8 Easy Paleo Snack Ideas

CaraAs the popularity in living a paleo lifestyle grows, so do the questions about the right foods to eat. Some food choices are obvious, while others not so much.

Of course, there are also many of us “wishful thinkers” who want to eat certain foods we know are not paleo – so we try to figure out a way we can make them OK to eat…

This comes up a lot with snacks.

We want something easy and convenient when we don’t have time to cook or we don’t have access to a kitchen. We could be traveling, working long hours or need a quick re-fuel after a workout.

Having some ready-made healthy paleo snacks that you can just grab-and-go make it a lot easier to stick to a paleo diet because you don’t have to think about meal prep all the time. They can be really easy, convenient and tasty as long as you know what your options are and where you can get pre-made snacks.

Some paleo snack foods you can buy, others require some preparation. I don’t especially like to cook, so I find that preparing large batches of snacks makes the job a lot easier and less time consuming.

Something to think about when putting together snack is that you want them to be filling. Plain celery sticks usually wan’t cut it. High protein or high fat snacks can work really well here (as long as they contain healthy fats).

1. Jerky

Jerky includes all meat types like beef, turkey, buffalo, etc.. You can buy natural organic jerky online or at your local store. You can also make your own by cutting the meat into thin strips and baking it for several hours in an oven on low heat (no less than 165 degrees). You can season your jerky with spices or other paleo marinades.

Set of nuts on a white plate, isolated2. Nuts

Raw almonds are a good healthy paleo snack, but there are several other varieties that work as well, like macadamia nuts. Although I am a big fan of almonds, I find that if I eat them all the time, I get bored, so keep that in mind if you are making snack packs for yourself.

3. Seasoned Chicken Strips

Cook up some chicken breasts and season them for full flavor. This can be a really satisfying and filling snack – plus you can now pick up pre-cooked chicken breast strips at many grocery stores.

While plan chicken strips are healthy, they don’t travel so well unrefrigerated for long periods of time. You’re better off with jerky if that’s the case.

4. Hard Boiled Eggs

basket of eggs

Hard boiled eggs are so easy to prepare, some people may not really even consider it cooking. If you are short on time in the morning, or a high-protein low-carb snack during the day, this is a great option.

If you want to make your eggs a little more exciting, try a few different spice mixes like pizza or taco seasoning.

5. Dried Seaweed Snacks

I’ve started seeing these seaweed snack packs in stores. They may not be as filling, but if you just need a salt fix and don’t have access to a pickle nearby, these items are really easy to carry with you and don’t need refrigeration.

6. Sunflower Sesame Crackers

Crackers can be an easy, convenient snack, but they usually aren’t paleo. I recently found a recipe, however, for sunflower sesame crackers that you can make at home with seeds – and they are paleo.

Also more time-consuming to make and not as convenient as some of the other options, this snack can be a good choice for people who need a cracker fix.

7. Veggie Sticks with Nut Butter

One of my favorites here is celery sticks with almond butter, but you can dip lots of vegetables in nut butter. They don’t even need to be sticks. The fiber in the vegetables combined with the healthy fats in nuts can be very filling, not to mention nutritious.

caveman bar8. Paleo Snack Bars

Of course, the easiest option is buying your snacks pre-made. There are a variety of different paleo snack bars and protein bars that can help you keep your snacks interesting while still being easy and convenient.

These are only a few of the many paleo snack ideas out there. There are lots of free recipes online and also many in downloadable books like paleo cookbooks.

Cara Rennie, PaleoBarChart.com
About the Author: Cara Rennie is a paleo cooking chef, writer and advocate for healthy living. With over a decade of experience in the culinary industry, Cara has established herself as an expert in the paleo lifestyle, emphasizing the use of natural ingredients that promote a balanced and sustainable lifestyle. She firmly believes in the power of food to transform people's lives, while helping others discover the joys of paleo eating. Facebook | Pinterest

Justin’s Vanilla Almond Butter Individual Packs – Good or Bad?

Justin's Vanilla Almond Butter Individual Packs
Justin’s Vanilla Almond Butter Individual Packs aren’t exactly paleo protein bars. However, I consider them paleo.

Plus, they are just as convenient as bars and they contain 5 grams of protein apiece. In fact, they make a great protein snack for vegans or vegetarians.

The idea of putting almond butter (or peanut butter for that matter) into a “Squeeze Pack” is brilliant. They are easy to carry, mess-free and don’t require refrigeration.

Imagine great snacks for camping, hiking, mountain biking, paddle boarding, snowboarding, etc.. They come in handy as school snacks, mini-meals at the office, post workout snacks or even after-dinner treats.

Tip: Are you are one of those people who can’t control yourself around an open jar of peanut butter? These single-serving packets will prevent you from demolishing an entire jar in one sitting!

