Healthy snacks for weight loss are a priority for me— because once I’m hungry, it’s over. Today I’m arming you with a TON of easy + delicious weight loss snacks that will fill you up and fuel you throughout the day. These are the best snacks for weight loss and are just dang tasty too.

healthy snacks for weight loss

Hunger usually hits me around 10:30am while grocery shopping or doing a Lowe’s run. After running around the store, I catch a glimpse of the junk food by the register. My stomach immediately starts to ache, then my tastebuds salivate and it’s SUPER hard to turn down a cheap, tasty snack at that moment.

Table of Contents
  1. What makes a snack healthy?
  2. Best Healthy Snacks for Weight Loss
  3. Your healthy snack questions answered

Then there’s bedtime— when I realize I didn’t eat enough for dinner and I don’t wanna go to bed hungry. The easy choice is something quick and dish-free…. which usually isn’t very healthy.

Can you relate?

This is how we’ve been trained to fuel up our body in a busy world — last minute and convenient. Yet it’s not gonna get us the body we want. A strong, energetic body takes nutrient rich snack fuel. I make a snack plan that I can switch up as needed day to day.

Snaccident Quote | Healthy Snacks for Weight Loss

What makes a snack healthy?

With the help of a holistic nutritionist back in 2011, I learned the secret to a wholesome snack to keep my health goals on track. A snack should keep you full until your next meal, and to do that it needs 2 important ingredients:

Healthy Fats: This will help satisfy your hunger cravings and help your body absorb the nutrients in the snack.

Protein: This will fuel your body and help build muscle. I prefer plant-based protein found in nuts and seeds, yet it’s totally up to you.

If a snack meets those two requirements, then I move onto what sorta craving I have. Do I want something salty? Tart? Sweet? That’s when the “flavors” come into play. The below snack list covers a variety of taste preferences, so dive in and find a new fav!

Best Healthy Snacks for Weight Loss

Below is my list of plant-based snack recipes that are packed with protein, healthy fats and flavor explosions. Some take 5 minutes or less, others can be made in advance and enjoyed throughout the week. I hope you enjoy some of these snack recipes and reach your weight loss goals.

Homemade granola bars

If you’re looking for a snack that will give you sustained energy + leave you feeling full, these homemade granola bars are for you! Why homemade? Many store brands contain additives that I don’t want in my body. Making homemade bars allows me to control exactly what’s in them.

Homemade Granola Bars
5 from 26 votes
When you need to go the extra mile, homemade granola bars are your BFF. I grew up on Nature’s Valley bars thanks to my dad, but I wanted to make my own version using my favorite plant-based ingredients.
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Chocolate covered banana bites

The best snacks for weight loss don’t have to be dull and these energy bites are simply delicious. Double this recipe and keep in the freezer for an easy grab-n-go treat.

vegan snack recipe
Chocolate Covered Banana Bites
4.9 from 7 votes
Grab a friend and whip up these delicious bite-sized snacks. Chocolate covered banana bites are super easy to make, and oh so fun!
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Hearty Parfaits

This fun, easy vegan yogurt is great on its own, or turned into a parfait with the fruit compote and granola. You can also toss this yogurt into your next smoothie for even more plant power.

3 glass jars full of vegan yogurt parfaits.
Vegan Yogurt
5 from 5 votes
If you're looking for a delicious recipe that is plant based, look no further. This fun, easy vegan yogurt recipe is great on its own, or turned into a parfait with the fruit compote and granola.
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Homemade hummus

Chickpeas are a great plant protein source, and hummus with veggies is a weight loss snack that will fill you up. I often turn to hummus when I need a quick lunch/snack while working… munching veggies in a delicious dip is a lot more filling than chips, yet just as good + quick!

homemade hummus
Homemade Hummus
5 from 13 votes
With this recipe on hand, you'll never need store-bought hummus again! Along with iron-rich chickpeas, we've included loads of fresh, vibrant herbs to add extra vitamins, minerals to this herb hummus.
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Lemon Fat Bombs

A simple Lemon Fat Bomb has replaced my craving for sugary candy in the afternoon. This plant-based recipe is keto-friendly as well as refreshing. While I can eat Meyer lemons on their own, I love turning them into this melt-in-your-mouth recipe.

lemon fat bombs
Lemon Fat Bombs
4.9 from 26 votes
These lemon fat bombs, or melt-aways, make a great quick afternoon snack. I should warn you, you really have to like lemons to enjoy these tart treats.
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Homemade Breakfast Bars

The classic fruit-filled snack is transformed into a healthy breakfast bar recipe. The oat-studded dough is filled with lightly sweetened fruit jam and baked until golden.

