Many days it can seem like life bogs us down and depletes our energy — whether it’s from work, school, relationships or other stresses. There can be many ways to cope, and although it may seem strange, one of the best ways is to incorporate healthy snack combinations into your day. It has even been proven by scientists that a person’s gut, which is made up of the foods we eat, dramatically affects both mood and energy for the day. So, what are you waiting for? If you’re looking for ways to boost your energy in your day-to-day life, check out these healthy snack combinations that will give you a boost without the crash that results from coffee!

1. Fruit

Seems pretty simple, right? This one is pretty vague but it’s important to remember that there are many nutrient-dense fruits that are perfect healthy snack combinations. Sometimes though fruit can seem bland if it is eaten plain. One of the best ways to make fruit more appetizing as a snack is by cutting or slicing it in a way that makes it look appealing so that it looks and taste good.  Some examples include cutting up strawberries, bananas, mangoes, kiwis, or watermelon and combining them for a more flavorful taste pallet. As you keep on reading, you’ll notice that fruit is a common aspect in many other healthy snack combinations. 

2. Peaches, Cheese & Crackers

This combination might seem odd at first, but you’ll be drooling after you take your first bite. This snack may be customizable like most, but this healthy snack combination, in particular, is made up of canned peaches combined with a bowl of cottage cheese that is spread on Ritz crackers. This is such a healthy snack because all three components are in different categories of the food pyramid so they each have different nutritional value, yet they also complement each other so well!

3. Wholewheat Bread with Peanut Butter & Bananas

This is a common snack that is often forgotten about. Once again, we have three totally different components making one of the best healthy snack combinations. First, if you choose to use wholewheat bread, it contains a good amount of fiber and vitamins that contribute towards an increase in energy. Next, you might already know that bananas are super nutritious because of their high amounts of potassium and vitamin B6. Last in this trio is peanut butter which contains a good amount of protein. If you have a sweet tooth, you could replace the peanut butter with hazelnut spread and your sweet cravings will be satisfied! Either way, this snack is sure to fill you up and energize you when you need that mid-day boost!

4. Smoothies & Smoothie Bowls

Smoothie bowls are so popular nowadays and one of our favorite healthy snack combinations. Smoothies, in general, are very nutritious, but smoothie bowls are like smoothies on steroids. Some have a preference over the other but both are very nutritious. However, there are specific fruits and add-ins you can use for that energy boost. A couple energy-boosting fruits that you can combine and choose to blend into your smoothie include blueberries, pomegranate, acai, banana, and strawberry. Additionally, there are fresh add-in that can either be blended into the smoothie or added on top of your smoothie bowl. These include almonds, chia seeds, flax seeds, matcha green tea, whole grain oats, kale, and peanut butter. These fruits and add-ins are sure to make your smoothie or smoothie bowl a super-food snack that will revitalize your grogginess! 

5. Peanut Butter Balls

If you happen to have a jar of peanut butter just sitting in your pantry, this is a great way to effectively use it. Peanut butter balls are a great healthy snack because of their fulfillment of protein. The main ingredients typically include a jar of peanut butter, crushed graham crackers, and sugar to taste. There are some recipes that include adding different things like marshmallows or granola, which makes it all the more nutritious. You can even dip them in melted chocolate, making it a healthy dessert in disguise. Whichever recipe you choose, this is one of our healthy snack combinations that you won’t regret putting effort into. When they are ready, they are conveniently small and can be eaten any time of day for a boost!

6. Fruit Crumble or Pastry with Tea

This is one of our healthy snack combinations that is perfect for when the weather is colder outside. The fruit crumble is the main snack, but adding tea makes the perfect duo. You might be thinking, how can a dessert be healthy? Well in a fruit crumble, the fruit is the main base. So although it may seem like this snack is just a dessert break, you are getting a good amount of nutritional value from the fruit. There are many different kinds of fruit crumbles, but a quick google search will give you the fruit crumble recipe you desire.  Furthermore, tea is an amazing substitute for many other hot drinks like coffee or hot chocolate. Tea typically contains little to no calories. Not to mention, many also add lemon and honey which make it all the more tasty and nourishing, making this another one of our favorite healthy snack combinations.

7. Beer Battered Asparagus

This healthy snack may sound a bit strange, but it is oh so good! The name speaks for itself, but this snack is made up of asparagus battered in flour and fried in beer. This is such a great savory healthy snack combination. Asparagus is the main component that provides energy— it has many vitamins such as vitamin A, C, E and K. The addition of crispy beer batter makes this snack all the more appetizing!

8. Deviled Eggs

This healthy snack would probably be considered more savory but that doesn’t make it any less nutritious. Eggs, in general, are nutritious because of how much protein they contain. Not to mention all the other vitamins and micronutrients. This snack combination, in particular, includes hard-boiled eggs sliced in half with a touch of mayonnaise on top. Another name for these is often called deviled eggs. Although those may be more complicated to make, they are a great substitution and even more tasty!

9. Yogurt & Granola

This may be one of our simplest healthy snack combinations, but it is still full of flavor! Both of these components have very different but uniquely valuable nutritional benefit. First, often taken for granted, yogurt is an amazing snack by itself because of its rich exuberance of calcium, minerals, and probiotics. These micronutrients aid in a healthy gut, digestion, bone health, and day-to-day body functions. Furthermore, granola also has its benefits of improving heart health, boosting cognitive function and so many more! This duo is sure to leave your body feeling good and your brain alert!

10. Chips & Guacamole

Just thinking about this snack makes me want to drool. When mentioning “chips,” many people automatically put it in the category of junk food, but that is not true at all. This is one of many healthy snack combinations that have healthy benefits. In general, this snack is made up of tortilla chips and avocado spread (guacamole). First, the chips themselves, if eaten in moderation, are not only tasty but also healthy. Corn chips, in general, contain thiamin, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, and many other micronutrients. They also contain sodium which regulates the water in our bodies. Furthermore, guacamole contains even more nutritional value. They are made up of avocados which contain high amounts of protein, monosaturated fats, and fiber. They are a great superfood to aid in lowering cholesterol. This quick snack is incredibly healthy!