Thank you, That’s It Fruit for partnering with me on this fun post! This post is sponsored by my friends at That’s It Fruit. All opinions expressed here are my own.

The health world is always divided on something, and one of the most divided topics in snacking! Is it good or bad? How much should you do it? What’s considered a healthy snack? These are questions that I’ve pondered myself many, many times! And you know what? Everyone is different. However, there are some good general guidelines that everyone can follow when it comes to snacking, that that’s what I’m going to share with you today.

First, why and when should you snack? It’s no secret that I love nourishing, nutrient dense meals and will always share recipes for those. However, in reality, we could all use a snack every now and then! Here are some occasions that having a snack on hand can really come in handy…

  • Traveling
  • Long car rides
  • Conferences
  • Long school or work day
  • Parties or events
  • Or just when you feel like having a treat!

Again, everyone is different. Having a little snack in between meals can be perfectly fine for most and necessary in many situations. As someone with food intolerances that follows a real food paleo diet and travels often, I depend on healthy snacks to get me through airports, long car rides, and events where I’m surrounded by food that would otherwise make me sick. So, how do you make sure you’re snacking smart when you’re living a real food, paleo lifestyle?

 

How To Snack Smart On A Real Food Paleo Diet

 

1.Prioritize full meals… don’t depend on snacks alone

This is placed at number one for a reason. One of the biggest mistakes I see with snacks is that people forgo full, nourishing meals and just snack all day. This is the opposite of what you want to be doing.

We still want to be having full sit down meals, and taking time to enjoy our food. Not only does this ensure you get in more nutrients, but it helps aid digestion. Digestion takes place slowly, and in a relaxed state, so if we’re constantly eating or are constantly on the go, it can be counterproductive. 

Rather than just snacking here and there throughout the day, make time for full meals and have optional snacks when needed.

2. Favor real foods and simple ingredients

When I first started traveling on a paleo and autoimmune protocol diet, I was at a complete loss for what to bring along with me on trips for snacks. Everything was filled with added sugar, canola oil, or corn based ingredients. Even snacks that are labeled as “natural” just weren’t the best choices.

Regardless of the convenience factor of a lot of these snacks, it’s never been worth it to me to feel terrible over one bag of poor quality chips! I’d much rather enjoy my day free of head and stomach aches and choose a real food snack instead. 

Favor real foods like chopped veggies (celery and carrots are my favorite for travel), fruits, other homemade options, or pre made snacks that have minimal ingredients.

That’s It bars were one of my early discoveries for simple ingredient snacks on the go that I’ve stashed in my bag on several trips, and have accompanied me to many coffee shop trips while I work!

These bars are made with just two ingredients each, and have no added sugars or juices. Their paleo variety of bars are made with just apple and another fruit. The first one that I tried during my early paleo days was the blueberry and apple, and I’ve always loved it.

I was also excited to see that they have a blueberry and coconut, and tons of other flavors! There’s an apple and pear flavor, apple and banana, and even black bean based bars for those who tolerate beans. 

That’s It bars are especially great for when you’re trying to conserve space. Sometimes I just can’t fit a whole piece of fruit in my purse or carry on bag!

Picking real food ingredients for snacks doesn’t have to be hard, and convenient options like these are making it even easier!

3. Plan ahead

If you want to snack smart while following a real food paleo diet, this step is always crucial! I’ve had entirely too many experiences where I’ve showed up to the airport or college campus empty handed and have been greeted with nothing but canola oil and sugar laden packaged snacks.

Think about where you’re going to be, how long you’re going to be there, and what you can reasonably bring. I often check with airlines and customs laws if I’m traveling, or double check with the hotel that I’m staying at if there’s a fridge in my room or not.

I’m known for always bringing a snack in my purse if I’m going to be out all day, and even packing an extra bag if I’m traveling with safe food! In the beginning, I felt silly, but as someone with food intolerances, it’s worth it to plan ahead than be sorry with a head and stomach ache later!

4. Balance your snacks

In order to balance your blood sugar, you want to make sure that you’re getting in healthy fats, proteins, and carbohydrates if you can.

So, what does that look like? Here’s an example of some snacks that I’ve brought along on a trip or a long day…

All of these together help provide more balance, satiation, and they’re all convenient enough to carry in a small bag!

 

When we find make the time to put in the thought for the best options, healthy snacking can be a breeze! I hope you love these simple tips and that they can be of help during your holiday travel and beyond. Feel free to share your own favorite tips for smart snacking in the comments.

How To Snack Smart On a Real Food Paleo Diet