10 foolproof snack combos

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner tend to get the most of our meal-planning attention, but snacks are truly the unsung heroes of the kitchen. They can power you throughroad tripsandtough workouts, and pick you up from the dreaded late-afternoon slump. They can also help you stay on track and in your Points® Budget. (Gettingtoohungry between meals could lead you to overeat or make food choices you hadn’t planned for—or both.)

That said, there’s an art—and a science—to building the perfect snack. “I like to make sure my snacks contain fresh produce, protein, andhealthy fat,” says Leslie Fink, MS, RD, nutritionist and recipe editor at WeightWatchers®. In particular,researchshows the combination ofproteinandfiberis especially impactful to help you feel fuller, longer. The other secret to successful snacking? Plan ahead. It’s important to have a snack game plan, so your choices aren’t driven by whatever grab-and-go food might be easily accessible, explainsAngela Goscilo, MS, RD, CDN, senior nutrition manager at WeightWatchers®.

Just us, or is your mouth watering too? Enough talking—onto the snacking! These 10 delicious combos require zero baking, broiling, or sautéing. Let’s dig in.

An elevated take on the classic apple and peanut butter combo, this recipe packsplant-based proteinand fiber. You’ll also notice it calls for powdered peanut butter. While you can swap in traditional peanut or almond butter, powdered versions are typically lower in Points since they contain less fat, Fink explains.

Want a more classic dip? Paired with those chopped veggies orWW Hummus Crisps, French onion dip is the ultimate add to any afternoon snack sesh orgame day spread. Instead of mayo, Goscilo recommends mixing your favorite onion dip mix with plain nonfat Greek yogurt. You’ll get the same creamy taste for fewer Points and more protein. You can also use Greek yogurt in place of mayo increamy Mexican dip,ranch dip, ordeli-style salads.

Start with a colorful medley of chopped veggies, like baby carrots, bell peppers, celery, broccoli, cucumbers, radishes, and more. Whichever assortment you choose, you’ll be adding fiber, vitamins, and minerals to your day—for 0 Points. (We see you, non-starchy veggies!) Pair it with your favorite store-bought hummus orwhip up your ownwhen you meal prep for a healthy helping of protein.

Pair frozen raspberries—or whatever frozen fruit you have on hand—with part-skim cottage cheese for aprotein-packedsnack that tastes like a treat. Frozen fruits are ideal when you’re short on time (no washing) or fresh produce (their shelf life is nearly endless). And since berries are typically picked at peak season, and then flash-frozen, they retain their sweet, tangy flavor and nutrient density.

Filled with plant-based protein, carbs, and fiber, this combo is a standout choice any time of day, but especially if you want to nosh on something before orafter a workout. Try making one-bite sandwiches with two slices of banana and a dollop of peanut butter, or whatevernut butteryou have on hand.

Loving the cheesecake inspo but not the biggest fan of cottage cheese? Meet this melt-in-your-mouth alternative: Turn to plain nonfat Greek yogurt and your freezer to make this nutrient-dense, dessert-like bark. Once you have it mastered, experiment with different types of berries, other frozen fruit, and “crust” ingredients.

Call us basic, but we’re still all aboutavocado toast. For a slightly different take, swap the bread for sweet potato. Cut ⅓-inch-thick slices of sweet potato and then lightly coat them with nonstick spray and season with salt. Then, toast them 2 to 3 times on high until the slices are lightly browned and fork-tender. (You can also find ready-to-toast sweet potato slices in the frozen section of your grocery store.) Top withavocadoand everything bagel seasoning, and enjoy! For a heartier snack, finish with a sliced hard-boiled egg to add protein. Feeling more sweet than savory? Trysweet potato toast with banana, honey, and pecans.

For a grown-up take on achildhood classic, Fink recommends starting withwhole-grainwasa crackers, and then topping them with almond butter and sliced pears. Experiment with different fruit toppings—think blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, or apples—and see which combo you (and your taste buds) like the best.

These no-bake bites give Reese’s peanut butter cups a run for their money: All you need to do is gather the ingredients, press Start on the food processor, and shape the combo into balls. Make a batch of the protein-powered goodies to keep in the fridge and grab throughout the week, or freeze them and defrost a few at a time. They’re also a great (not-banana bread) way to use ripe bananas before they go bad.

Sure, the to-go protein and snack boxes available at the grocery store orStarbucksare convenient, but they can also get costly. Instead, make your own. Grab a reusable storage container with sections (likeWW’s three-compartment container), and fill it with a handful of pistachios, grapes, and cubed Swiss cheese. Fink recommends using shelled pistachios. “Eating them in the shell takes extra time and makes the snack last longer,” she says. Don’t love pistachios? You can mix and match any nut-fruit-cheese combo.

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