By Lynn Andriani
We go beyond fruit, raw veggies and cheese sticks to find the best salty and sweet bites.
9 Gluten-Free Grab-On-The-Go Snacks
When You're Feeling Too Sluggish For The Gym(01 of09)
When you wake up early to exercise, you may not be hungry -- but it's important to ingest some carbohydrates before working out. Try Purely Elizabeth Ancient Grain Granola Cereals, which come in flavors such as Pumpkin Fig and Cranberry Pecan and are available in 2-ounce packs -- perfect for tossing in your gym bag. (credit:Purely Elizabeth)
When You're Starving And Dinner's An Hour Away(02 of09)
Passing up the crackers and just eating cheese isn't all that much fun, and -- let's be honest -- neither is finding yourself limited to carrot sticks and hummus. But toasted or roasted pumpkin and sunflower seeds can deliver the salty, sweet, spicy or crunchy hit you're looking for and are a snap to make. Just whisk an egg white with whatever sweeteners, salts or spices you like -- sugar, sea salt, cayenne, cinnamon, cumin, curry powder -- and toss the mixture with a cup or so of pumpkin or sunflower seeds. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. (credit:Thinkstock)
When You Want A Warm Cookie... Like, Right Now(03 of09)
In the time it takes to preheat the oven, you can stir together a bag of Pamela's new Oatmeal Cookie Mix (which is wheat- and gluten-free), a stick of butter, an egg and some raisins and drop spoonfuls onto a baking sheet. Ten minutes later, pour yourself a glass of cold milk and let the dunking begin. They're also great as bars (which travel well) or with coconut flakes and dried cranberries instead of raisins. (credit:Pamela's Products)
When You're Longing For Some Crunch Alongside Your Sandwich(04 of09)
With a savory sandwich, we crave something salty and crispy. Popchips, which are made from corn that's been heated and blasted with air pressure, deliver both. Plus, the brand's new flavor, Katy's Kettle Corn, hits a sweet note, too -- and a one-ounce serving has only 130 calories. (credit:Popchips)
When You Wish Your Mid-Morning Break Involved A Mediterranean Terrace(05 of09)
A drizzle of good olive oil over lightly toasted crusty bread is a classic Spanish breakfast and a brilliant accompaniment to a strong cafe con leche. You can make this morning pick-me-up gluten-free (and even more filling) by starting with a wrap made from an alternative grain, such as La Tortilla Factory Smart & Delicious Gluten-Free Teff Softwraps. Lay a few tomato slices on half of the tortilla and scatter a teaspoon or so of olive oil over the filling. Fold up and enjoy (or wrap in foil for later). (credit:Thinkstock)
When You're Feeling Nostalgic(06 of09)
Maybe you haven't thought of Pop Tarts in 20 years, or maybe you've been drooling over the foodie versions of the foil-wrapped breakfast treats that seem to be popping up everywhere lately. Either way, Glutino's new Toaster Pastries, which come in strawberry and apple-cinnamon flavors, are a sweet indulgence for any time of day. (credit:Thinkstock)
When Breakfast Was A Banana(07 of09)
If all you can stomach in the early morning is a piece of fruit, but you find yourself ravenous by 10:30 a.m., try packing a brown-rice cake spread with almond butter in your bag. (And if you're concerned about the arsenic in rice, go with cakes from Lundberg Family Farms. They're made with rice grown in California, which is considerably lower in arsenic than rice grown elsewhere. Lundberg's new flavors -- Kettle Corn, Sweet Chili and Hemp-a-licious -- taste nothing like the cardboard you may remember.) Wrap your snack with plastic instead of foil so the nut butter doesn't stick. (credit:Lundberg Family Farms)
When You're Sipping Tea(08 of09)
Whip up a batch of Strawberry and Quinoa scones -- with a recipe by Cannelle et Vanille blogger Aran Goyoaga -- over the weekend, and you'll have plenty of sweet treats for the week ahead. The recipe includes ground chia seeds, quinoa flakes, brown-rice flour and almond flour, so the scones are wonderfully textured but don't overpower the delicate berries.Get the recipe: Strawberry and Quinoa Scones (credit:Aran Goyoaga)