Vanilla Almond Butter IngredientsIn addition, these nut butters contain all-natural, organic, non-GMO ingredients without gluten or dairy. Not to mention, they taste incredible. (PS. Be careful if you buy the jar…)

This snacks are so healthy and nutritiously dense that you don’t have to feel guilty if you eat one for desert.

In fact, why not swap one out for the traditional peanut butter cup or chocolate covered nuts?

Vanilla Almond Butter Individual Packs + 7 More Flavors…

The 1.15-ounce Squeeze Packs come in packages of 10. They contain 5-8 grams of protein per serving (depending of which flavor you get), and they have 180-200 calories apiece.

  1. Vanilla Almond
  2. Maple Almond
  3. Honey Almond
  4. Chocolate Almond
  5. Classic Almond
  6. Honey Peanut
  7. Classic Peanut
  8. Chocolate Hazelnut

Get Them Here in 10-Pack Squeeze Packs & 16-Ounce Jars

By the way, you can eat one of these single-serving packs and get about the same amount of energy and macronutrients as many paleo protein bars. However, Justin’s Nut Butters cost much less – about $1 apiece! What a deal.

About Justin’s Nut Butters

Below is an amazing interview with Founder Justin Gold. He loves mountain biking, backpacking and skiing and needed an energizing protein snack that he could take with him in the outdoors.

He ended up developing his own great-tasting natural nut butters when he couldn’t find what he wanted in stores. Then he took it a step further and created “Squeeze Packs”.

He reveals how he overcame the major obstacle in packaging the Squeeze Packs. When he couldn’t find a co-packer who could do the job, he actually built the machine himself!



 

Cara Rennie, PaleoBarChart.com
About the Author: Cara Rennie is a paleo cooking chef, writer and advocate for healthy living. With over a decade of experience in the culinary industry, Cara has established herself as an expert in the paleo lifestyle, emphasizing the use of natural ingredients that promote a balanced and sustainable lifestyle. She firmly believes in the power of food to transform people's lives, while helping others discover the joys of paleo eating. Facebook | Pinterest

Simple Squares Review

What Do You Have Up Your Sleeve Simple Squares?The first thing I notice (probably along with everyone else) is that this snack bar is different. It has a square shape.

No big deal, except that it gets me thinking that this company is going outside the box and probably has developed a really cool product. What else do they have up their sleeve?

A Unique Yet Simple Healthy Snack Idea…

Just as the name implies, this product is simple. For instance, it has very few ingredients, all of which you can pronounce and understand.

In addition, they are organic, healthy and nutrient dense. Plus, they have no refined sugar, wheat, soy or dairy. If you want easy, organic snacks or gluten free bars, you’ve found them.

Although you can choose from a variety of different flavors, the ingredients behind Simple Squares basically boil down to nuts and honey. The type of nut will vary, plus the herbs change with each flavor. However, if you don’t like nuts and honey, then go somewhere else like here.

So then I figure out what they have up their sleeve – HERBS!

This is something totally different but really cool. If you get bored with other bar flavors or you enjoy the flavor of herbs, check these out:

  • Sage
  • Rosemary
  • Cinnamon-Clove
  • Coffee Bean
  • Coconut

Use Simple Squares to Refuel

To some people, these squares can be a convenient snack after a workout. They have a good breakdown of protein, carbs and fat to refuel and satiate at the same time.

Their individual packaging also make them easy to eat on-the-go, but you don’t have to worry about processed ingredients that can be difficult to digest high sugar content that spikes your insulin level.

Eat Simple Squares for Breakfast

These bars also have enough calories (about 250 calories) to be a energy-packed breakfast along with some fruit, eggs or Bullet Proof Coffee. If you are used to having toast, potatoes or cereal for breakfast, this can be a healthier alternative.

Switch These Gluten-Free Bars in as a Dessert

The unique flavors along with the honey also make them healthy after-dinner treats for people who want a dessert but want to avoid having a slice of cake or bowl of ice cream. Their protein and nuts will help fill you up, while the honey gives you that “cookie” taste you might be looking for after dinner.

The Downside?

They cost more than other bars. A box of 12 bars will run you about $30. You can get the price down 5% by subscribing to this product via Amazon, even if you only get 1 box every 6 months.

That said, it may end up saving you money if you end up eating out less because you have Simple Squares ready-to-eat in your car or in your bag.
 

Cara Rennie, PaleoBarChart.com
About the Author: Cara Rennie is a paleo cooking chef, writer and advocate for healthy living. With over a decade of experience in the culinary industry, Cara has established herself as an expert in the paleo lifestyle, emphasizing the use of natural ingredients that promote a balanced and sustainable lifestyle. She firmly believes in the power of food to transform people's lives, while helping others discover the joys of paleo eating. Facebook | Pinterest