Are you a serial snacker? I am definitely the type of person that grazes throughout the day. I know that several diets encourage good quality, healthy, and filling snacks as part of their plans in order to keep you feeling fuller for longer, so I always see snacking as a great way to keep yourself on a plan.
It can be tricky when you’re out and about to find cheap, on the go snacks. The key to snacking on the go is to preemptively think about when you might start to feel hungry and how often this feeling comes over you during your day.
Purchasing ready-made snacks when you’re out and about can help to curb cravings, but they’re usually not the healthiest, or cheapest, of options. Instead of heading to the shops when you start to feel peckish, spend some time thinking about the types of snacks you like and plan ahead.
I’ve put together this blog post of cheap, on the go snack ideas that are budget-friendly and far healthier than the ready-made, processed snacks that are found in the to-go section of the supermarket.
1. Popcorn is a great snack that’s cheap and easy to prepare.
Popcorn is definitely one of our go-to snacks; it’s so popular with serial snackers for several reasons. Firstly, it’s incredibly cheap to buy a packet of popcorn kernels – head to the world food section of your local supermarket and you should find popping corn ranging from about £1 – £2. This big bag of kernels will easily provide over 10 to 15 portions of popcorn, saving you a lot of money when compared to purchasing prepackaged popcorn.
Secondly, popcorn can be prepared ahead of time and packed into tubs or resealable zip bags. These can be taken to work with you or pop into the kid’s lunch boxes. Popcorn is easy to make at home and can be flavoured however you’d like. When kept in an airtight container, popcorn stays crunchy for around a week.
2. Energy Bites are simple to make and cost only pennies to prepare.
Homemade energy bites are the go-to for many serial snackers due to how well they fill you up, and how cheap and easy they are to make. The best bit about homemade energy bites is that they’re simple to make and can be frozen in batches, therefore making them the perfect on the go snack or snack when recovering after fitness.
Energy Bites are a no-bake snack made predominantly from peanut butter. They’re a great snack for those with a sweet tooth and can be eaten within 30 minutes of being prepared – just make sure you pop them in the fridge to cool. Energy Bites are best eaten when cooled, so if you’re planning on taking them to work for a snack on the go, be sure to get an insulated container for them, or alternatively, keep them in your lunch box with some ice packs.
3. Make your own delicious granola bars.
Granola bars are one of those snacks that are great for busy people who are always on the go. Granola bars keep extremely well when stored in airtight containers and therefore make great snack options for work and school. It’s simple to make your own bars, but the major benefit of creating your own granola bars is that you cut out a huge amount of additives and sugars that shop-bought bars contain. This means that these on the go snacks are much healthier and much cheaper than their store-bought alternatives.
To make your own delicious granola bars, simply combine porridge oats with seeds of your choice – we like sunflower seeds. Pop in some dried fruits, for example, cranberries or sultanas and finally, add some cashews or peanuts into the mix. Finish by combining melted coconut oil and honey with the dry ingredients spread it all out on a lined baking tray and bake for 40 minutes at low heat.
