I am a self-appointed snack queen 🙂 Most days I prefer snacks over real meals, and the hunger that came along with my round of prednisone only added to my need for snacks. It quickly became very important that I find Autoimmune Paleo snacks to keep around the house and keep my hunger at bay.
At first glance, it seemed like there were no snacks that would fit my new diet protocol, but I kept searching until I found a few that worked for me. Personally, I don’t have the energy to bake all of my own snacks every week, so I searched until I found pre-packaged or easy-to-make snacks that were sustainable for the duration of my time on the Autoimmune Paleo Protocol.
The list below is the compilation of Autoimmune Paleo snacks that I keep in my kitchen at all times and truly love, AIP or not.
6 of my favorite Autoimmune Paleo snacks:
1. Medjool dates
I put these at the top for a reason. I have a pretty gnarly sweet tooth and dates have gotten me through many late-night sweets cravings. Not only are they delicious, but they are packed with nutrients, fiber, and antioxidants. The antioxidants found in dates help reduce inflammation in the body and promote a healthy heart, among many other benefits. Because they are packed so high in fiber, I recommend only eating a small number of them each day.
2. Dried apple chips
It is common knowledge that apples pack a nutritious punch and dried apple chips are no different. Fresh apples are an excellent snack as well, but this variation is a great alternative if you are looking for something to crunch on. You can make these at home using a mandolin or you can purchase them at a store, just make sure they don’t have any additives like citric acid, oils, or sugar.
3. Lesser Evil Puffs
If you were to look in my pantry at any given time, you will find a whole shelf dedicated to these puffs. I never thought I would find a packaged snack that fit into the Autoimmune Paleo Protocol, but I stand corrected. Not only are they compliant, but they are so so good. You have to be careful with the varieties because they aren’t all AIP friendly. At the time of writing this, the Himalayan Pink Sea Salt puffs are the only variety that are compliant with AIP.
4. Barnana Chips
The only ingredients in this packaged snack are plantains, avocado oil, and sea salt. That’s it! Plus, they taste just like Ruffles chips. Yes, they are that good. Pair them with some fresh avocado slices and you will have yourself a tasty mid-day snack.
5. Smoothies
This definitely isn’t a new snack, but I would be remiss without mentioning the place smoothies have in my AIP protocol. I drink smoothies when I am hungry midday. I don’t stick to one recipe, but rather use what I have in the kitchen. When I am healing my gut, I aim to go as simple as possible. So I like to choose 2-3 fruits, 1 liquid, 1 fat, and 1 protein. Here is an example: 1 frozen banana, 1 cup fresh strawberries, ¾ cup coconut water, ⅛ avocado, 3 scoops of plant protein powder.
6. Sweet potato chips
I am not going to lie; I eat a ton of sweet potatoes on and off the AIP protocol. They have always been a safe food for me, so I enjoy them often. Plus, they are chock full of nutrients that fight chronic disease, promote healthy vision, and support gut health. Sweet potato chips are so easy to make using a mandolin and an oven or air fryer. You can also find packaged sweet potato chips with AIP friendly ingredients on Thrive Market if you don’t want to make them yourself.