Musings of a Foodie: Summer Snacking

I love snacking, I always have, and summer is no exception to this pastime. During the warmer months, sometimes it's more enjoyable to graze throughout the day rather than eating three solid meals. The heat and the longer days result in being hungrier and more restless, and honestly, sometimes the only thing that sounds good is eating a little something. 

Here are some of my favorite summertime snacks, and most of them are things that are laying around the kitchen anyway, so that's a plus!

Clementines, or more commonly referred to as "Cuties" have got to be one of the easiest and most delicious snack. Refreshing and fun to eat, they're tiny and sweet and perfect for a quick pick-me-up during a work break or while on the go. Plus, they're a citrus, so they're packed with Vitamin C and good for you at the same time! 

Hummus is one of my all-time favorite snacks, and I'm a die-hard fan of the Roasted Red Pepper Hummus, but when I saw this in Trader Joe's the other day, I thought it sounded pretty good. Boy was I right! This stuff is strangely addicting and just spicy enough to leave a little bite. It's amazing with pita chips and bite sized vegetables, especially carrots and celery. Hummus is made from chickpeas, which contain a ton of fiber and antioxidants which are some great health benefits, while still being delicious. 

The only thing you might be thinking when you see blueberries is breakfast...pancakes...muffins... but blueberries are in fact, great for snacking because they're easy to eat on the go and they're healthy, containing plenty of fiber, Vitamin K and Vitamin C. While they're tasty on their own, you can put them in a bowl of cereal, atop some yogurt or in a fruit salad for even more options. 

As I've mentioned before, who really has time to go to Starbucks every day? When I can't get my go-to tea, I make do with brewing up some of my own. Tazo is one of my favorite tea brands, and this one is strong and flavorful, which is exactly how I like it (I hate wimpy teas) I like to brew a big pitcher of it and keep it in the fridge to sip on all day. I've been trying to drink more water lately (that might be another post of itself) but tea is a good beverage as well, as it keeps me hydrated but is definitely more interesting than just plain old water. 

When I was in school, I loved having a bag of trail mix in my purse to snack on during classes (and I always ended up sharing with my little posse, now that I think about it) but at $6-$10 a bag, snacking can get expensive! I've found that it's cheaper and more fun to buy the ingredients individually, and then just mix them up myself. I like a fair assortment of things, but one of the most simple mixes is just cashews, some dried cranberries or other fruit, and some chocolate chips for added sweetness!

All of these snacks are fairly inexpensive, and can be found at any grocery store or even Target. They're ideal for college students and people on the go because they don't take up much space and require little to no preparation.

What are some of your favorite summer snacks? Do you prefer to munch on little things throughout the day or stick to three square meals? 

All the best, 

♥︎ Greta Elise