Zero Waste Snacks

31 Day Zero Waste Challenge

January 7, 2019 | Kathryn Kellogg

Last Updated on October 26, 2022

Zero waste snacks are a must when you are on the go or when you are vegging out at home. We have gathered the best snack ideas to fill you up until your next meal.

Choosing sustainable snacks is not only good for your body, but it’s also good for the environment as well. We will provide you with some easy vegan snacks as well as other snack ideas.

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Table of Contents

sustainable snacks

It’s day seven of the zero waste challenge!

The beginning of the challenge focuses on simple changes you can make, and today we’re going to be tackling what can be a pretty wasteful part of the kitchen… today we’re talking about snack ideas that are zero waste and sustainable.

Some of my most beloved snack ideas growing up were served in single-use packages — everything from Sun Chips to Dunkaroos.

Most of these snack ideas gracing the lunchroom table weren’t only wrapped in plastic. They were individually wrapped in single-sized portions. Insult meets injury.

As tempting as all those goodies may be, it’s much better for you (and the planet) to ditch them.

Today, I challenge you to make your own zero waste snacks.

why choose zero waste snacks:

I find snacks to be some of the worst offenders when it comes to both added sugar and packaging.

Lots of snacks sold in single-use bags are also loaded with unhealthy additives and unhealthy ingredients.

Just look at the ingredients label for your favorite conventional chips the next time you’re in a store.

By making your own sustainable snacks, you’ll be making healthier choices and helping out the planet. What could be better than that?

choosing the best snacks:

Try your hand at making your own zero waste snacks and avoid the pre-packaged ones.

I know that making your snacks might sound pretty intimidating — especially if you’ve gotten used to the convenience of hitting up the vending machine or packing those individual portions in your lunch bag! But I promise it’s not as hard as it sounds.

I’ve compiled a list of easy zero waste snacks that you can make! Some require more effort than others, but it’s all worth it in the end.

You won’t be eating any overly processed foods, so your body will thank you.

Personally, I recommend grabbing an apple, orange, or banana if you’re strapped for time and still want easy vegan snacks.

They come in nature’s perfect packaging!

Save your apple cores and fruit skins to be composted, and we’ll talk more about composting later in the challenge.

easy vegan snacks

Here are some zero waste snack ideas that consist of produce:

Apples
Pears
Berries
Slices of bell peppers
Carrot sticks
Broccoli
Snap peas
Citrus fruit

choosing fresh snack ideas

These snacks are super healthy and totally tasty.

You can get them at the farmers market and/or the grocery store using your reusable bags (as we talked about on day five).

Always do your best to use seasonal produce whenever you can. This has the best flavor and nutritional value, and can be found relatively package-free – plus, it’s a lot cheaper!

I like to store my fresh produce snacks sliced and ready to grab in a glass jar in the fridge.

I can also put a lid on the jar and throw it in my bag as I’m heading out.

Sometimes, I’ll portion my snacks in small 8oz or 4oz jars* so I have the single serving convenience without the trash.

best snacks to try

If you have a co-op or health food store near you, you might be able to find some of these tasty snacks in the bulk bins:

Nuts and seeds
Trail mix
Dried fruit
Fig Newtons
Rice crackers
Chocolate covered things
Nut butters

These snacks can be purchased at your local bulk food store using your own containers, which helps to cut back on waste.

Check out my ultimate guide to zero waste grocery shopping for more tips.

best snacks that are homemade

If you’re the sort of person who loves to make their own meals from scratch, you can also make your own snacks ahead of time too.

Here are some snacks that will require a little bit of prep time, but no more than 30 minutes:

Some of these snacks call for several ingredients. I can find all of them at my local health food store in the bulk bins, but if you can’t, check out my guide for zero waste shopping without bulk bins.

frequently asked questions

can I ever buy pre-packaged snacks?

When all else fails, and you can’t make your own zero waste snacks, be sure to purchase organic, sustainably packaged snacks in paper or cardboard.

It’s much easier to recycle (or compost) paper and cardboard than it is plastic.

should I buy my snacks in bulk?

I highly recommend shopping at bulk food stores, but you should only buy what you will actually consume. It isn’t good to buy a bunch of food that you aren’t going to use and let it go to waste. And if that does happen, be sure to compost whenever possible.

Want more snack ideas? Here are 5 super easy snacks you can make that don’t require any packaging.

take the challenge!

Over the next 24 days, your challenge is to remember to make your own zero waste snacks.

Some snacks require minimal effort (like cutting up produce and storing it in reusable containers) while others need to be planned ahead a little more (like homemade granola).

You can buy a lot of zero waste snacks in bulk at your local bulk food store (like seeds, nuts, and dried fruits), as well as ingredients to help make more complex homemade snacks.

Will you be taking the challenge?

want more?

Just starting out? Have 1,000 burning questions!? Get access to my private Facebook group, where I’ll be hosting weekly lives throughout the challenge and I answer all of your most pressing questions.

You don’t want to miss it.

PLUS! I’ll be sending out a brand new e-book at the end of the challenge called the Game On Handbook which is all about individual ways to fight climate change.