zero waste snack ideas eco friendly snack recipes plastic free treats

9 Easy Zero Waste Snack Ideas

You’re in the middle of finishing up some work mid-day, and you start to feel hungry. It’s not dinner time yet, but lunch has past! You’re in the middle of doing something so you’re thinking of reaching for the store-bought snacks. These snack packets from the grocery store are convenient, but they are filled with processed ingredients, preservatives, and plastic packaging. It’s not good for bodies, nor our Planet either!

 

The good news is, making your own packageless snacks is easier than you may think! You can make it healthier than the store-bought ones and put your own twist on it with the ingredients that you have at home already. Talk about low waste!

 

Here are several quick and delicious snack ideas that you can whip up, or prepare beforehand for the week. They don’t take much time (or skill!) to make but taste great and gives your brain the fuel it needs to power on through the day.

 

*The recipes can be made vegan by substituting the egg with a flax egg (1 egg = 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water) or a chia egg (1 egg = 1 tbsp chia seeds soaked in water + 2 tbsp water)

 

 

Peanut butter energy balls

Zero waste snack ideas eco friendly snack recipes plastic free treats packageless snacks

If you are craving for something sweet, but still energizing and tasty, then peanut energy balls are a perfect solution for you. You can prepare them in no time if unexpected guests ring your bell, these healthy bites will be ready in less then 20 minutes!

 

4 Servings

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: --

 

Ingredients

1 cup crunchy peanut butter

2/3 cup coconut flakes

1 cup old fashion oats

¼ cup oat flour

½ cup flax seeds

2 tablespoons maple syrup

¼ cup chocolate chips

 

Instructions

Mix all ingredients in a bowl until well combined. Cover and place in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes. Form 1 inch balls by rolling the mixture between your hands. Place them on a silicone baking mat and refrigerate for at least half an hour before serving.

 

Additional tips

  • Use an ice cream scooper to easily form peanut butter balls.
  • You can mix some oats and chocolate chips and roll the balls in the mixture before refrigerating them.
  • Store peanut butter balls in a covered glass bowl.

 

 

Kale chips

Zero waste snack ideas eco friendly snack recipes plastic free treats packageless snacks

Kale is a leafy vegetable, packed with nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Make it a part of your weekly meal plan and its antioxidants will help you live and age well. There is no better solution for a healthy snack then some freshly prepared kale chips. Kale yeah!

 

4 Servings

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 10 minutes

 

Ingredients

9 oz. kale
6 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Salt and pepper to taste

 

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 356° F. Wash and dry kale leaves. Use a sharp chef’s knife to remove the stems.

In a small glass bowl, combine extra virgin olive oil, sesame seeds, salt and pepper.
Arrange kale leaves on a silicone baking mat and brush them with the oil mixture. Bake kale leaves for about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool.

 

Additional tips

  • If you like spicy food, add some chili powder in the oil mixture.
  • You can replace sesame seeds with flax seeds or black sesame seeds or mix them.

 

 

Banana ice cream

Zero waste snack ideas eco friendly snack recipes plastic free treats packageless snacks

Banana ice cream is a pure-pleasure recipe. You can enjoy its appetizing flavors by combining bananas with other fruit like strawberries to prepare a refreshing snack or dessert, ideal during those hot summer days. It is a quick recipe with only 3 tasty and genuine ingredients. Perfect for a summer day or an evening with Netflix.

 

4 Servings

Preparation time: 10 minutes + 1 hour in freezer

Cooking time: --

 

Ingredients

6 ripe bananas
lemon juice

2 tablespoons maple syrup

 

Instructions

Peel and cut the bananas into small cubes. Place them in a glass bowl and drizzle with freshly squeezed lemon juice and maple syrup. Cover the bowl and put it in the freezer for 4 hours. Take the bowl out of the freezer and place bananas in a blender. Blend until you obtain a homogeneous cream. Place the cream in a glass bowl, cover, and put it in a freezer for at least an hour. Decorate and serve.

Additional tips

  • You can replace lemon with lime. For more flavor, use lemon zest and a few drops of vanilla extract.
  • Decorate banana ice cream with some chopped nuts, berries, or dark chocolate chips.

