the produce section of your grocery store. - 11/6/2012 11:04:32 AM
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SFRIES2

Thanks for a nice list of great ideas. I work until 10pm and need to have a healthy snack to get through work and the night.
- 9/17/2012 7:25:36 PM
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ADRIENNIE

I love all three flavors of Trader Joes "A fruit walked into a bar" cereal bars for breakfast in the office with my morning coffee. I keep the Strawberry, blueberry and fig bars in my disk and rotate thru the flavors, Cheerios with Blueberries or plain instant oatmeal with my own fruit added. It keeps me going until lunch time.

I'm at my goal weight now for 5 months and counting. I completely agree with JENNXXX. Breakfast needs to be healthy but it better have as few calories as possible while packing a nutritional punch. - 8/15/2012 1:54:09 PM
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MAIANAJEWEL

My trainer wants me to have a "late dinner" every night about an hour before I go to bed. I've been having a small banana split open lengthwise with 1/2 tbsp of fresh ground (I grind it myself) peanut butter spread on each half. It helps satisfy my sweet tooth and my "fat" tooth and I've actually been sleeping better! It has not affected my weight negatively, I am at my goal and am now maintaining. Peanut butter was something I avoided because it is so high in calories and I would've rather had a piece of chocolate instead but when my trainer suggested the "2nd dinner" and I ran the combination by him and he said it was a perfect combination of protein, fat and carbs a little rainbow exploded in my head! Giving myself permission to eat one of my favorite foods that I previously avoided is like a Christmas present every day! - 7/8/2012 3:40:03 PM
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GEOCACHEAZ

Great ideas! - 7/8/2012 12:47:21 PM
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