Filling snacks to have on hand in your kitchen
This post is sponsored by my friends at Brightland,
all thoughts + opinions are my own.
You know the feeling.
You’re going about your day, minding your own business. Then, hunger strikes.
You make your way to the kitchen. You’re full of hope. Ready to see what those secretive cabinets of yours contain.
You fling open the doors in one fluid motion, with an audible squeak at the hinges.
And, to your dismay, there’s nothing. Well, there’s most likely something, but not anything worthy of snacking on.
That’s right. Instead, it’s home to jars of grains, bags of dried fruit, and perhaps some spices and broths.
Like I said, nothing worth snacking on.
Filling Snacks to Stock Up On
So here we are, commiserating for the greater good. The greater snack good featuring my favorite filling snacks to have on hand to avoid the total bummer of finding zero snacks stashed away in your kitchen.
Frozen protein bites
You don’t even have to buy these! You can MAKE them. And you can make them however you want. Here are a few combos to try out:
- Rolled oats, sunflower seed butter, and chocolate chips
- Rolled oats, protein powder, almond butter, and honey
- Rolled oats, chia seeds, and peanut butter, rolled in crushed pistachios
Bread, olive oil, za’atar, and balsamic vinegar
Y’all, this combo is one of my FAVORITES. While it may not be a carb-free snack, it’s filling and entirely delightful. It’s a little light in my afternoon. Okay, not every afternoon (even though I wish I was having it every afternoon), but some afternoons. I like to have options when I’m soaking – err, I mean dipping- my bread so I opt for a ramekin with Brightland olive oil and balsamic vinegar and another with olive oil and a za’atar spices. If you haven’t tried olive oil + za’atar for dipping yet, you must! I am 100% peer pressuring you because it is divine.
The key here is to ensure you have a high quality olive oil – it makes all the difference. That’s why I like to use Brightland for any dippage that’s happening at home (let’s make it a word, okay?). Their olive oil is consciously made in California with nothing more than olives, love, and sunshine. Sounds dreamy, right? It is! Not to mention their bottles are unbelievably aesthetically pleasing.
Greek yogurt + fruit
This is a simple snack that honestly, you can make fancy AF, if you want. I like to get *extra* with my greek yogurt snacks. One of my go-to combos is:
- Greek yogurt (I like the full fat so it’s nice and thick)
- Sliced strawberries
- Spoonful of granola
- Cocoa nibs
- Bee pollen
- A drizzle of peanut butter (the RX vanilla almond is SO good for this)
Yeah, when I say extra, I mean extra. Greek yogurt is fairly high in protein so it makes for filling snacks, for sure. I like to grab the plain (even though the flavored greek yogurts are delicious!), because I end up using it for so many other things – e.g., a sour cream alternative, on grain bowls, and to top off cozy soup dinners.
Oatmeal
I love having rolled oats on hand to quickly whip up a bowl of oatmeal. This is especially satisfying in fall and winter when the weather’s dreary and you want the ultimate cozy meal. You could, of course, go the oatmeal packet route, though I’d like to suggest grabbing one of those big cartons of rolled oats so you can whip up all different kinds of oatmeal bowls. If you’re feeling fall-like, add some nutmeg and cinnamon – SO good!
Cashew spread
While cashew spread isn’t exactly a snack on its own, it’s a delicious add-on for lots of things. My favorite way to eat cashew spread is on a piece of toast, then topped with sliced fresh tomato, sea salt and pepper, and dill – an open-faced tomato sandwich à la my friend Maggie Battista and her delightful cookbook – A New Way to Food. Cashew spread is also tasty as a little dip for some pretzels, and a perfect add-on for roasted sweet potatoes and veg tacos.
Okay, feeling ready to stock up your kitchen on some wholesome, filling snacks? What are you going to grab first?!
g.
