5 Simple Snack Boxes for Busy People

We get it: Sometimes there’s just no time to prep all of your lunches and dinners for the week, but it’s easy to prepare nutritious snacks to get you through the busiest of days.

These grab-and-go snack boxes are easy to put together and are hearty enough to pass for a regular meal, or snack on them throughout the day. Each one is loaded with protein, fiber, and flavorful ingredients to satisfy your taste buds and that mid-afternoon rumble in your tummy.

5 Simple Snack Box Ideas

The All-American Snack Box

Snacking on good old cheese and crackers, and veggies with ranch dressing will please any kid — or grown-up kid.

Homemade ranch dressing, made from equal parts Greek yogurt and low-fat buttermilk mixed with dried herbs or a low-sodium ranch seasoning is so much healthier and lower in calories than the goop that comes in a bottle that one serving is a full ¼ cup!

Dunk those baby carrots and celery sticks to your heart’s content. Rolled up slices of lean deli turkey adds 15 grams of protein to keep you feeling full.

What’s in it:

8 small whole wheat crackers
4 oz. low-sodium sliced turkey
1 oz. jack cheese
1 cup carrots and celery
¼ cup homemade ranch dressing

The Tex-Mex Snack Box

The slogan is right, you can’t eat just one chip. Salty chips can be a snacker’s downfall, but a handful of baked corn tortilla chips won’t bust your diet.

To make these homemade chips, we brushed two small corn tortillas with a teaspoon of olive oil and baked until crisp. We paired them with fresh pico de gallo salsa and cheese so you can build your own nachos. Crunchy red pepper slices and chunks of sweet mango provide vitamin C and full servings of fruits and vegetables.

What’s in it:

baked corn tortilla chips (made from 2 corn tortillas and 1 tsp. olive oil)
½ cup pico de gallo
½ cup sliced bell peppers
1 oz. pepper jack cheese
1 cup mango slices

The West Coast Snack Box

The West Coast has a reputation for being obsessed with kale and wholesome junk food alternatives like these roasted chickpeas — and it’s like, totally true.

Throw in some raw almonds, grapes, and clementines, and you’ve got a vegan snack box with more than 12 grams of protein.

To roast chickpeas: Drain, rinse, and pat dry one 15-oz. can of chickpeas. Spread chickpeas on a baking sheet sprayed with nonstick cooking oil and drizzle with 2 tsp. olive oil and salt and pepper to taste.

Bake in an oven heated to 425° F for 12 to 18 minutes, or until lightly browned and crisp. Makes three servings, ½ cup each.

What’s in it:

1 cup Kale Chips
12 raw almonds
½ cup grapes
1 clementine
½ cup roasted chickpeas

The Mediterranean Snack Box

Will this snack box filled with hummus, kalamata olives, pita bread, and juicy grapes and tomatoes make you feel like you’ve been whisked away to a Mediterranean island? Probably not, but foods like these have plenty of omega-3s and fiber to fill you up between meals.

What’s in it:

¼ cup hummus
1 cup cherry tomatoes
10 medium olives
1 cup grapes
2 mini pitas

The Nordic Snack Box

For a delicious, Scandinavian-style snack, layer velvety lox or smoked salmon with hardboiled eggs and cucumber slices on Wasa crackers. Look for whole-grain crispbreads with extra fiber for a satisfying snack that is hearty enough to be lunch or dinner.