The zero waste snack movement is gaining traction. For those of you that are unfamiliar, zero waste snacks are snacks that have zero food packaging. This means that they’re often homemade or bought from a bulk bin at the grocery store. We’re happy to share some zero waste snacks ideas with you!
You go to the store. You buy some snacks. These are great for sharing with your friends, but what about those friends who are eco-conscious? Not everyone wants to be wasteful by buying packaged goods that they will most likely throw away. This list will show you 27 zero waste snacks ideas that will make the Earth incredibly happy.
Table of Contents
1. Fresh Fruit
If you are buying fresh fruit, there is no packaging to worry about. Put it in a reusable shopping bag and put the sticker on the fruit itself if necessary. This reduces waste caused by plastic baggies or stickers that can’t be recycled. You could also chop up pieces of fruit into fun shapes that little kids will love!
Source: Eco Child’s Play
2. Homemade Granola Bars with Dried Fruit
These Homemade Granola Bars are delicious snacks for you or your friends who are always on the go! The ingredients are affordable, healthy, taste better than any store-bought granola bars out there, and they’re super easy to make! Plus, you can put in all kinds of fun add-ins, like nuts or dried fruit. To top it off, they are so cheap to make that you will have no problem giving them out as gifts.
Source: The Zero-Waste Chef
3. Edamame in the Pod
Cooked edamame is a great healthy snack that’s easy to take on the go. You can give it to your eco-conscious friends by popping open the pod and handing them over. If needed, pair with some soy sauce packets for dipping.
Source: One Green Planet
4. Banana Ice Cream (No Machine Required)
This banana ice cream is like eating frozen yogurt. Only it’s healthy, affordable, and the best part is that there are no ice cream makers required to make this delicious treat!
Source: One Green Planet
5. Kale Chips
Make your friend feel like they are eating something tasty while also helping them eat healthier! Kale chips are a great vegan snack choice since they are also gluten-free. They’re crunchy, salty, simple to make, and darn right crispy. What makes kale chips even better is that you can experiment with different seasonings to see which one you like the most!
Source: The Kitchn (video)
6. Upcycled Fruit Basket Snacks
Instead of buying packaged snacks, upcycle an old basket or container. You can fill it with all kinds of fresh fruit or even dried fruit! Make sure to label your container so that your eco-conscious friends will know exactly what they’re snacking on.
Source: One Green Planet
7. Homemade Trail Mix
This homemade trail mix is a great way to ensure that you are getting healthy servings of protein, fiber, and antioxidants. For the health-conscious among us, this is the perfect zero waste snack because not only does it taste better than store-bought trail mixes, it’s cheaper and healthier too!
Source: Live Simply
8. Homemade Cookies in a Jar (No Baking Required)
You may have seen this idea on Pinterest. However, not everyone has the time or energy to bake cookies. To get around that problem, you can put all of the ingredients in a jar, give it to your environmentally conscious friend, and ask them to add the egg. These are delicious raw vegan cookies made with natural sweeteners, so they taste even better!
Source: Happy Healthy Mama
9. Chex Mix Candy Bars
This is one of those recipes that adapt perfectly into zero-waste snacking. Since you probably have all of the ingredients for these treats at home already – chocolate chips, Chex cereal, and M&M’s – there is no waste involved with buying snacks! However, make sure to lock this recipe away in your memory bank because it’s ridiculously addictive.
Source: The Grateful Grazer
10. Watermelon Slices with Watermelon Picks
Watermelon is a great summer party snack that can also double as an eco-friendly gift for friends who love fruit! Just split the watermelon into slices and then use cute picks to hold them together. You could even create an entire bouquet of watermelon by threading charcoal pieces through the center, so they stay fresh longer!
Source: Good Living Mama
11. Grapefruit Mint Spritzers
This grapefruit mint spritzer uses seasonal ingredients to make a healthy, refreshing drink that everyone will enjoy! Also, because you are using seasonal ingredients, you won’t have to worry about wasting produce because the grapefruit and mint will be at their best.
Source: Making Thyme for Health
12. Fruit Lolly Pops
Did you know that lollipops don’t have to come from a store? You can easily make your fruit-flavored lollies by piping melted agave or honey onto a Popsicle stick and then dipping it into fresh fruit juice! They taste better than any grocery store treat, and they’re perfect for kids because they contain no artificial flavoring or coloring.
