Good morning!  Thanks for the nice comments on yesterday’s post.

Limiting myself to only smoothies didn’t make room for healthy snacks, which I rely on to keep me satisfied and fueled up throughout the day.  I try to think about snacks as mini-meals – rather than just a source of fruit (pure carbs), I try to incorporate a source of healthy fat and/or protein too – like a banana with peanut butter or crackers with hummus.  Thinking of your snacks as mini-meals, with multiple macronutrient sources helps to keep your diet well-balanced and ward off hunger, which can lead to over eating.

Some of my favorite snacks:

 Granola Breakfast Cookies: 115 calories, 3 grams fat

 

3 Ingredient Power Balls – raisins, almonds, cinnamon (oats optional)

Shamrock (vanilla/mint) Shake: 140 calories, 10g protein

Perfect Granola: 120 calories, 3 grams protein per 1/4 cup

Sometimes you just don’t feel like cooking or pulling out your blender, so it’s good to have your pantry stocked with snacks that you can feel good about eating.

When I was asked if I’d like to try the healthy snacks that NatureBox sends their subscribers each month, of course I said yes!

The packaging was adorable!  They also donate 1 meal for every box purchased through a partnership with Feeding America – so you can feel even BETTER about your snacking.

The box they sent me (for April) included dried pears, peppery pistachios, smoky pumpkin seeds (LOVE), zingy currants (SO much better than raisins in overnight oats), and cranberry jubilee (a trial mix).

All of their handpicked FULL SIZED snacks have:

  • no high fructose corn syrup
  • no partially hydrogenated oils
  • no trans fats
  • no artificial sweeteners
  • no artificial flavors
  • no artificial colors

They include a detailed description of each of the items in your box, too:

You can read the full description of the April products here.

I really enjoyed the products and the whole concept of NatureBox.  For $19.95 a month you can subscribe on their website.

It’s like Birchbox (which everyone loves and I finally subscribed too), but edible and with full sized products.  Win-win. :)

Want a free box?  Leave a comment telling me your healthy favorite snack.  You can earn an extra entry by following me (@clairetherd) and NatureBox (@naturebox) on Twitter and tweeting: “I want to win a box of healthy snacks from @clairetherd and @naturebox – http://wp.me/p2dcjI-15o”

THE GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED – COMMENTS ARE CLOSED.  The winner is #11, Tianna!  Congrats!  I’ll be e-mailing you for your information.

 

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44 Comments on this article. Feel free to join this conversation.

  1. Brittany @ Itty Bits of Balance May 3, 2012 at 8:35 am -

    Oo! Great giveaway!

    My favorite healthy snack would have to be anything covered in nut butter. Preferably bananas ;)
    Brittany @ Itty Bits of Balance recently posted..WIAW “Eat More” EditionMy Profile

  2. Brittany @ Itty Bits of Balance May 3, 2012 at 8:36 am -

    I tweeted :D
    Brittany @ Itty Bits of Balance recently posted..WIAW “Eat More” EditionMy Profile

  3. Jana @ Newly Wife Healthy Life May 3, 2012 at 8:50 am -

    My favorite healthy snack is plain Greek yogurt mixed with pb2 and sprinkled with granola!

  4. Leanne @ The Skinny Architect May 3, 2012 at 8:55 am -

    My favorite “snack” is my after run shake:
    1 cup vanilla almond milk
    1 frozen banana
    1 scoop chocolate sunwarrior protien powder
    1 tsp dark chocolate powder
    sometimes 1 tsp PB2

    It tastes a lot like a frosty, but it really seems to help with recovery after a long run.

    Did you get a chance to go to the blogger event last week?
    Leanne @ The Skinny Architect recently posted..All this energy callin’ meMy Profile

  5. Hannah May 3, 2012 at 9:08 am -

    My favorite snacks are anything that involve fruit, especially apples or grapes!!! Yum yum yum! Great giveaway :)

  6. Mallory May 3, 2012 at 9:10 am -

    Bananas and peanut butter!!!

  7. Lauren May 3, 2012 at 9:21 am -

    I’ve been loving protein balls. Need a lot of self control to only eat 1 or 2 peanutbutter chocolate chip goodness before a workout or in between meals!

  8. Alex @ therunwithin May 3, 2012 at 9:31 am -

    My favorite healthy snack has to be baby carrots or fresh popped popcorn.

  9. Mai May 3, 2012 at 10:01 am -

    love bananas with any nut butter.
    Mai recently posted..Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Spiced DoughnutsMy Profile

  10. Megan C May 3, 2012 at 11:22 am -

    I’m loving cuties right now. Those little clementines that are easy to peel with no seeds, so sweet. Paired with a piece of cheese for some staying power.

  11. teabagginit May 3, 2012 at 11:36 am -

    my favorite snack is beef jerky! so savory and protein-y and i don’t care if everyone hates me because it smells so delicious in class!
    teabagginit recently posted..You win some You lose someMy Profile

  12. Tram May 3, 2012 at 11:49 am -

    I love anything that involves fruit!

  13. Pam May 3, 2012 at 12:38 pm -

    My favorite snack right now is trader joes wasabi roasted seaweed! yum..

  14. Sarah May 3, 2012 at 1:28 pm -

    I love peanut butter, cooked apple, cinnamon, and kashi cereal!

