30 Days of Blogging: Day 15 (half way through!)
Some of the best postpartum advice I got was to have lots of healthy snacks ready at home for after baby came. Breastfeeding takes a lot of energy and extra calories, and with a newborn there is little to no time to prep anything. So keeping myself fed has been challenging, but having a bunch of snacks helps A TON.
It can definitely be tricky to come up with healthy, filling snacks. And even harder if you have to go dairy free for your little one. Here are the snacks that ended up in being my favorite.
1. Junkless Granola Bars
I love these because they don’t have too much sugar unlike any other granola bar I’ve ever been able to find. It’s the first granola bar I’ve had that didn’t taste too sweet. They taste delicious and also satisfy any craving for treat while still being healthy. I often have these as my “pre-breakfast” since I usually have to nurse baby E before I can get to some real breakfast.
2. Carrots, cucumbers, and crackers with Hummus or Ranch
This is an easy (and tasty) way to get in some fresh veggies. If you don’t have time to cut up a cucumber then just stick with the carrots and crackers. The crackers definitely help make this a more filling snack, particularly if you go with something whole wheat or whole grain.
Gluten free / Dairy free: just watch your crackers and you should be good to go!
3. Fresh Fruit – particularly oranges and berries
While we’re talking fresh, don’t forget the fruit! Fruit can be really satisfying and nutritious. I don’t love munching on apples all the time, so I opt for oranges and berries, which are great on their own or paired with nuts, cheese, chips, you name it. The great thing about having some fruits and veggies to munch on throughout the day means that you’re getting more of your whole foods in without much hassle.
Gluten free / Dairy Free : no subs needed here 🙂
4. Banana Oat Muffins
There are so many recipes out there, so find one that best suits your needs and preferences. These are so yummy and can be made in one big batch and then stuck in the freezer. When you’re ready for one, you can just grab it from the freezer, pop it into the microwave for a few seconds and you’ve got yourself a delicious breakfast or snack. They also go great with tea or coffee!
Gluten free / Dairy Free: Some of my favorites are muffins made with oat flour (that you can blend up yourself!) and I always substitute almond or coconut milk whenever milk is called for. If you’re going with chocolate in your muffins, be sure to look for dairy free chocolate chips.
5. Breakfast Sandwiches
Cheese or not, these are delicious. This is what you bring out when you’re really hungry and need more than a snack but not a whole meal. On the afternoons that I was just really hungry, I’d pull one of these out of the freezer and would finally feel full for a while.
You can customize these sandwiches to your preference using different combinations.
Stick with whole wheat or whole grain english muffins or bread of your choice, and opt for a turkey sausage to keep this snack on the leaner side.
English muffin + egg + sausage patty
Whole wheat Bagel + turkey bacon + egg + avocado (don’t freeze with avocado though)
Gluten free / dairy free: of course use your gluten free English muffins, bread, or bagels – but do be mindful of how much you munch on these if you’re trying to lose weight!
I would make up a bunch of sandwiches, wrap individually in wax paper, and freeze in a ziplock bag. Then they’re ready to grab and warm anytime.
6.Pure Organic Layered Fruit Bars
Okay these aren’t the most filling, but they are so darn good. Sometimes you just need a fruity snack that’s not an actual piece of fruit, am I right? Well these fruit bars are the bomb. If you have a sweet tooth, these are a perfect substitute for a handful of candy.
7. Trail Mix
This is a power snack! Plus I love that I can make up a big bag of it to last a week or two, and then when it runs out I can make another one with different ingredients to mix it up a bit. Here are some items I like to mix together in a gallon sized zip lock bag:
- Pretzels
- Mixed nuts
- M&Ms
- Dried fruit
- Sunflower seeds
- Pumpkins seeds
- Chocolate covered nuts or dried berries
- Cereal
- Banana or plantain chips
- Yogurt Chips
Gluten free / Dairy free: the nice thing about making your own trail mix is that you can make it fit any dietary restrictions 🙂
8. Luna Protein Bars
These plant-based protein bars are so yummy! It has a good amount of protein for a snack. This is one that I definitely keep on hand for when I need a quick grab & go snack.
Gluten free / Dairy free: these are gluten free and while they aren’t made with dairy products they “may contain milk” so you may need to avoid these if you have a milk allergy.
9. Power Balls
Another great way to get some protein, as well as some healthy power foods – oats, chia, and flax. Plus they’re delicious. Another easy to grab snack that’s filling and nutrient dense.
Again, there are so many different recipes for these. A quick search on Pinterest or Google will bring up a bunch of options so you can choose your favorite!
Gluten free / Dairy free: these can easily be made free of gluten and dairy – in fact most recipes don’t call for gluten or dairy ingredients. Just watch out for your chocolate chips if you’re avoiding dairy.
10. Biena Roasted Chickpeas
While I love chickpeas in recipes or hummus, I never really liked roasted chickpeas, mostly because they always come out soft and dry. So I always discounted this snack idea when I came across it. But then I found these at Whole Foods and – oh my. They’re sooooo good! Crunchy and super flavorful. If you’re one to crave some cheddar or sour cream and onion chips (which you totally can do) these are for you!
Gluten free / dairy free: while the flavor shown does have dairy, they have other flavors without dairy. No gluten here!
11. Mamma Chia Chia Pouches
I love keeping these in the fridge as the perfect errand-running snack. Much more filling than applesauce pouches, but just as tasty and convenient. They’re also great when it’s hot outside since they are juicy and refreshing. I’ve only had the blackberry flavor but I’m sure the others are great, too!
Gluten free / Dairy free: all clear here!
12. Body Armor Lyte
Okay I know this is not food and technically not a snack. But I really wanted to include it because it has vitamins and probiotics, low sugar, and is made for rehydrating. I often have a bottle of it with an afternoon snack and it really helps keep me going. They’re super tasty too!
I hope these snack ideas will help get you started with stocking your pantry with some easy options for fueling your days with a newborn! Have other suggestions to add? I’d love to hear them!
No gluten or dairy