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Photo: Jamie Vespa
When it comes to making brain-healthy food choices, maintaining a balanced eating pattern is one of the most important things you can do. And fitting insome nutrient-dense foodslike berries, nuts, seeds and whole grains can give your noggin a little extra support.From muffins to granola bars and energy balls, these snacks are packed with ingredients like blueberries, pumpkin seeds, oats and walnuts to help support brain health. Plus, these delicious bites offer at least3 grams of fiberper serving to help you stay satisfied until your next meal.Eating enough fiberalso can be a great way to help you support healthy gut bacteria, lower the risk of chronic disease and live a longer life. Prep a batch of recipes like our Baked Blueberry & Banana-Nut Oatmeal Cups and Almond-Honey Power Bar for a week’s worth of grab-and-go snacks you can keep on hand.
When it comes to making brain-healthy food choices, maintaining a balanced eating pattern is one of the most important things you can do. And fitting insome nutrient-dense foodslike berries, nuts, seeds and whole grains can give your noggin a little extra support.
From muffins to granola bars and energy balls, these snacks are packed with ingredients like blueberries, pumpkin seeds, oats and walnuts to help support brain health. Plus, these delicious bites offer at least3 grams of fiberper serving to help you stay satisfied until your next meal.Eating enough fiberalso can be a great way to help you support healthy gut bacteria, lower the risk of chronic disease and live a longer life. Prep a batch of recipes like our Baked Blueberry & Banana-Nut Oatmeal Cups and Almond-Honey Power Bar for a week’s worth of grab-and-go snacks you can keep on hand.
01of 15Low-Carb Blueberry MuffinsJust because you’re watching carbs doesn’t mean you can’t have the classic breakfast pastry. In place of all-purpose flour, nutty almond and coconut flours make these muffins fluffy while slashing carbs. A bit of brown sugar blunts the tartness of fresh blueberries. Make these ahead for a grab-and-go breakfast for the week.View Recipe
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Low-Carb Blueberry Muffins
Just because you’re watching carbs doesn’t mean you can’t have the classic breakfast pastry. In place of all-purpose flour, nutty almond and coconut flours make these muffins fluffy while slashing carbs. A bit of brown sugar blunts the tartness of fresh blueberries. Make these ahead for a grab-and-go breakfast for the week.
View Recipe
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Baked Blueberry & Banana-Nut Oatmeal Cups
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Almond-Honey Power Bar
04of 15Pumpkin-Oatmeal MuffinsThese healthy pumpkin-oatmeal muffins will get you in the mood for fall. Sprinkling the muffins with pecans adds a nutty crunch to every bite. Serve them for breakfast or as a grab-and-go snack.View Recipe
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Pumpkin-Oatmeal Muffins
These healthy pumpkin-oatmeal muffins will get you in the mood for fall. Sprinkling the muffins with pecans adds a nutty crunch to every bite. Serve them for breakfast or as a grab-and-go snack.
05of 15Apple & Peanut Butter Energy BallsThese energy balls marry two of fall’s best flavors: apples and pumpkin pie spice. You can substitute the applesauce with apple butter for a stronger apple flavor. Don’t confuse dried apples with apple chips! Apple chips have a crisp texture that will make the energy balls too crunchy. If your apple mixture is too sticky and hard to roll, lightly grease your hands with cooking spray or simply refrigerate the mixture for 15 minutes before rolling.View Recipe
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Apple & Peanut Butter Energy Balls
These energy balls marry two of fall’s best flavors: apples and pumpkin pie spice. You can substitute the applesauce with apple butter for a stronger apple flavor. Don’t confuse dried apples with apple chips! Apple chips have a crisp texture that will make the energy balls too crunchy. If your apple mixture is too sticky and hard to roll, lightly grease your hands with cooking spray or simply refrigerate the mixture for 15 minutes before rolling.
06of 15Banana-Blueberry MuffinsThe slight acidity of buttermilk tenderizes and moistens baked goods while allowing you to cut way back on butter or oils. Here, it also lends a slight tanginess to the winning combination of bananas and blueberries.View Recipe
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Banana-Blueberry Muffins
The slight acidity of buttermilk tenderizes and moistens baked goods while allowing you to cut way back on butter or oils. Here, it also lends a slight tanginess to the winning combination of bananas and blueberries.
07of 15Blueberry-Lemon Energy BallsIf you’re looking for a midday pick-me-up, these irresistible blueberry-lemon balls come together in minutes and make a perfect on-the-go snack. Walnuts add a boost of plant-based protein and help keep you energized, while a bit of maple syrup adds sweetness.View Recipe
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Blueberry-Lemon Energy Balls
If you’re looking for a midday pick-me-up, these irresistible blueberry-lemon balls come together in minutes and make a perfect on-the-go snack. Walnuts add a boost of plant-based protein and help keep you energized, while a bit of maple syrup adds sweetness.
