Healthy Paleo Snacks
Good paleo snacks are hard to come by, and though many proponents of the diet prefer to eat only a few large meals, this approach isn’t always tenable. In fact, indulging between meals is consistent with one tenet of the diet that insists its observers eat whenever they feel hungry and that they do so to their heart’s (or stomach’s) content.
So what is a paleo practitioner to do when the impulse to snack strikes?
How to Ensure Your Snack Complies with the Paleo Diet
The idea behind the paleo diet seems simple enough: base your daily intake on what was available to our early ancestors. This generally amounts to avoiding anything processed and narrowing your food selection to animal protein, fruits, vegetables, and naturally occurring fats; but the details of the diet can vary greatly.
Some sources suggest eating foods that are rich in saturated fats and avoiding nuts and fruits; others recommend the contrary and emphasize eating mostly monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats. Though your perception of paleo may differ depending on a myriad of factors, certain aspects are consistent across all interpretations of the diet.
Natural foods are a necessity, proteins should be grass-fed and free-range whenever possible, refined salts and sugars are off-limits, and common grains that are rich in calories and low in nutrients should be avoided.
Finding Paleo Snacks To Get You Through the Day
Many find these limits to be exceedingly constraining, however, the plain and simple truth of paleo is that snacking requires proper prep. This may mean preparing a snack with a paleo-friendly recipe, or finding a palatable paleo-friendly snack in stores or online.
To help you prepare your own paleo snacks, we’ve compiled a list of recipes to create readily edible morsels that abide by the principles of paleo as well as an assortment of prep-free paleo-friendly finger foods.
For more on meeting your dietary needs throughout the day, including recipes for paleo meals, be sure to check out our article on the paleo diet.
Paleo Snack Recipes
Our registered dietitian has composed some creative recipes that make it easy to enjoy all kinds of confections on your diet. Preparing snacks has never been so simple, so sample some of these palatable paleo plates today!
Blueberry Chia Seed Jam Recipe
A saccharine spread to supplement the savors of any dish, this delectable jam can be enjoyed on your favorite paleo finger foods or as an unconventional topping for dried fruits or veggies!
Ingredients: Blueberries, chia seeds, organic agave syrup.
Total Time: 10 minutes
| Yield: 1 cup
Chlorella Guacamole Recipe
This gratifying guacamole supplies an extraordinary nutritive value in a simple variation of this beloved classic. Enjoy dipping pork rinds, veggies and more into this mouthwatering dip today!
Ingredients: Avocados, tomato, onion, lime juice, fresh cilantro, garlic, jalapeno pepper, chlorella powder, salt, crushed pepper.
Total Time: 15 minutes
| Yield: 3 cups (10 servings)
Protein-Packed Detox Smoothie Recipe {vegan}
This superb smoothie offers a refreshing means of cleansing your body with a beverage packed with potent antioxidants. Drink your worries away with this detoxifying smoothie today!
Ingredients: Almond milk, frozen banana, spirulina, hemp protein powder (optional), fresh mint, chia seeds, hemp hearts.
Total Time: 5 minutes
| Yield: 2 servings
Spirulina Smoothie Recipe
The superfood spirulina supplies a surprisingly refreshing taste in addition to an abundance of nutrients. Enjoy this super snack with a surprisingly simple recipe that takes only seconds!
Ingredients: Spirulina, banana, fresh spinach, apple juice, crushed ice, lemon juice.
Total Time: 2 minutes
| Yield: 2 smoothies
Protein Acai Bowl Recipe
This protein bowl is packed with nutritious foods that comply with most paleo diets. While the bowl does suggest using granola as a topping, you can try swapping it out for some chopped walnuts.
Ingredients: Frozen strawberries, almond milk, whey protein powder, acai powder, banana, fresh fruit toppings
Almond Truffles Recipe {gluten-free, vegan}
Our almond truffles offer a variation on the rich bites that are not only paleo- but also gluten-free and vegan! Treat yourself to a palatable sweet with these superbly decadent desserts today.
Ingredients: Pitted dates, almond flour, almond butter, water, flaxseed meal, freeze-dried raspberries, unsweetened shredded coconut.
Total Time: 15 minutes
| Yield: 14 - 16 truffles
Our Registered Dietitian Top Picks
We have an abundance of items that meet the strict standards set forth by paleo patricians, but our resident nutrition expert has hand-selected her favorites. Paleo-friendly snacks focus on the basics including snacks that are based around vegetables, seeds, nuts, and/or fruits. The snacks outlined here focus around foods that are minimally processed to help you adhere to a paleo lifestyle.