  15. karina May 3, 2012 at 1:32 pm -

    apples!

  16. Amanda May 3, 2012 at 1:51 pm -

    I love yogurt for a healthy snack!

  17. Amanda May 3, 2012 at 1:52 pm -

    I also followed you and @NatureBox on Twitter along with tweeting the giveaway!

  18. Heidi Bundles Of hugs May 3, 2012 at 2:10 pm -

    I’ve seen these Nature Boxes popping up on several blogs recently, your box sounds delicious what a great snack to have around. One of my actual snacks that I ALWAYS have on hand are dried fruits and nuts and this would be perfect! I tweeted already :)
    Heidi Bundles Of hugs recently posted..Old Fashion Hot FudgeMy Profile

  19. Anna May 3, 2012 at 2:12 pm -

    Oh soo many favorites to choose from…I would have to say either cottage cheese with peanut butter and an apple or greek yogurt with blueberries and almonds with cinnamon!

  20. Michelle @ Blogitness May 3, 2012 at 3:30 pm -

    Yogurt with granola sprinkled on top!
    Michelle @ Blogitness recently posted..Stop Writing and Start Doing!My Profile

  21. Anna May 3, 2012 at 3:55 pm -

    I absolutely love Emerald’s Cocoa Roast Almonds and a granny smith apple. I sent my tweet too!

    P.S.
    Claire, you were my RD in Holland my freshman year. I’m staying at Pitt for the next 2 years in the CMD program. So funny how that worked out! I really enjoy the posts :)

  22. Georgiana May 3, 2012 at 4:08 pm -

    My favorite healthy snack is hummus and crackers! Thanks so much!

  23. Megan May 3, 2012 at 5:54 pm -

    I tend to go through phases with my favorite healthy snacks, but fruit, greek yogurt, and dry cereal (a kind with limited sugar, as few ingredients as possible) are usually in the rotation!

  24. Kristi @ Sweetly Fit May 3, 2012 at 6:03 pm -

    I like cottage cheese, fruit, and nuts. Perfect trio!
    Kristi @ Sweetly Fit recently posted..Money Saving Fitness TipsMy Profile

  25. Ashley @ My Food 'N' Fitness Diaries May 3, 2012 at 6:40 pm -

    my favorite healthy snack recently has been roasted almonds w/ raisins!
    Ashley @ My Food ‘N’ Fitness Diaries recently posted..Healthy Living SurveyMy Profile

  26. Alyssa @ fit and fun in third May 3, 2012 at 6:43 pm -

    Just found your blog… so cute! :) My favorite healthy snack is a chocolate protein smoothie with spinach! So filling and delicious!
    Alyssa @ fit and fun in third recently posted..Seven bowls of Fruit LoopsMy Profile

  27. Ashley @ My Food 'N' Fitness Diaries May 3, 2012 at 6:46 pm -

    i follow you both on twitter and tweeted!
    Ashley @ My Food ‘N’ Fitness Diaries recently posted..Healthy Living SurveyMy Profile

  28. Matt @ The Athlete's Plate May 3, 2012 at 7:26 pm -

    Yogurt and granola!
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  29. anash May 3, 2012 at 8:17 pm -

    I lobe chocolate covered almonds, is that considered.health?? Thanks for the giveaway

  30. Renata May 3, 2012 at 8:45 pm -

    I love organic Medjool dates and fresh Black Mission figs – when in season! :)

  31. Renata May 3, 2012 at 8:46 pm -

    I follow you and I follow NatureBox on Twitter and tweeted your giveaway :)

  32. Billiejean May 3, 2012 at 8:56 pm -

    I have so many favorites! Today it was some of Probar’s Koka Moka and melon.

  33. Billiejean May 3, 2012 at 8:59 pm -

    Follow you and nature box on twitter and tweeted!

  34. Maggie @ Running on Fro-Yo May 3, 2012 at 9:06 pm -

    My favorite healthy snack is greek yogurt with apple or pear slices!

  35. Blond Duck May 3, 2012 at 9:41 pm -

    Popped in from Hotly Spiced to say hi! I’ve always wanted to try those balls, but I can’t get away from my apple and pb!

  36. Anna May 3, 2012 at 11:21 pm -

    I followed you both and tweeted!

  37. Jordan D May 3, 2012 at 11:36 pm -

    I love carrots and hummus for a healthy snack

  38. Jordan D May 3, 2012 at 11:37 pm -

    I tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/j_mosh/status/198254760867020800

  39. Tiffani May 4, 2012 at 1:03 am -

    my favorite healthy snack of late has been luna or clif mojo bars!

  40. Floey May 4, 2012 at 6:27 am -

    I love crackers, cheese, and apple slices!

  41. Danielle May 4, 2012 at 10:04 am -

    Right now my favorite snack is Greek Yogurt… Yum! Add some bananas in it and even better! (:
    Danielle recently posted..Surprise!My Profile

  42. Danielle May 4, 2012 at 10:06 am -

    I tweeted! (:
    Danielle recently posted..Surprise!My Profile

  43. Presley @ Run Pretty May 4, 2012 at 10:52 am -

    I’ve been chugging smoothies!

  44. Danica @ It s Progression May 4, 2012 at 11:16 am -

    My favorite snack is an apple with nut butter
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