08of 15Cranberry-Almond Granola BarsThere are plenty of granola bar options at the grocery store, but they’re also easy (and often healthier) to make at home. Feel free to vary the add-ins to your taste, swapping 2 cups of any combination of small (or chopped) dried fruit, nuts, seeds and/or chocolate chips for the dried cranberries and nuts in this version. We tested several sticky sweeteners, including maple syrup and honey, but found brown rice syrup held the bars together the best.View Recipe
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Cranberry-Almond Granola Bars
There are plenty of granola bar options at the grocery store, but they’re also easy (and often healthier) to make at home. Feel free to vary the add-ins to your taste, swapping 2 cups of any combination of small (or chopped) dried fruit, nuts, seeds and/or chocolate chips for the dried cranberries and nuts in this version. We tested several sticky sweeteners, including maple syrup and honey, but found brown rice syrup held the bars together the best.
09of 15Banana & WalnutsA handful of walnuts and a potassium-rich banana go a long way as a snack. It’s the perfect mix of carbohydrates and heart-healthy fats to keep you energized.View Recipe
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Banana & Walnuts
A handful of walnuts and a potassium-rich banana go a long way as a snack. It’s the perfect mix of carbohydrates and heart-healthy fats to keep you energized.
10of 15Blueberry-Pecan Energy BallsDried blueberries and pecans team up with cacao nibs for a chocolaty treat any time of day. The cacao is a bit more bitter than chocolate, but the maple syrup helps tame it. Almond butter and chia seeds provide protein to make these bites substantial snacks to fuel your body.View Recipe
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Blueberry-Pecan Energy Balls
Dried blueberries and pecans team up with cacao nibs for a chocolaty treat any time of day. The cacao is a bit more bitter than chocolate, but the maple syrup helps tame it. Almond butter and chia seeds provide protein to make these bites substantial snacks to fuel your body.
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Almond-Stuffed Dates
12of 15Date-Nut BreadDates are naturally sweet so no extra sugar is needed in this quick-bread recipe. Toasted almonds add a nice crunch and the optional coarse sugar topping—while it isn’t needed for sweetness—certainly adds to the presentation.View Recipe
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Date-Nut Bread
Dates are naturally sweet so no extra sugar is needed in this quick-bread recipe. Toasted almonds add a nice crunch and the optional coarse sugar topping—while it isn’t needed for sweetness—certainly adds to the presentation.
13of 15High-Protein Lemon-Blueberry MuffinsThese lemon-blueberry muffins are so good, you’ll think they came straight from a bakery. A sprinkle of sugar creates a nice crunch on the outside, while strained yogurt ensures the muffins stay moist on the inside. The yogurt also provides a boost of satisfying protein, making these muffins perfect for breakfast or snack time. If using frozen blueberries, there’s no need to thaw them beforehand. They will add a purple hue to the batter, but it won’t affect the delicious end result.View Recipe
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High-Protein Lemon-Blueberry Muffins
These lemon-blueberry muffins are so good, you’ll think they came straight from a bakery. A sprinkle of sugar creates a nice crunch on the outside, while strained yogurt ensures the muffins stay moist on the inside. The yogurt also provides a boost of satisfying protein, making these muffins perfect for breakfast or snack time. If using frozen blueberries, there’s no need to thaw them beforehand. They will add a purple hue to the batter, but it won’t affect the delicious end result.
14of 15Everything-Bagel Crispy ChickpeasCrispy, salty and packed with everything-bagel goodness, these crispy chickpeas are a delicious, healthy snack that can be enjoyed on their own or tossed into a salad for added crunch. Removing the skins from the chickpeas helps achieve a better crisp. Look for “everything bagel seasoning” in the spice aisle; it’s now available in most supermarkets.View Recipe
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Everything-Bagel Crispy Chickpeas
Crispy, salty and packed with everything-bagel goodness, these crispy chickpeas are a delicious, healthy snack that can be enjoyed on their own or tossed into a salad for added crunch. Removing the skins from the chickpeas helps achieve a better crisp. Look for “everything bagel seasoning” in the spice aisle; it’s now available in most supermarkets.
15of 15High-Protein Lemon-Blueberry Energy BallsThese sweet and refreshing energy balls pack in the protein from almonds, almond butter and hemp seeds. Enjoy this easy snack before or after a workout or as a nice midday pick-me-up at work. The finishing glaze adds a tangy sweetness, but you can leave it off if you prefer a little less sugar.View Recipe
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High-Protein Lemon-Blueberry Energy Balls
These sweet and refreshing energy balls pack in the protein from almonds, almond butter and hemp seeds. Enjoy this easy snack before or after a workout or as a nice midday pick-me-up at work. The finishing glaze adds a tangy sweetness, but you can leave it off if you prefer a little less sugar.
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