7 Snack Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making

7 Snacks Foods

We have managed to reduce our grocery budget by more than $50 per month by changing ONE thing – instead of buying snack foods, we are making them ourselves!

It is amazing how easy it really turns out to be, once you have the tools and tricks to help you get started. And if someone has already done the testing ahead of time for you, even better! Because then you KNOW a recipe is actually good and something your whole family will enjoy.

Yes, it takes a little bit more work to make your own snack foods than to run out to the store and buy them. But the benefits of taking in less processed food AND saving money are well worth it. (Plus, if they aren’t as readily available, you’ll be forced to eat less of them anyway ;D)

These recipes aren’t difficult to make – however, you may find yourself having a hard time keeping them around ;0) But don’t worry, at least you know what’s in them.

7 Snack Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making

Bagels

Homemade bagels are a great snack option, especially when you make them mini cinnamon raisin, then slice them thin and crisp in the oven with butter. So delicious! We make our bagels by hand rolling them, and they’re finished in about an hour. It’s pretty impossible to not eat them hot off the tray.

 

Cookies – Oreos, Animal Crackers and Graham Crackers

I’m from Canada, and our Oreos are better than the American Oreos – sorry, but it’s a fact! Ha ha! Actually, we think it is the filling that is used in our Oreos that make them taste as good as they do. While I haven’t been able to find a really good recipe to duplicate the Canadian Oreo flavour, this homemade Oreo recipe without shortening and this Oreo recipe from Bakerella are both pretty tasty!

Animal crackers and Graham crackers are LOOOOOOADED with sugar – I think that is what makes them so tasty and appealing. You will not be disappointed if you make your own. The same great flavour is there, with far less sugar (and again, you may eat more of them, so just be prepared to put a limit out there after…say…. a handful or two?).

 

Granola Bars

Homemade Granola Bars

No more foil and plastic packaging kicking around the lunch bags. Granola bars are so quick and easy to make. You can use pre-made granola, or make your own homemade granola into a bar, or just use a straight-up oats recipe. There are so many easy variations, but these Kid (and Adult) Friendly granola bars are just right.

Hummus

We eat a lot of hummus. Our kids and the hubby and I LOVE it! I’ve tried a few recipes to get just the right flavour, and HANDS DOWN the hummus recipe from Aimee at Under the High Chair is the best for texture and flavour.

 

Pretzels

A favourite snack or even lunch item has become pretzel bites. We like to make the whole wheat soft pretzel bites or a wheat and all purpose flour pretzel. Savoury, salty or sweet, you decide the toppings!

 

Snack Crackers

Wheat thins and goldfish crackers are a big favourite around our house. Who knew that to replace the massive amounts of sugar, salt and preservatives for a great taste would take only a few ingredients and nothing fancy?

Try these cinnamon honey wheat thins to hit your sweet tooth, or a more basic wheat thins recipe to which you can add more flavours.

For the kids in your family (or you!) make these goldfish crackers with a little trick on how to make your own goldfish cutter out of foil.

 

Yogurt

Homemade Yogurt

It’s so easy. Really. Especially when you have a good recipe! I’ve tried a lot and haven’t found one quite as successful as the yogurt recipe from my friend, Trina Holden. Scald the milk, add the yogurt and incubate on the counter overnight – done!

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About Lauren Mirecki

I am a saved-by-grace, failing-forward, wife and graduated homeschool student turned homeschooling mom of 4 residing in Ontario, Canada. I am passionate about teaching my children the truth of God's word through how He is teaching me, our school lessons and experiences as a family. My days are best spent together with my family, at home, or in the outdoors, learning how to be more creative, serving and encouraging others, and striving to see and give all glory to God.

6 thoughts on “7 Snack Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making

  1. Pingback: Snack Foods You Can Make Yourself - Serving From Home

    1. Lauren

      Thanks Amanda! I NEVER would have thought to make bagels myself until a friend showed me how. They’re soooo delicious – the only down side is making them last once they’re out of the oven ;0)

      Reply
  2. April @ A Simple Life

    I have an old book, from the 80’s I think, called Make Your Own Groceries. It has recipes for almost all pre-packaged foods (that existed back then). Freezer waffles, ketchup, granola, crackers, and so much more.

    But, I did make a lot of our snacks and such from scratch for a couple of years… and I burnt out. The $2 I saved to make my own crackers that took 30 minutes to make became not worth it for me.

    I still make my own bread because I think most of it is better than the stores and I love the fresh smell in the house. I cook most meals from scratch, but I had to find a balance between what I could do and what I wanted to do with my time.

    Blessings,
    April

    Reply
  3. Sunshine

    Just finished making two (different flavored) batches of the granola bars with a few of my children. They are amazing. I don’t think I will be able to eat the store bought ones anymore. The recipe was simple and fast. Thank you for sharing your recipe.

    Reply
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