5 Creative and Healthy Snack Ideas for the Salon

When you’re putting in long hours at the salon, it’s always a great idea to have some snacks on hand. Sometimes, the same old options like carrot sticks, popcorn or pretzels can get a bit boring and repetitive. Instead, try these healthy and creative snack ideas to spice up your work day. Some may take just a few minutes of extra prep time but you’ll have delicious and exciting batches of snacks on hand for the week!

Honey Glazed Almonds

Add a little bit of flavor to plain almonds. Almonds are a fantastic bite sized snack that pack in essential healthy fats and vitamin E.

From Food Network

Ingredients:

- 4 cups whole blanched almonds
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 orange, zest grated

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Toss all the ingredients together. Transfer almonds to a greased baking sheet. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until lightly toasted, stirring occasionally. Cool. Store in an airtight container.

Baked Kale Chips

Potato chips are such an easy to reach for snack but are never going to be your healthiest option. Rather than letting carbs weigh you down while you’re in the middle of a work day, try some kale chips instead. You’ll still get the crunch and saltiness of a potato chip without the added calories.

From Hungry Girl

Ingredients:

- 2 cups fresh kale leaves
- Olive oil nonstick spray
- Dash salt, or more to taste

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place kale leaves on a baking sheet sprayed with olive oil nonstick spray. Spritz leaves with the nonstick spray and sprinkle with salt. Bake in the oven until crispy, 5 - 8 minutes, for a potato-chip-like snack.

Buffalo Popcorn

Spice up your boring old popcorn (literally) with some buffalo seasoning. To cut down on the calories, consider omitting the butter or substituting margarine instead.

From Rachael Ray Mag

Ingredients:

- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 1/2 teaspoons hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- Salt - 12 cups popped popcorn

In small pan, melt butter; whisk in hot sauce, honey and 1/2 tsp. salt. Place popcorn in large bowl. Drizzle with butter mixture; toss and season.

No Bake, Four Ingredient Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Energy Bites

Stay fueled all day long with these easy-to-make energy bites. Store in an air-tight container to have on hand in the salon when there’s little time for lunch and an afternoon full of back-to-back appointments.

From I Should Be Mopping the Floor

Ingredients:

- 1 cup old fashioned oats
- 3 tablespoons natural peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon honey

Pulse all ingredients in a food processor. The mixture will be slightly sticky, but not too sticky, if the mixture is too sticky, add in an additional tablespoon or two of oats and pulse until just right. Scoop teaspoons of mixture out and roll into balls with your hands.

Pumpkin Spice Yogurt

A great snack option for fall with much less calories than those delicious yet sinful Pumpkin Spice Lattes from Starbucks. (Not to mention easier on the wallet!)

From Simple Nourished Living

Ingredients:

- ½ cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup pumpkin puree
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (or to taste)
- 2 teaspoons maple syrup (or your favorite sweetened to taste)
- 2 tablespoons low fat granola

In a bowl stir together the nonfat plain Greek yogurt, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice and maple syrup.