 

 

Sundried tomato hummus

Zero waste snack ideas eco friendly snack recipes plastic free treats packageless snacks

Sundried tomatoes are a versatile ingredient that can be combined with many others in order to create tasty recipes. Maybe one of the most famous ones is sundried tomato pesto, which is a super creamy sauce, ideal for pasta recipes. But sundried tomato hummus is worth trying, as it is one of the creamiest, flavor-packed hummus recipes ever.

 

4 - 6 Servings

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: --

 

Ingredients

1 ¼ cup chickpeas, cooked
¾ cup dried tomatoes

1 garlic clove
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
A pinch of salt

Chopped parsley, to taste

 

Instructions

Add all the ingredients in a blender and blend until you get a smooth and creamy mixture. Place the mixture in a glass bowl and garnish with chopped parsley.

 

Additional tips

  • Add more flavor with spices like sweet paprika, chili, or garlic powder.
  • Add more extra virgin olive oil if needed.

 

 

Banana bread

Zero waste snack ideas eco friendly snack recipes plastic free treats packageless snacks

The combination of almost creamy and brownie-like bread with that crunchy texture given by the walnuts will delight your taste buds. It also a versatile recipe, so you can “play” with different ingredients and flavors to make it more delicious.

 

6 Servings

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 50 minutes

 

Ingredients

3 ripe bananas

2 cups flour
¾ cup sugar

3 eggs / flax eggs / chia eggs

½ cup oil

¾ cup walnuts, chopped
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 ½ tablespoon yeast
1/3 teaspoon baking soda

Few drops of vanilla extract

A pinch of salt

 

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 338°F. Peel bananas and mash them with a fork. In a bowl combine dry ingredients. In another large bowl lightly beat the eggs, add maple syrup, oil, vanilla, and mashed bananas. Mix well with a wooden spoon to combine. Add dry ingredients into wet ingredients and mix until you get a homogeneous and lump-free mixture. Stir in chopped walnuts. Grease a baking pan and pour in the mixture. Bake for 50 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool before serving.

 

Additional tips

  • Make a toothpick test before removing banana bread from the oven. Insert a toothpick into banana bread and if it comes out clean the bread is ready.
  • Replace walnuts with almonds or pecans or mix them all – ¾ cup total.

 

 

Roasted chickpeas

Zero waste snack ideas eco friendly snack recipes plastic free treats packageless snacks

Roasted chickpeas are perfect to prepare as an appetizer with friends, but also as a tasty snack. The recipe is very easy and the secret to perfectly roasted chickpeas is to let them dry completely before seasoning. Choose the spices you prefer, like curry, turmeric, cumin powder or garlic powder, sweet paprika, etc. Follow these simple steps, and in no time, you will prepare a healthy and super crunchy snack.

 

4 Servings

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 25 minutes

 

Ingredients

1 ½ cup chickpeas, cooked
Spices - cumin, sweet paprika, chili, garlic powder and turmeric
Extra virgin olive oil, to taste
Salt and pepper, to taste

 

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 392°F. Place cooked chickpeas in a large glass bowl and season with extra virgin olive oil, spices, salt, and pepper. Toss gently to combine. Place a silicone mat on a baking sheet and arrange seasoned chickpeas in one layer. Bake for about 25 minutes. Shake the sheet a few times while baking, to ensure that chickpeas bake evenly.

 

Additional tips

  • Add spices to your liking. Also, you can replace extra virgin olive oil with other types of oil like grape seed oil or even coconut oil.

 

 

Cinnamon apple chips

Zero waste snack ideas eco friendly snack recipes plastic free treats packageless snacks

Apple chips are a tasty and satiating snack, which contains many nutrients we should consume regularly to maintain optimal health. For example, fibers and quercetin, with anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. So stop eating those unhealthy chips, full of saturated fats, and try this recipe. It will delight you!

 

4 Servings

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 4 hours

 

Ingredients

4 apples

Cinnamon powder

 

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 194° F. Wash the apples and with an apple corer remove the core.

