Try These Homemade Snacks to Keep Your Energy Up Throughout the Day

When your energy starts to dip and concentration is nowhere to be found, what do you do? Opening that bag of chips or reaching for an energy drink will give you a burst of energy, but try eating these things, instead.

The majority of today’s snacks offer temporary solutions to fix the midday crash. They spike up sugar levels and give you a false burst of energy, only to be replaced by an even bigger crash a few hours later.

If you choose slow-burning foods that have a lower impact on your insulin levels, you’ll get longer-lasting energy. Avoiding those mid-afternoon candy cravings is key. Here are some simple homemade snack ideas to help.

Healthy Granola

Once you get the hang of making your own granola, there’s a good chance you’ll never reach for a packaged bag again. Getting creative with nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and different spice combinations is seriously addictive. You’ll discover new flavors every time you make a new batch.

You’ll need the following ingredients:

• 2 cups of chopped almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, or any other combination of nuts.
• 1 cup of pumpkin, sunflower, chia, hemp, or any other combination of seeds.
• 1 cup of chopped, dried fruit, like cranberries, cherries, mango, apricots, or dates.
• 1 cup of rolled oats (omit if you prefer grain-free).
• 2 tablespoons of honey or maple syrup (or any other sweetener).
• 2 tablespoons of coconut oil.
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon (or any other spice you prefer).
• 1 teaspoon of salt.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix everything together thoroughly, and make sure every nut, seed, and fruit is covered. Spread out the mixture evenly on a large, parchment-covered baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring halfway through. Let it cool for half an hour, and then break up any clumps with a spoon.

Sprinkle it on top of yogurt, smoothies, or overnight oats, or simply snack on it by itself. Give your brain that much-needed energy boost without the inevitable crash.

Raw Energy Balls

The best snacks are always the simplest! Raw energy balls are so versatile, you can make a different flavor every single day.

You’ll need the following ingredients:

• 1 cup of almonds or any other nut you prefer.
• 6 large dates, chopped and soaked in water for at least 20 minutes.
• 1/2 cup of shredded coconut.

Place everything in the blender and pulse until it’s well combined. Scoop out 1 tablespoon chunks, and then use your palms to roll them into balls. You can leave them as is, or roll them in cacao powder or cinnamon to enjoy some different flavor combinations. Place them on a tray and put them in the refrigerator to firm up.

Filled Dates

When filled dates became popular, people started making hundreds of variations of this new obsession. They filled them with all sorts of things. You can, too, and the best part is there are no rules!

Here are a few ideas:

• Fill your dates with homemade cashew vanilla cream and drizzle it over some white chocolate.
• Make your own Nutella for the filling and drizzle it over some dark chocolate.
• Coffee lovers will enjoy this mascarpone filling, especially if you dip the dates in some chocolate afterward.

The possibilities are endless! Just place them in the refrigerator or freezer to firm them up before eating.

Kale Chips

Kale is all over the place, and although it’s great in salads, it can also make a delicious and filling snack.

You’ll need the following ingredients:

• 1 large bundle of green or purple kale (the curly kind), chopped into snack-size bites.
• 2 tablespoons of coconut oil.
• 1 teaspoon of salt.
• Other seasonings of choice (spice it up with chili powder or smother it in garlic powder).

Preheat the oven to 225 degrees Fahrenheit. Toss the kale in a large mixing bowl and drizzle it with the oil and spices, and then massage the leaves thoroughly. Spread the mixture over a large baking sheet (or two if your kale was large). Try to maximize the space between pieces.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Check and stir it halfway through. The result should be golden, crispy sides, so just make sure you watch it closely as it burns easily. Let it cool, and then enjoy!

You can also add a bit of shredded cheese on top five minutes before they’re done to enjoy a “guilty pleasure” in a healthier way.

Frozen Yogurt Protein Bites

When it comes to snacking, we’re always looking for something we can easily pop in our mouth. These frozen yogurt bites pack in a lot of protein, healthy fats, and vitamin-rich fruit. Does it get any better than that? All you need is a silicone mold (an ice tray will do), and the following ingredients:

• 1 container of Greek yogurt in the flavor of your choice.
• 1 cup of blueberries, raspberries, chopped strawberries, or any other fruit.

Place the fruit in the silicone mold and drizzle the yogurt on top. Freeze for three to four hours, and then voilà! You’ve got some perfect protein bites!

Chocolate Covered Bananas

Banana lovers, this one’s for you! All you need are bananas and some melted chocolate to dip them in. Feel free to add some chopped nuts or seeds to the mix. You can also throw in some shredded coconut, cacao nibs, or even slice up some dried fruit, and drizzle them with some peanut butter.

After you dip the bananas, place them in the freezer to set. It doesn’t get easier than that!

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Have fun with these easy, quick homemade snack creations. Experiment with different flavors and spices, and let the snacking begin!