Who doesn’t love chips? They’re happy and fun and SO tasty! But if you’re trying to improve your diet you’ll want to reach for these 10 healthy crunchy snacks to eat instead of chips!
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Sometimes you’ve just got to have a snack.
You know who this post is for, right?
Yep. You guessed it. Me!
Don’t get me wrong. I’ve got nothing against chips.
In fact, I love them. Adore them.
Devour them.
Even my best friend knows not to open a new bag of chips around me cause they . will . be . gone
It’s all about the crunch
Every now and then though, this chip mania catches up with me.
While they satisfy my taste buds and crunch obsession, they can also leave me feeling sluggish and, sadly, a bit, ummm, heavier than I’d like.
So what’s a chip fanatic to do? What healthy crunchy snacks can I eat instead?
First it might be helpful to examine why I love them so much.
I love chips so much because they are:
- crunchy
- easy to grab and eat
- tasty
Okay! Now it should be easy. We just need healthier snacks that are convenient, delicious and that crunch.
A lot.
Because crunch = satisfaction, right?
10 healthy crunchy snacks to eat instead of chips
- Apple + Peanut Butter. Apples are so satisfying because they’re sweet but not too sweet and super crunchy. They also have an impressive list of health benefits. To make them even more appealing, take the time to serve them unpeeled, cored and sliced with a side of natural (crunchy!) peanut butter in a cute bowl.
- Whole Almonds. Look for raw unblanched almonds and prepare to become obsessed. Not only are they crunchy and nutty and packed with nutrients, but they’re also amazingly fun to eat. When you chomp them slowly and deliberately they have a tendency to split in half with a delightful pop. Fun food facts! For extra crunch, toast whole almonds in a skillet or in the oven for just a few minutes, then allow them to cool before eating. I use my Breville Smart Oven and love it for everything from baking small dishes to, yep, toasting almonds.
- Cucumbers. B O R I N G. I hear ya. But just try this Thai cucumber recipe that takes the watery green veg to a whole new crunchy level!
- Baby Carrots + Ranch Dressing. I’m afraid I’m going to disappoint you here, but I don’t make my own ranch dressing. I don’t even buy the expensive kind in the store. And yet, this is one of my all time favorite snacks because it’s cheap, it’s delicious, it’s… it’s ranch dressing! And carrots. Maybe I should retitle this one Ranch Dressing + Carrots. Just sayin.
- Popcorn. Is popcorn healthy? Short answer: maybe. It’s all in the way you prepare it. Popping loose kernels in oil on the stove top or sans oil in an air popper are probably the healthiest, most frugal ways. But you can also buy natural microwavable popcorn that’s low in salt and fat. My kids swear by Smartfood White Cheddar popcorn, but for the very freshest popcorn I prefer to make my own.
- Pan Roasted Chickpeas. If I have chickpeas in the pantry I feel like I’m ready for anything. I mean, you can throw them in jarred pasta sauce or make creamy hummus or roast them for snacking. Here’s how: Add about 2 T olive oil to a cast iron skillet and heat over medium high. When hot, pour in a drained can of chickpeas. Toss about for about 5 minutes to brown. Sprinkle on cumin and chili powder, maybe a touch of salt and freshly ground pepper. Continue to toss about until they’re crunchy but not burnt.
- Frozen Grapes. Okay, here’s a caveat: I prefer frozen blueberries to grapes, but they stain your fingers awfully so eat them at your own risk. But you get the idea. Fruit. Frozen. Refreshing, nutritious and crunchy because it’s, well, frozen. (Confession: I keep about 5 varieties of fruit in my freezer for snacking and for the occasional rum drink…)
- Crunchy Nutty Granola. I created this full-of-nuts granola recipe to satisfy my crunch addiction. It’s based on a David Lebovitz recipe and is, in my opinion, perfect in every way. Be forewarned — it’s hard to stop eating it, so scoop out a bowl full and put the rest away. Far away.
- Plain Yogurt + Sliced Almonds + Chocolate Chips. I put this one near the end to reward you for sticking with the program. Now I know that yogurt is not crunchy and that chocolate chips are not considered healthy, but these 3 ingredients together provide such satisfaction and happiness that you won’t need to eat tons of it to reap the benefits. Plain yogurt provides a beautiful tart contrast to the sweet chocolate chips, and the almonds round out the concoction with texture and crunchiness. Want to go over the top? Add a few dried cherries. Yes yes yes.
- Homemade Crostini. Have stale bread around the house? Save it from the compost pile by making crackers! Just slice the loaf roughly 1/8-1/4″ thick and line up the pieces on a parchment lined baking pan. Now either brush, or if you don’t have a brush handy, lightly drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with garlic granules and black pepper (or whatever seasonings you like). Bake in a low oven around 300* until the slices are dried out and crunchy. They will continue to harden once you take them out, so don’t let them burn in the name of crispness. These are tasty on their own or served with hummus or a nice Brie.
How are you feeling? Excited? Doubtful? Hungry?
These 10 healthy crunchy snacks will satisfy your craving for crunch while helping you to eat healthier. What chip-free snacks do you enjoy?
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