Source: Handmade Charlotte
13. DIY Trail Mix Recipe with Add-Ins
This trail mix recipe takes advantage of all the different add-ins you might have lying around your kitchen. Since it is a zero-waste snack, take out what you already have and give it to someone who will appreciate it! Plus, if your friend gives this trail mix to one of their eco-friendly friends, they will know exactly which nuts and seeds are inside since they added them themselves.
Source: One Pot Chef
14. Healthy Chocolate Avocado Pudding
Avocados make for a great addition to chocolate pudding because not only do they make the pudding taste delicious, they also make it creamy and nutritious at the same time! For those friends who don’t like avocados (what?), this recipe also takes care of that problem so you can all enjoy it together.
Source: The Healthy Maven
15. Dirt Pudding Cups
Dirt pudding cups are so adorable, tasty, and easy that they make the perfect zero waste snack! This recipe is especially great because there’s no limit to how many you can whip up at once. Even better, if any of your guests have food allergies or dietary restrictions, this is a safe option that everyone can eat simultaneously!
Source: Blissful Basil
16. Citrus Sugar Scrub
This citrus sugar scrub recipe makes for an eco-friendly way to take care of dry skin during those cold months when everything feels like it’s drying out! Plus, the recipe only requires three simple, zero waste ingredients, so you will be able to whip it up in no time.
Source: The Sweet Escape
17. DIY Dog Treats
If you have a dog, this is the perfect zero-waste treat you can make for them with your pet in mind! Since most of us already have all of the ingredients in our kitchen, there isn’t any additional shopping involved, and we know we can trust these treats because we added them ourselves.
Source: The Dogs and I
18. Bacon Jam
This bacon jam is vegan and paleo-friendly but has enough sugar to make sure everyone – omnivores included – will love it! It makes a great condiment and also pairs well with cheese and crackers.
Source: Yummy Mummy Kitchen
19. Yellow Tomato Gazpacho
This gazpacho is a twist on the traditional Spanish soup because it uses yellow tomatoes instead of red! Since those who love gazpacho will recognize its bright orange color, this is a great way to serve it as a zero-waste snack that won’t be overlooked or ignored.
Source: The Little Epicurean
20. Quinoa Salad Recipe for Kids
Because quinoa is gluten-free, this salad recipe is a great option for kids with food sensitivities or allergies! It’s also an extremely healthy dish, so you can feel confident about what your kids are putting in their bodies. It’s delicious and easy to make, and it’s a zero-waste snack that kids will love.
21. Dark Chocolate Energy Bites with Quinoa
This is one of those snacks that are so good for you and tastes so delicious at the same time! Since it has all-natural ingredients, this energy bite recipe is great for anyone who cares about maintaining a healthy lifestyle or wants to have fun making delicious treats with zero-waste ingredients.
22. No Bake Banana Cookies
These cookies have a delicious banana flavor and no refined sugar! Not only that, but they’re also gluten-free so that the entire family can enjoy them.
23. Lemon Sugar Scrub Bars
This is a recipe for zero waste bars because the sugar comes from your kitchen! The rest of the ingredients are all-natural or organic, so you know your skin will be glowing after you use this scrub. They’re safe to eat, too – although we wouldn’t recommend it!
24. Energy Bites Recipe with Pistachios
Not only could these pistachio energy bites make great snacks for any party, but they also make for a great dessert after you arrive at your destination. They’re inspired by Turkish cuisine and made with pistachios and cardamom, so they have a very strong, unique flavor.
25. French Toast Bites
These vegan, gluten-free french toast bites are super easy to make and delicious too! All you need is some bread (store-bought or homemade), plant-based milk, cinnamon, maple syrup, and these four ingredients to whip up the perfect zero waste breakfast – or snack!
26. Maple Espresso Date Truffles
This truffle recipe has all the flavors of fall in both adults and kids alike! The combination of maple and espresso sounds like a recipe for success, and the best part is that these truffles are also vegan!
27. Caramel Apple Bites
These apple bites have been completely disguised as caramel apples! So far from being mushy or soggy, they’re totally crunchy and even topped with coconut shavings! They taste like a healthier version of caramel apples and make great snacks to take on the go.
Final thought
We hope you enjoy these Zero-Waste Snack ideas and find them helpful. If your kids want to make their snacks, we’ve included some recipes that are perfect for little ones with big imaginations! – The Earth will be incredibly happy if you follow these suggestions for making zero waste snack time a reality in your home. Have you tried any of the creative ideas? Let us know how it went!
