10 Healthy Make-Ahead Snacks

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These 10 Healthy Make-Ahead Snacks are going to be game-changers in your kitchen! Prep your fridge with these easy snack ideas with fruits and vegetables. 

10 Healthy Snacks in Mason jars and divider cups.

Having healthy, simple, easy-to-grab snacks on hand in your fridge is a lifesaver when it comes to healthy eating, feeding a family, and getting some more whole foods into your diet. Make 10 or 1 or 1 of 10. No matter which you choose you’ll have a fridge full of healthy snacks all week long!

While you’re in prep mode, make a few Salad in a Jar recipes and a Veggie Box to make lunch a bit easier all week long. It’s also a good idea to have some Frozen Smoothie Bags in your freezer, too. 

10 Healthy Snacks in Mason jars and divider cups.

Why You’ll Love These Recipes

  • These make-ahead snacks are simple and easy
  • You likely have most of the ingredients on-hand. 
  • All the snacks are naturally gluten-free
  • Many of the snacks are dairy-free or vegan

Recipe Ingredients

  • Vegetables: Such as cauliflower, broccoli, celery, bell peppers, cucumbers, and carrots. 
  • Fruit: Apples, mangos, pomegranate seeds, grapes, mandarin oranges.
  • Peanut butter: Or your preferred nut butter.
  • Date Balls or Oatmeal Energy Bites
  • Cottage cheese
  • Hummus
  • Cheese: A block of cheese (such as cheddar or mozzarella) is best so you can cut it into cubes. 
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Granola
  • Dark chocolate

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make 10 Healthy Make-Ahead Snacks

1. Cauliflower and Broccoli + Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip

  • Wash and cut up your cauliflower and broccoli into small florets.
  • Fill the Mason jar about 2/3 of the way full with your vegetables.
  • Add some Greek yogurt ranch dip to the fruit cup (great time to measure and use portion control if you are prepping for weight loss), add the ranch dip in a cup to the Mason jar, screw on a lid.
  • Place in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Cauliflower and Broccoli with Dip in a Mason jar.

2. Cottage Cheese + Fruit

  • Measure out a serving of cottage cheese and add it to the Mason jar.
  • Fill the divider cup with the fruit of your choice (mango, pineapple, mandarin oranges, berries, and even cherry tomatoes are all good).
  • Add the fruit in a cup to the Mason jar, screw on a lid, and place in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  • When you are ready to eat, add the fruit to the cottage cheese and enjoy.
Cottage cheese and fruit in a Mason jar.

3. Greek Yogurt and Berries/Pomegranate + Granola

  • Place a serving of Greek yogurt in the Mason jar and top with your choices of berries (fresh or frozen) and/or pomegranate seeds (arils).
  • Add some granola to the divider cup (this is my favorite healthy homemade granola recipe).
  • Place the granola-filled cup in the Mason jar, screw on a lid, and place in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  • When you are ready to eat, add the granola to the yogurt and enjoy.
Greek yogurt, granola, and berries in a Mason jar.

4. Apple Slices + Cheese Cubes

  • Prep the apples by slicing/coring them and dipping them in a little bit of lemon juice, orange juice, or Fruit Fresh (it’s ascorbic acid) to prevent them from turning brown.
  • Place apples in the bottom of the Mason jar.
  • Fill a divider cup with a serving of cheese cubes.
  • Place the cheese cube filled cup in the Mason jar, screw on the lid, and place in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Apple slices and cheese cubes in a Mason jar.

5. Cucumber + Date Balls or Oatmeal Energy Bites

  • Prep your cucumber by washing it and slicing it into rounds or spears.
  • Place the cucumber in the bottom of the Mason jar and fill the divider cup with one or two date balls or oatmeal energy bites.
  • Place the “bite”-filled cup in the Mason jar, screw on the lid, and place in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  • Cucumbers, especially cut ones, don’t last as long as other more firm vegetables. Plan to eat these first.
Cucumber spears and date balls in a Mason jar.

6. Celery + Peanut Butter

  • Prep your celery by washing, trimming, and cutting it into sticks. Cut the sticks short (about 2.5 inches long) so that they fit in the Mason jar and you still have room to add your divider cup of peanut butter.
  • Place the celery in the bottom of the Mason jar and fill a fruit cup with a serving of peanut butter.
  • Place the peanut butter filled cup in the Mason jar, screw on the lid, and place in the fridge for up to a week. Celery lasts a really long time like this!
Celery sticks and peanut butter in a Mason jar.

