Healthy snacks for teens | Good Food

Popcorn is a teen favourite, and with good reason – it’s the perfect accompaniment to a movie night but is equally as delicious packed up in a storage container for an on-the-go nibble. Try this savoury flavour combination for a low-sugar option – we’ve used garlic and rosemary, and you can vary the chilli levels to please your teenager’s palate.

Protein is crucial for busy teens, and can be particularly important for those that play sport to help repair muscles and build strength. We’ve used chunky peanut butter and curry powder to add plenty of flavour to lean chicken breast fillets. This recipe will last for two days in the fridge and taste as good cold as they do hot.

This sharing platter of nachos is still a super-healthy option – and as it serves six, the whole family will be able to tuck in! This Mexican-inspired dish provides folate, fibre and vitamin C, along with plenty of flavour. We’ve opted to top paprika-sprinkled crispy tortillas with black beans, charred peppers, and a fresh tomato and avocado salsa. Delicious.

More like this

Eggs are a filling, plant-based source of protein – ideal for veggie teens. In this recipe, we’ve used seeded tortilla wraps as cheat’s pizza bases, topped with a simple tomato and pepper sauce and an egg, cracked into the centre – it makes for a lovely light lunch or substantial snack, and is easy enough for teenagers to make for themselves.

Chocolate milkshake may seem an unlikely recipe on a healthy snack list, but this healthy version is made with banana, avocado, soya milk, cocoa and yogurt so will add in some sneaky nutrients too. It takes just five minutes to make, so makes a speedy snack when they can’t wait.

Only have five minutes? No problem. This speedy salsa combines tomatoes, red onions, garlic, white wine vinegar, lime and coriander to make a delicious dip that you can store in the fridge. Serve with crunchy crudités or toasted pitta bread – opt for wholemeal for a gut-friendly fibre boost.

These healthier flapjacks are packed with oats, banana, dates and walnuts to give your teen an energy boost during the day. As they’re plant-based, they will make a good choice for anyone following a vegan or dairy-free diet.

Spice up your snack with these Indian-style potato wedges, flavoured with turmeric, ginger, fennel seeds and cayenne pepper and oven-baked until crisp and golden. If you wanted to bump up the fibre to create a more filling snack, leave the potato skins on.

This frozen treat looks deceptively impressive, but in reality takes only three ingredients and two minutes to make – perfect for a fuss-free snack or healthy dessert. Stash some mixed frozen berries in the freezer to keep on hand for when your teen’s hunger strikes – simply whizz up with some Greek yogurt and sweeten to taste with honey or agave syrup.

This low-fat loaf not only tastes great, but uses up those overripe bananas in your fruit bowl. We’ve used a blend of self-raising and wholemeal flour to increase the fibre content while keeping the texture light, and topped with chopped nuts for extra texture (you can leave these out if you’d prefer). It’s a satisfying snack any teen will love – and it’s easy enough for them to have a go at making themselves!

Now read

Top 5 healthy snacks for kids
The best healthy snacks for work
How to choose a healthy snack for kids
10 healthy snacks you can make in minutes
Top 10 low-sugar snacks

What are your family’s favourite healthy snacks? Let us know below…

All health content on goodfood.com is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local health care provider. See our website terms and conditions for more information.