Slice them by using a sharp chef’s knife or a mandolin. Place silicone baking mat on a baking sheet and arrange apple slices in a single layer.

Sprinkle all slices with cinnamon and place the baking sheet in the oven. Bake for 2 hours and then turn over the slices. Bake for an additional 2 hours and leave the oven door slightly ajar. Apple chips are ready when they are dry to the touch but still soft. Remove from the oven and let them cool for a couple of minutes, as after they will become crunchy.

Place cinnamon apple chips in a bowl and serve.

 

Additional tips

  • The slices should be thin, about 1/8 inch.
  • Add some powdered sugar before placing the apples in the oven for a perfect sweet snack.

 

 

Italian cantucci biscuits

Zero waste snack ideas eco friendly snack recipes plastic free treats packageless snacks

This is a typical Italian (Tuscan region) biscuit recipe with almonds, to be enjoyed dipped in a glass of wine or milk for breakfast. Double oven cooking is what makes them crunchy and irresistible, ready to satisfy all your snacking needs.

 

Approx. 30 biscuits

Preparation time: 25 minutes

Cooking time: 30 minutes

 

Ingredients

¾ cup sugar

2 eggs / flax eggs / chia eggs

1 cup + 1 tablespoon flour

1 cup almonds

1 tablespoon marsala or rum

1 lemon zest

A pinch of salt

2 tablespoons oil

 

Instructions

In a medium-size bowl combine sugar and egg with wooden spatula. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Add in oil and knead shortly. Add almonds, lemon zest, and marsala.

Knead until you get a homogeneous and lump-free dough.

Dived it into two equal parts and work the dough to form two loaves, around 2 inches wide. Place the silicone mat on a baking sheet, place the loaves, and brush them with egg yolk.

Bake in a preheated oven at 396°F for 20 minutes.

Remove cantucci from the oven and let them cool for about 10 minutes.

With a sharp chef’s knife, cut the loaf into 0.5-inch slices and arrange them on the silicone mat. Bake for an additional 8 minutes at 320°F.

Remove from the oven, let them cool and serve.

 

Additional tips.

  • You can replace lemon zest with lime or orange zest if you like.
  • Serve cantucci as a snack or dessert with some tasty dessert wine.

 

 

Dark chocolate drizzled kettle corn

Zero waste snack ideas eco friendly snack recipes plastic free treats packageless snacks

Well, we all love popcorn… and you can't go wrong with chocolate… So what sensations do you think you’d feel when mixing these two ingredients together? Wow – probably the best word to describe this gratifying snack.

 

4 Servings

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 10 minutes

 

Ingredients

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
¼ cup popcorn kernels
2 tablespoons sugar

1/4 tsp flaked sea salt
3 tablespoons dark chocolate chips

1 teaspoon oil

 

Instructions

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 corn kernels in the skillet and cover. When the kernels pop, add the rest of corn kernels in a single layer, sprinkle with sugar and salt, and cover. Reduce the heat for a minute, then increase again to medium-high heat and shake the skillet (covered) until the popping slows or stops. Remove from heat and pour popcorn on a silicone mat.

Melt the chocolate and oil in a small pan over boiling water. Set aside for a couple of minutes. Drizzle popcorn with chocolate and refrigerate for 25 to 30 minutes.

 

Additional tips

  • Why not add something crunchy & healthy? Sprinkle with some nuts.
  • For more flavor add 1 teaspoon of peanut butter into melted chocolate and combine.

 

 

We hope you got some inspiration from some of our favorite eco friendly snack recipes. The best part is, you can make a batch of these snacks on the weekend, store them in an airtight container and enjoy these plastic free treats for the rest of the week. Happy snacking!

 

 


Leave a comment

First step in keeping things clean...

Revolutionize Your Laundry Routine: Unleash the Power of Eco-Friendly Clean with Our Innovative Laundry Strips!

Elevate your laundry game with our advanced laundry strips, designed for gentle yet effective cleaning. Our unique formula reduces wear and tear, preserving your favorite clothing for a longer-lasting, fresher look.

Subscribe to our newsletter

×