Healthy Breakfast Bar
4.4 from 8 votes
The classic fruit-filled snack/cereal bar transformed into a healthy breakfast bar recipe. The oat-studded dough is filled with lightly sweetened fruit jam and baked until golden.
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Homemade Fruit Leather

Immune support, protein boost, AND a way to use up aging fruit? I’m all in. Your kids aren’t the only ones that can have fun with their snacks; you can make this fruit leather recipe then enjoy it too!

rolls of fruit leather on a marble serving tray surrounded by fresh blueberries and peaches.
Homemade Fruit Leather
5 from 9 votes
This fruit leather recipe is loved by kids and adults alike! Just 4 simple, whole food ingredients, make this fun, kid-approved treat. Follow my how to steps for the perfect weekend at home or school snack.
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Strawberry-filled muffins

These vegan muffins are almond butter + jam flavored, and the perfect grab and go in the morning. Full of flavor as well as nutrition for the day.

Strawberry Vegan Muffins
5 from 13 votes
My whole family adores these strawberry vegan muffins, but I definitely love them the most. These muffins bring back childhood peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in a sophisticated and more nutritious way.
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Protein-rich meal replacement smoothie

I believe that any time is a great time for a smoothie, especially when you’re trying to lose weight. Turn any smoothie into a meal or filling weight loss snack by adding plant based protein powder.

blueberries on a smoothie for a meal
Meal Replacement Smoothie
4.5 from 396 votes
Healthy fats and proteins are the way to go if you want to power up with a meal replacement smoothie. This combo of almond butter and rolled oats is a must to keep you feeling full and fuel you ’til your next meal.
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Coconut lime popsicles

Smoothies aren’t the only way to get in your leafy greens. This popsicle recipe contains both healthy fat and spinach yet tastes like key lime pie. The best snacks for weight loss should taste good in my opinion, and these definitely do.

key lime pops
Creamy Lime Popsicles
This healthy popsicle recipe is creamy and refreshing on a hot summer day. Slightly sweet with loads of tangy fresh lime juice and plenty of creaminess from the avocado and coconut milk, it’s hard to believe these are a part of our our Seasonal Cleanse Cleanse …. but they totally are!
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Healthy Caramel Apple Dip

This caramel apple dip is a great healthy snack that’ll keep you full for hours. I use dates and cashew butter to create a thick sweet dip. While I pair this with apples, it goes great with pears, celery… get creative!

Healthy Caramel Apple Dip
4.9 from 7 votes
Hope you’re sitting down because this healthy caramel apple dip is going to blow your mind! Made with all-natural, plant-based ingredients and ZERO added sugar (no corn syrup!), this sauce is rawkin’. Use as a spread, dip, topping, sauce, filling, or just eat it by the spoonful.
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Mocha Coffee Smoothie

Rise and shine with this energizing coffee smoothie – packed with protein, fiber and caffeine to enjoy as a complete breakfast on the go. Don’t need the caffeine? Then just use decaf coffee.

Healthy Coffee Smoothie using protein and caffeine
Energizing Mocha Coffee Smoothie
5 from 12 votes
Sip on this cool and creamy coffee smoothie for breakfast or as a mid-afternoon pick-me-up. 
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Overnight Oats

This is such a versatile recipe. Make a few different kinds, then stash in your fridge until you’re ready for a snack. Easy to take on the go (just remember a spoon!), and a great source of protein as well as healthy fat. You can also control the sweetness in these oats, which is a helpful bonus.

overnight oats recipe
Overnight Oats Recipe
5 from 8 votes
Start your day off right with this simply amazing overnight oats recipe thats's vegan-friendly and gluten-free.
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Apple Donuts

This quick and fun snack uses apples as the base and the toppings are endless. Healthy snacks for weight loss don’t need to be carb free (and shouldn’t!). Fruit and vegetables are great whole food carbs that provide fiber. Pair them with a healthy fat like almond butter and then a yummy apple instantly turns into a filling snack.