7. Grapes + Roasted Chickpeas

  • Prep the grapes by washing them and taking the grapes off of the stem.
  • Fill a Mason jar 2/3 of the way full with grapes.
  • Fill a divider cup with roasted chickpeas.
  • Place the roasted chickpea filled cup in the Mason jar and screw on a lid.
  • Store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Grapes and roasted chickpeas in a Mason jar.

8. Mandarin Orange + Pistachios

  • Peel and segment a mandarin orange (or other small citrus fruit) and put the pieces in the Mason jar. If it is small enough, pop the whole fruit into the bottom of the jar.
  • Fill a fruit cup with a serving of pistachios.
  • Place the pistachio-filled cup in the Mason jar and screw on a lid.
  • Store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
A peeled mandarin orange and some pistachios in a Mason jar.

9. Apple Slices + Dark Chocolate and Nuts

  • Prep the apples by slicing/coring them and dipping them in a little bit of lemon juice, orange juice, or Fruit Fresh (it’s ascorbic acid) to prevent them from turning brown.
  • Place apples in the bottom of the Mason jar.
  • Fill a divider cup with a serving of nuts and dark chocolate.
  • Place the nut and chocolate filled cup in the Mason jar and screw on the lid.
  • Store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Apple slices with nuts and dark chocolate in a Mason jar.

10. Bell Peppers and Carrots + Hummus

  • Prep bell peppers and carrots by washing and slicing.
  • Fill the Mason jar 2/3 of the way full.
  • Place a serving of hummus in the divider cup (you can use homemade hummus is or store-bought).
  • Put the hummus-filled cup in the Mason jar and screw on a lid.
  • Store in the fridge for up to 5 days. If you do only carrots and not bell peppers, you can keep it in the fridge for a week.
  • Carrots that you peel and cut on your own last much longer than “baby carrots,” just FYI. I’m not sure what they do to baby carrots, but they seem to get slimy or soft much faster than a big carrot you prep yourself. If you are using baby carrots I’d eat within 3 days.
Bell peppers, carrots, and hummus in a Mason jar.

Recipe FAQs

How can I store these snacks to keep them fresh and convenient?

Store the snacks in the refrigerator and be sure to use Mason jar divider cups or reuse the little cup from single-servings of applesauce to separate wet ingredients from dry ingredients. 

How far in advance can I make these snacks? 

Snacks that contain dairy or softer vegetables (such as cucumbers) should be eaten within a few days. But the snacks with harder ingredients like grapes and broccoli should last up to a week. Be sure to check for freshness before consuming. 

Are there any tips or tricks for easy and efficient meal prepping for healthy snacks?

Do all the prep work for a few (or all) of these snacks at the same time so they are ready-to-go when you need them. 

Healthy snacks in pint-sized Mason jars stacked three tall and three wide.

Expert Tips

  • Be sure to use wide mouth pint-size Mason jars because the little divider cups won’t fit in a regular mouth jar. 
  • You can use these Mason jar divider cups or reuse the little cup from single-servings of applesauce – both will fit in Mason jars with wide mouths. 
  • Plastic screw-on lids for your Mason jars are a total bonus and I highly recommend them. They are also freezer safe. 

More Healthy Snack Recipes to Consider

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10 Healthy Make-Ahead Snacks

These 10 Healthy Make-Ahead Snacks are going to be game-changers in your kitchen! Prep your fridge with these easy snack ideas with fruits and vegetables. 
Prep: 20 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
Servings: 10 snacks

Ingredients 

  • Cauliflower and broccoli + greek yogurt ranch dip
  • Cottage cheese + fruit, I used mango, though I love pineapple and oranges too
  • Greek yogurt and berries/pomegranate + granola
  • Apple slices + cheese cubes
  • Cucumber + date balls or oatmeal energy bites
  • Celery + peanut butter
  • Grapes + roasted chickpeas
  • Mandarin orange + pistachios
  • Apple slices + dark chocolate and nuts
  • Bell peppers and carrots + hummus
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Instructions 

