Who doesn't love to snack? The good news is that snacking in between meals can help regulate your blood sugar... not mention satiate your appetite.

Sure, mindless snacking can hurt health efforts. But snacking has been given a bit of a bad rep. When done intentionally, snacking will only benefit your health.

One thing to remember when choosing a snack is to try and include a mix of the three macronutrients - protein, healthy carbohydrates, and fat.

On busy days it can be hard to choose healthy snacks. That's why we have come up with a few nutritious and easy-to-make snack ideas.

1. Crackers & vegetables with dip

A super easy way to get in some vegetable servings is by eating raw veggies with hummus or a black bean dip. The bean dip provides extra fiber and protein. Throw in some multigrain crackers and you've got yourself a perfectly balanced snack!

2. Fruit and nut butter

Cutting up some fruit and drizzling on nut butter takes only two minutes, and is great for when you are craving something sweet. Try out some cut up apples dipped in almond butter, or a banana smeared with a tablespoon or two of peanut butter.

3. Healthy baked goods

With a little bit of preparation, this snack is the quickest of them all. By baking some healthy muffins or homemade granola bars, you have a great snack for more than a week. Just put them in the freezer to stay fresh, then all you have to do is pop one in the microwave for 30 seconds!

4. Chickpea cookie dough

Chickpea cookie dough is comprised of a can of chickpeas blended with peanut butter, and a drizzle of maple syrup. The basic chocolate chip cookie dough recipe can be found here, and is satisfyingly eaten by the spoonful.

There are multiple variations of chickpea cookie dough online, such as snickerdoodle or double chocolate! All the variations are still vegan, filling and the perfect comfort food.

5. Popcorn

Popcorn is an timeless favourite. You can make it a healthier choice by drizzling on some olive oil and a pinch of salt, instead of loading it with butter.

Popcorn is great for fiber, but very low in calories. For a snack that will tie you over until your next meal, popcorn on it's own won't do the job. Try eating popcorn with something a little more filling, such as a handful of almonds.

6. Energy Bars

A huge part of snacking healthy is being prepared. When you are on the go, having a healthy snack available will keep you from stopping at the nearest fast food restaurant. This saves time, money, and allows you to properly fuel your body.

Keeping emergency energy bars in your purse or car is a great way to be ready for any situation. At U-raaw! you can custom make your own energy bar by choosing from a wide variety of nuts, fruits, protein powders and nutritional boosters. With our products you can trust that you are not eating artificial sweeteners or adding preservatives.

When it comes down to it, all you have to remember is to focus on choosing real foods to snack on. There are many fun options, so be experimental and choose what works for you! Happy snacking :)