$$ Saving Snacks

Can we talk?  Let's be honest - we all love snacks!  Snacks can be anything, and store bought snacks can be very expensive, and they can contain all kinds of nasty ingredients!!!
Granted I am the first to say that I LOVE a good candy bar - but I have determined that I can generally make something that tastes better at home.

We generally have a bag or two of veggie chips and a bag of small pretzels at home (from Aldi), and I usually have some kind of nuts around the house (I either by on clearance or in bulk).  Nuts are super healthy for us and they are very filling, so that is a staple in our home.

For those of us that are 'pantry prepared', there isn't much that we can't make at home.  It will be healthier and will save us a lot of money.

• Sweets are easy - sweet breads, cookies, candy, cakes, pies, cobblers, etc.  Maybe they aren't as healthy as other snacks, but they can be made cheaply and taste oh so good!!!  Add some fruit, less oils and sugars, and you can have a relatively healthy snack that lasts more than one setting.
• I like to make large soft pretzels from pizza dough.  I add egg wash and Kosher salt before baking
• Homemade potato chips are fun to make.  Use a mandolin to get very thin slices, then fry.  My Mom used to make these as a treat when I was a kid - (we didn't get store bought)
• Nuts of any kind are healthy.  You can spice them up or sugar coat them for variety
• Homemade Chex mix is easy.  I wait for mark-downs (clearance) on cereal and then make a big batch
• Popcorn - this is a mainstay at our house.  You can add extra flavors after popping for variety
• Trail mix or homemade granola.  There are tons of recipes on the computer for these, or you can just kind of "wing it".
• Homemade ice cream is another thing I make quite often.  I have accumulated lots of flavorings over time, and often mix in fresh fruit or nuts
• Pudding and Jello is cheap and easy
• Fresh veggies and homemade dip
• Popsicles are made a lot in the summer here.  Use leftover juices from canned fruit, yogurt, fresh fruit, citrus drinks, Kool-Aid, fruit juices, etc.  There is no limit to the imagination
• Smoothies is another favorite at our house  (any fruit that needs used)
• I love making cinnamon toast (cinnamon/sugar).  That was another treat from childhood
• Applesauce or any fruit that you have canned or eat fresh
• Plain cereal - like Cheerios or Chex with a little butter added and some salt or seasonings.(YUM)  You can bake in oven to crisp it up more.
• A bowl of cereal
• Homemade cheese balls or cheese and crackers
• Homemade fruit pies - we make them like grilled cheese sandwiches only using pie filling
• Syrup and peanut butter mixed together and spread on bread or crackers (another childhood goodie)
• Chocolate gravy and biscuits - a grandma thing!!!
• Home canned salsa and chips (tortilla chips are easy to make from tortillas)
• I love to take a tortilla wrap - cover with shredded cheese and microwave for about 45 seconds - then roll and eat!  Great dipped in salsa
• Homemade pizza or pizza rolls
• PBJ sandwiches
• Apple slices dipped in peanut butter
• Make Amish peanut butter - mix peanut butter and marshmallow fluff (It's the best!)

OK, you get the point!  If you have the munchies and a craving - there is no reason to run out and spend your hard earned dollars on junk food!  Most of these items can be thrown together in just a few minutes and they all taste so stinking good!!!!!  There isn't one thing on this list that I wouldn't enjoy!
So the next time you want a daytime or evening snack - go to your pantry and get creative.

HAPPY MUNCHIN'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!