  • Wash and cut up your cauliflower and broccoli into small florets. Fill the Mason jar about 2/3 of the way full with your vegetables. Add some Greek yogurt ranch dip to the fruit cup (great time to measure and use portion control if you are prepping for weight loss), add the ranch dip in a cup to the Mason jar, screw on a lid. Place in the fridge for up to 5 days.
  • Measure out a serving of cottage cheese and add it to the Mason jar. Fill the divider cup with the fruit of your choice (mango, pineapple, mandarin oranges, berries, and even cherry tomatoes are all good). Add the fruit in a cup to the Mason jar, screw on a lid, and place in the fridge for up to 3 days. When you are ready to eat, add the fruit to the cottage cheese and enjoy.
  • Place a serving of Greek yogurt in the Mason jar and top with your choices of berries (fresh or frozen) and/or pomegranate seeds (arils). Add some granola to the divider cup (this is my favorite healthy homemade granola recipe). Place the granola-filled cup in the Mason jar, screw on a lid, and place in the fridge for up to 3 days. When you are ready to eat, add the granola to the yogurt and enjoy.
  • Prep the apples by slicing/coring them and dipping them in a little bit of lemon juice, orange juice, or Fruit Fresh (it’s ascorbic acid) to prevent them from turning brown.Place apples in the bottom of the Mason jar. Fill a divider cup with a serving of cheese cubes. Place the cheese cube filled cup in the Mason jar, screw on the lid, and place in the fridge for up to 5 days.
  • Prep your cucumber by washing it and slicing it into rounds or spears. Place the cucumber in the bottom of the Mason jar and fill the divider cup with one or two date balls or oatmeal energy bites. Place the “bite”-filled cup in the Mason jar, screw on the lid, and place in the fridge for up to 3 days. Cucumbers, especially cut ones, don’t last as long as other more firm vegetables. Plan to eat these first.
  • Prep your celery by washing, trimming, and cutting it into sticks. Cut the sticks short (about 2.5 inches long) so that they fit in the Mason jar and you still have room to add your divider cup of peanut butter. Place the celery in the bottom of the Mason jar and fill a fruit cup with a serving of peanut butter. Place the peanut butter filled cup in the Mason jar, screw on the lid, and place in the fridge for up to a week. Celery lasts a really long time like this!
  • Prep the grapes by washing them and taking the grapes off of the stem. Fill a Mason jar 2/3 of the way full with grapes. Fill a divider cup with roasted chickpeas. Place the roasted chickpea filled cup in the Mason jar and screw on a lid. Store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
  • Peel and segment a mandarin orange (or other small citrus fruit) and put the pieces in the Mason jar. If it is small enough, pop the whole fruit into the bottom of the jar. Fill a fruit cup with a serving of pistachios. Place the pistachio-filled cup in the Mason jar and screw on a lid. Store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
  • Prep the apples by slicing/coring them and dipping them in a little bit of lemon juice, orange juice, or Fruit Fresh (it’s ascorbic acid) to prevent them from turning brown.Place apples in the bottom of the Mason jar. Fill a divider cup with a serving of nuts and dark chocolate. Place the nut and chocolate filled cup in the Mason jar and screw on the lid. Store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
  • Prep bell peppers and carrots by washing and slicing. Fill the Mason jar 2/3 of the way full. Place a serving of hummus in the divider cup (you can use homemade hummus is or store-bought). Put the hummus-filled cup in the Mason jar and screw on a lid. Store in the fridge for up to 5 days. If you do only carrots and not bell peppers, you can keep it in the fridge for a week.

Notes

  • Eat the jars that have things like dairy or “soft” veggies (cucumbers) in them first. 
  • The carrots, celery, and broccoli stay fresh longer – up to a week!
  • Feel free to get creative with your healthy snack combos. I tended to pair a fruit or veggie with some protein so that it was a well-rounded snack.
  • The idea with these snacks is to pack a pint jar with part of your snack and then use a little plastic container to hold the other components and store it at the top of the Mason jar. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1g, Calories: 1kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g
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18 Comments

  1. Cheryl says:

    Wonderful!!

  2. Sheena says:

    This is such a brilliant idea! I think I’ll try it using silicon muffin cases instead of the plastic cups (just because I have them already) and see how it goes. Thanks for sharing!

  3. Amber says:

    Love this idea! I can’t wait to try this.

    1. Melissa says:

      ENJOY Amber, they really do make snacks and after school time so much easier.

  4. Tanya says:

    Excited to make snack time for all of us easy and healthier.
    Thank you

  5. Elise says:

    I adore these tips. There are so many great on the go ideas.

  6. Annalyse says:

    These are very help fun for kids that have after school programs or bring lunch boxes

  7. CA says:

    What size of mason jars ?
    I missed it I think

    1. Melissa says:

      Wide mouth pint work perfectly!

  8. Zully Hernandez says:

    Love these and looking forward to trying new snack combinations!

  9. tawn says:

    love these ideas but what are you using to hold the dips/ nuts? It fits perfectly in the mason jar?

    1. Melissa says:

      I talk about it at the beginning of the post if you need more info. They are fruit cup containers (like individually packaged applesauce or mandarin oranges!). They are just washed and recycled for this purpose. I also linked to a cup on amazon that fits too. So fun!

  10. Susan says:

    These are awesome — thanks! I’ll prep a few to throw in for snacks this week. What clever ideas!

    1. Melissa says:

      They are a life saver!