Snacks at the store are typically wrapped in plastic and full of preservatives – finding and making zero waste snacks at home was a great step in our journey. Going zero waste in the kitchen has been one of our biggest successes and it’s been a ton of fun! It started by eliminating plastic baggies and getting hooked on beeswax wraps and then transitioned into learning to ditch single-use paper products. Not only have we reduced plastic and waste in our kitchen, but we have made it less toxic by using our favorite plastic free and non-toxic cleaning products – Meliora dish soaps and all-purpose cleaners. With storage and cleaning taken care of, we can now focus on the food!
We’ve been doing quite a bit of research about eating well and have been striving toward eating more whole and plant-based foods. It turns out, the transition to zero waste eating came naturally once we began seeking out less processed things to eat. But snack foods are one of the things we’ve noticed as being a tough transition for eliminating waste. A lot of snack foods come in convenient single serve containers and this generally results in a lot of waste.
We want to share some of our favorite zero waste snack options that we’ve discovered that can start to shift the way we think about snacking and convenience. Many of these snacks have a DIY component but don’t let that scare you! This is a great way to experiment and make these snacks your own so that you’ll want to make them over and over again.
Here are some of our favorite zero waste snacks:
1. Popcorn
There’s just something about a that big bowl of buttery popcorn while you are watching a movie. Growing up, my mom used to make us homemade popcorn and we’ve recently rediscovered how great it is! First, popcorn kernels are purchased in bulk and there is no waste from needing that microwavable bag that was wrapped in plastic and then stored in a cardboard box. You can search for popcorn kernels in the bulk section of your local grocery store or, if you can’t find those, the plastic jar of kernels at the local grocery store is recyclable.
Another great thing about homemade popcorn is that you get to choose the toppings. You can choose classic butter with a little salt, cheese or even go the sweet route. You can also choose how much you want to pop. Just enough for a small single serving snack or pop a bunch for a whole crowd.
Popping popcorn at home is easy and can be done on the stovetop with no extra fancy kitchen gadgets. If you have an air popper, that works great too – and you can even use your microwave. We love this zero waste snack and are always coming up with excuses to make it again and again.
2. Granola Bars
This one is a little more involved than popping popcorn, but it is also one of our favorite zero waste snacks. Making your own granola bars reduces waste from all the individual wrappings that you get with store bought bars.
Granola bar recipes are generally no-bake which makes them quick and simple. Just start with oats and pick out your favorite add-ins, such as dried fruit, chocolate chips, all kinds of nuts, even a dash of cinnamon and start mixing. Add a sweetener of your choice, some butter and honey and that’s it! Once you form and cut them into bars, you will be able to store them as a batch in a reusable container or wrap them individually in a beeswax wrap to take with you on the go.
3. Applesauce
Homemade applesauce is a big zero waste win with very minimal effort – if you find you have apples you likely won’t finish before they good bad, this is a great route to take.
The recipe I use is also free from added sugar which is another great win, and it still tastes great. Adding just a touch of cinnamon makes all the difference. Simply add chopped up apples, a bit of water, a splash of lemon juice and cinnamon to a pot and simmer until the apples are soft. A quick mash with a hand masher or emersion blender turns it into a nice apple sauce, then you’re ready to store it in a reusable container and you’re good to go!
4. Hummus
We wanted to start eating more hummus but could not find a store-bought brand we enjoyed. We always love the hummus out at restaurants so we were inspired to make our own at home to see if it could compare. After a few tries to get the combination of ingredients right, we are hooked! This is a very healthy zero waste snack made of whole food, plant-based ingredients and it has become a staple in our house.
We love our pita chips so there is some waste there, but if you are feeling ambitious, try baking your own pita bread! Fresh cut veggies are also a great zero waste dipping option.
5. Guacamole & Pico de Gallo
Similar to hummus, guacamole is a very healthy zero waste snack option. We used to always purchase the spice packet or the pre-made guac at the store until we learned how easy it was to make on our own. If we have the time and ingredients, it’s fun to go all out and use fresh lime, cilantro, tomato, onion, garlic and jalapeno, but often we add a few spics (garlic and onion powder, salt and some paprika) to the smashed avocado and call it a day.
If you are obsessed with Mexican food like we are, try making your own pico de gallo. Made with only fresh produce and herbs, this is a seriously delicious zero waste snack. The only prep you need to do is chop. It is so fresh and so tasty, there are hardly any leftovers!
6. Trail mix
This one is super simple. No need to buy pre-packaged trail mix when you can simply create it yourself AND choose all of your favorite ingredients. You might even be able to find your favorite mix-ins in the bulk section of your local grocery store, if available. Sometimes the bulk section has pre-mixed trail mixes which makes this snack even easier. A trail mix that is full of nuts and dried fruit can be a filling and healthy snacking addition.
7. Fresh Fruit and Veggies
This probably goes without saying, but fresh fruits and veggies are the healthiest snacks out there. Not only are they the healthiest, but they are naturally waste free. Try finding fresh produce at the grocery store that is not already wrapped in plastic or find a local farmers market to go package-free altogether! Take a few extra moments to chop up a whole fruit at home rather than purchasing pre-sliced and packaged foods to reduce waste even more. Store fruits and veggies in beeswax wraps, reusable containers or reusable silicone baggies for healthy, on the go, zero waste snacking.