5 Healthy Snacks Ready in 2 Minutes or Less

These 5 healthy snack ideas take 2 minutes or less to make and are the perfect way to keep you feeling satisfied between meals.

I love snacks. I've been loving them especially so since becoming pregnant because I'm so much hungrier through the day. Having healthy, filling snacks between our meals is key (whether you're pregnant or not) so we don't reach a point of low blood sugar or becoming totally ravenous, which usually leads to us making less-than-ideal food choices. You can actually learn more about this in my post 10 Signs You're Not Eating Enough.

I love some good snack inspiration because it's nice to switch things up, especially if we've been making the same old snacks over and over again. A few new ingredients or a fresh combo we haven't tried before always makes for a more fun and delicious snack time.

5 Healthy Snack Ideas

A great snack is one that contains elements like protein, fat, and fibre which work together to add that satiating factor. But I love it when snacks are also quick and easy to make. Enter these 5 easy, healthy snacks that are ready in 2 minutes or less.

Chances are you'll have most, if not all, of the ingredients hanging around in your fridge or pantry for these snack recipes. They're really simple and only require a few staples.

1. Cranberry Cream Cheese Cracker Bites

I've always loved the combination of crackers and cream cheese, and this snack idea came about one day when I was thinking about those artisan 'cranberry rosemary' crackers you can buy. You know those? I figured why not make a deconstructed version of it, so to speak.

For this snack you'll need:

• your favourite crackers, we often use Blue Diamond's Nut Thins rice crackers

• cream cheese, I like the brand Arla for their much simpler ingredient list

• dried cranberries

• a few sprigs of fresh or dried rosemary

Lay out your crackers, spread with cream cheese and top with cranberries and rosemary. That's it! Enjoy.

2. Easy Guacamole with Tortilla Chips

I've been making guacamole on repeat. I've gone through various food-phases during my pregnancy so far, but avocados have been one of them, especially in the form of guacamole. It's so hearty and thanks to their great source of monounsaturated fats, avocados are nice and filling.

This is exactly how I've been making guacamole lately, quick and easy. You'll need:

• 1 ripe avocado

• 1-2 spoonfuls lemon or lime juice

• a sprinkle of dried garlic

• pinch salt and pepper

• *Feel free to add chili powder, cumin, chili flakes, or chopped cilantro to this if you want extra flavour.

Scoop your avocado into a small bowl, removing the pit, and mash well with remaining ingredients until fairly smooth. Serve with tortilla chips.

3. Bread with Peanut Butter, Hemp Seeds & Honey

This snack is my go-to when I want something super quick. You get a good mix of complex carbohydrates from bread, plus plant-based protein from peanut butter and hemp seeds, and of course a little sweetness from the honey!

You'll need:

• A slice of your choice bread, such as whole grain or sourdough. I like Silver Hills sprouted grain breads.

• Peanut butter, or nut butter of choice (almond butter works well too)

• Hemp seeds, about 2 teaspoons

• Honey for drizzling

Spread peanut butter on bread and simply top with hemp seeds and a drizzle of honey. Done. You can fold this in half for convenience if needed!

4. Strawberries with Yogurt and Chia Seeds

Snacks that have a good hefty supply of protein are things that I've most certainly tried to put a focus on these days. Protein helps us feel more full, and when you're pregnant, snacks with extra staying power are really helpful, particularly if you've dealt with constant hunger pangs like myself. A good Greek or Skyr yogurt is a fantastic choice for this snack and is what I have been using these days. If you're dairy-free, you can certainly use whichever yogurt you like (such as coconut or almond), but I do recommend opting for one that has a better protein content. Siggi's is my favourite brand for both dairy and non-dairy yogurts alike.

For this snack you'll need:

• Plain yogurt

• Strawberries (or other berries)

• Honey for drizzling

• Chia seeds

Slice up your strawberries and add to a small bowl with a few big scoops of yogurt. Drizzle with a small spoonful of honey and top with a sprinkle of chia seeds, about 1 teaspoon or so.

5. Peanut Butter & Chocolate Date Bites

When you're in the mood for a sweeter snack, these Peanut Butter & Chocolate Date Bites really hit the spot. I love using medjool dates for snacks, whether that's simply stuffing with a pecan or in my 3 Easy & Healthy Date Ball recipes. Their rich, ooey-gooey texture and caramel-like flavour pairs delightfully with chocolate (and peanut butter in this case!)

For this snack you'll need:

• 2-3 medjool dates, pitted and halved

• Peanut butter

• Chocolate chips, or your favourite chocolate (chopped)

• Dash of sea salt

Pull open each date in half and remove pits. Place on plate and stuff with peanut butter. Add a few chocolate chips on top, and finish with a dash of sea salt. You can enjoy them just like this or chill them in your freezer for 10 minutes to firm them up slightly. Yum!

That's it! I hope you give one of these snack recipes a try. Let me know which one you want to try first!