Fun Apple Snacks
5 from 1 vote
These apple donuts have become a go-to snack thanks to how quick and easy they are to make. Get creative and have fun topping the apple rings with your favorite toppings.
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Homemade pesto + veggies

Just like hummus, pesto provides protein as well as healthy fat in a way that tastes great and encourages you to eat more veggies. Just choose your fav pesto recipe (I’ve got 5 to choose from!) then pair with fresh carrots, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, bell peppers, snap peas… any vegetables of your choice.

5 Vegan Pesto Recipes
5 from 4 votes
Pesto usually contains finely grated parmesan or Romano cheese. But pesto doesn't really need cheese at all! That's about the only change needed to make my vegan pesto recipes.
Oven Roasted Almonds
4.7 from 7 votes
Tamari, the deeper flavored cousin of soy sauce, goes splendidly with toasted almonds. Eat as is for a quick, filling snack or roughly chop and use as a savory salad topping.
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Your healthy snack questions answered

What is the best snack for weight loss?

To know whether your snack is going to benefit your body, ask yourself these questions: does it have a good healthy fat? How much protein does it contain? If there are carbs, how many are fiber? Is there added sugar or only natural sugar? These are all important components of a healthy snack.

What should I eat at night to lose weight?

Nighttime snacks should be lower in sugar and higher in protein, so that your blood sugar doesn’t drop or spike too much while sleeping. It should also be something light as heavy, greasy foods can keep you awake.

Is snacking healthy for me?

It can be! I like to use snacks to fuel my body, but they also gotta taste good. Reach for snacks with a good mix of protein, healthy fats, and whole food carbs to give your body the right nutrients. Most commercial snack food is missing one of these elements, and can lead to spikes or drops in blood sugar, the inability to focus, or sleepiness. Healthy snacks for weight loss are filling and should give you sustainable energy, better focus, and keep your blood sugar stable.

Is it bad to snack all day?

It really depends on what your snacks are, to decide if it’s going to fuel your metabolism. Often times, snacks are foods that have a longer shelf life, less nutrients and less water content. Even healthy snacks are cutting corners on your overall health. Meals are when we use the most fresh vegetables, fruits, grains and nutrient rich foods. Just like most things, balance is key. And snacks are here for the “gap zone”… yet aren’t a substitute for a nutritious fresh meal.

The key to weight loss success is having the right kind of snacks on hand that’ll satisfy your cravings, encourage weight loss, and pretty much put the HANGRY beast to bed. Oftentimes, we think we are hungry when we are not. Thirsty and hungry are two signals the body tends to mix up. So if I’m feeling hungry, I reach for a glass of water before I even toy with the idea of a snack. If I’m still hungry 20 minutes later, then it’s time to fuel up.

About the Author

Jen Hansard

I went from exhausted mama to running across the Grand Canyon, riding & hiking to the top of the tallest waterfall in North America with my kids. How? I fell in love with the smoothies and plant-based meals you can find on my blog.

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Comments

  1. I’m loving all the information you are giving out, the smoothies and the Almond recipes look so good, I can’t wait to get started
    , Thank You
    Sandra Trueman

  2. 5 stars
    I was blessed enough to discover this website and can’t thank you enough Jen for providing this much help/resources! Really shows your genuine desire to aid others. I recently started eating only from home for weight loss purposes – as eating out has been a nasty habit of mine – and I’ve been especially enjoying the recipes on the site.

    1. Thanks so much for your kind words Alicia!! Way to rawk more plants and whole foods by eating at home!

  3. I’m not that much of an internet reader to be honest but your blogs really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back down the road