When The Afternoon Chocolate Cravings Hit(09 of09)
With its antioxidants and high concentration of flavonoids, which can improve vascular function, dark chocolate is practically a superfood of the dessert world. Try stashing a square of NibMor chocolate in your purse: It's organic, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, non-GMO and made without refined sugar. The line's Daily Dose of Dark is an individually wrapped, .35-ounce treat that comes in at just 50 calories. It also comes in a Mint + Cacao Nibs flavor, which has a little crunch thanks to cacao nibs. (credit:NibMor)
Related On HuffPost: 10 Healthy Snacks To Eat During The Day
10 Healthy Snacks To Eat During The Day
Edamame (01 of10)
THE GOOD NEWS: Edamame is full of protein and fibre.SNACK TIP: Buy frozen edamame beans and keep them in your office freezer, says registered dietician Diana Steele of Eating For Energy in Vancouver, B.C. Pop them in the microwave and add cherry tomatoes for a quick and wholesome snack. (credit:Shutterstock)
Cucumbers And Low-Fat Cheese (02 of10)
THE GOOD NEWS: Cucumber is packed with vitamin K (needed for strong bones) and low-fat cheese is full of calcium.SNACK TIP: Steele recommends making mini cucumber sandwiches by taking low-fat cheese and turkey and wedging them in between two slices of cucumbers — the kids will also love this one. (credit:Shutterstock)
Fruit Smoothies (03 of10)
THE GOOD NEWS: Low calories and tons of fresh fruit. SNACK TIP: Start a smoothie club at work. Steele recommends having one person make smoothies at the office for everyone in the club once a week. Keep this role rotating and try flavours like mixed berries and tropical fruit. (credit:Shutterstock)
Apple And Peanut Butter (04 of10)
THE GOOD NEWS: Apples can boost your immune system and natural peanut butter is full of protein. SNACK TIP: Dip sliced apple pieces in plain Cheerios for a crunchy snack. (credit:Shutterstock)
Trail Mix (05 of10)
THE GOOD NEWS: Eaten in portions, homemade trail mix can be packed with fibre, according to MyFitnessTrainer.com. SNACK TIP: For kids, Steele recommends making a homemade trail mix with seeds and dried fruits (avoid nuts because of allergies) and for yourself, add in popcorn or even whole wheat pretzels. (credit:Shutterstock)
Muffins (06 of10)
THE GOOD NEWS: When made at home, muffins are low in fat and packed with healthy oats and dried fruits or vegetables. SNACK TIP: No, we're not talking about the store-bought kind or the sugary ones you pick up from a bakery. If you still want to snack on muffins, Steele suggests making a batch of zucchini pumpkin muffins. Check out a recipe here. (credit:Shutterstock)
Tortilla (07 of10)
THE GOOD NEWS: If you are buying tortillas from the store, avoid ones with excessive salt, sugar and corn, according LiveStrong.com. For the most part, homemade tortillas are not as bad as the store-bought kind.SNACK TIP: Take a whole wheat tortilla and spread almond butter on top. For an extra nutritional boost, wrap it around an banana. This is the perfect afternoon snack, Steele says. (credit:Shutterstock)
Greek Yogurt (08 of10)
THE GOOD NEWS: Greek yogurt is a great source of calcium, protein and probiotics (which is good for your digestive system), according to SheKnows.com. SNACK TIP: Mix berries or granola with a cup of sugar-free Greek yogurt, Steele says. (credit:Shutterstock)
Apple Sauce (09 of10)
THE GOOD NEWS: Apples in general have been known to prevent types of cancer and sugar-free apple sauce is a great fibre booster in the morning, according to FitDay.com. SNACK TIP: Sprinkle crushed graham crackers over sugar-free apple sauce. (credit:Shutterstock)
Popcorn (10 of10)
THE GOOD NEWS: Forget butter and salt, making popcorn in an old-fashioned pot over the stove with seasoning and a touch of oil can actually be a healthy snack. SNACK TIP: For a good evening snack, mix over-the-stove popcorn with flax seed oil and a bit of your favourite seasoning. (credit:Shutterstock)