It's winter season again, and it's that time of the year when you crave cosy and warming treats- here is a list of healthy winter snacks to keep you energised.
1. Walnuts
Walnuts are best for a healthy winter snack–not only provide nutrients but also help to keep your body warm.
A storehouse of healthy fats, particularly omega-3 fatty acids, which help combat dry winter skin and keep you feeling full. Besides, they're rich in antioxidants that boost immunity, helping the body resist seasonal colds. They are anti-diabetic. Plus–They are good for the heart and brain and aid in weight management by promoting feelings of fullness due to their high protein, fibre, and healthy fat combo.
A 100g serving of walnuts provides 654 kilocalories. The walnuts are especially rich in manganese and can provide 163% of the Daily Value (DV).
Vitamins and minerals like magnesium, manganese, copper, chromium, iron, zinc, and vitamin B6 are essential for overall well-being. Walnuts also contain fibre, aiding in digestion, and are good for gut health.
The thumb rule is to have a small handful of walnuts per day.
2. Baked Sweet Potato
Sweet potatoes are one of the root vegetables consumed, especially during the winter season in India. It's a seasonal and local ingredient harvested from autumn to winter season–making it readily available on chilly winter days. And it is a warm winter snack.
The sweet potatoes boost immunity and may help you prevent many seasonal diseases. The vitamin A content of sweet potatoes is good for eyes, skin, reproductive health, immunity and overall well-being.
Additionally, it contains vitamin C and vitamin B6, and minerals such as manganese.
Being naturally sweet, hence provides energy. One of the best things about sweet potatoes is that they can be cooked in different ways–roasted, baked, made into chat, steamed, and the list goes on.
100g baked sweet potato has 90 calories and provides around 120% DV or Daily Value required of Vitamin A.
To make baked potatoes, here are the simple steps to follow–
1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C)
2. Prepare sweet potatoes by scrubbing and drying them. You can rub it with olive oil, it's optional though.
3. Optionally, you can also sprinkle salt. Then make a few holes in each sweet potato, preferably with a fork.
4. Bake on a baking sheet or directly on the rack for 45-50 minutes, until tender.
5. Enjoy the baked Sweet Potato–a perfect comfort food and healthy snack or if you are in
for a rich flavour stuff it or top it off with pomegranates, mint, or veggies or beans for the fusion of sweet and savoury flavours!
3. Gond Laddu
Gond is traditionally used as a winter delicacy in the northern and western parts of India. This healthy winter snack - Gond laddus, is a must-have healthy winter treat from grandma’s kitchen.
The Gond or gum Arabic is a prebiotic with good fibre content. It's good for kidney, and metabolism and helps in Cholesterol and blood sugar management. Plus, it's a good addition to a weight loss diet due to its fibre content. The ground is also known to enhance the extraction of Calcium.
There are multiple ways to make gond laddu. To make a simple Gond Laddus at home, here are the ingredients lists and steps–
Ingredients: gond (1 cup), wheat flour (1 cup), almonds (1/4 cup), cashews (1/4 cup), jaggery (1 cup, grated), cardamom powder (1 tsp), desi ghee (as needed)
Instructions:
1. Heat 1/2 cup ghee in a pan, fry gond (1 cup) in small batches until crispy. Set aside.
2. In the same pan, roast almonds (1/4 cup) and cashews (1/4 cup) until golden. Let cool, then coarsely grind.
3. Roast wheat flour (1 cup) on medium heat till it turns aromatic & golden brown.
4. In a separate pan, melt jaggery (1 cup, grated) on low heat. Be careful not to overheat.
5. Crush the fried gond, then mix it in a large bowl with roasted flour, ground nuts, cardamom powder (1 tsp), and melted jaggery.
Mix everything well, adding warm ghee if needed, and shape into laddoos.
4. Homemade Popcorn
Well, homemade popcorn is not just about movie nights, it is a great winter snack too!
Homemade popcorn is a healthy winter snack that’s quick to make and easy to customize. Unlike store-bought options, homemade popcorn allows you to skip unhealthy additives and control the seasonings to suit your taste.
Rich in fibre, low in calories, and naturally gluten-free, popcorn provides a satisfying crunch that’s great for cosying up with a movie or a book on chilly nights.
To make it, simply heat a tablespoon of oil in a large pot over medium heat, add half a cup of popcorn kernels, and cover. Once the kernels start popping, gently shake the pot until the popping slows. Remove from heat, then season with a sprinkle of sea salt and a dash of your favourite spices!
5. Sesame Chikki
Sesame seeds are a winter superfood consumed since ancient times in our country. Studies have shown that these kitchen ingredients have the potential to reduce blood cholesterol and boost immunity.
Sesame chikki is made from jaggery and sesame seeds—both are the best winter snacks eaten in our country in the winter season.
Jaggery is known as 'medicinal sugar', and according to
studies, it improves digestion, is good for the liver, boosts energy, purifies the blood, has anti-toxic and anti-carcinogenic properties, relieves tension and is good for the lungs.
Ingredients: Sesame seeds, jaggery, ghee
Instructions
Roast 1 cup of sesame seeds until golden and set aside.
In a pan, melt 1/2 cup jaggery with 1 teaspoon ghee until it dissolves and becomes sticky.
Add the sesame seeds, stir quickly to combine, then pour the mixture onto a greased surface.
Flatten with a rolling pin, let it cool slightly, and cut into pieces.
6. Nuts stuffed Dates
Dates and nuts – a perfect healthy winter snack. Naturally sweet dates give you energy plus dates contain dietary fibre, antioxidants, vitamins, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium.
One of the easiest and healthiest ways to nibble on dates is by pitting the dates and inserting half a walnut or a few walnut pieces inside each date. This creates a quick, nutrient-rich snack that pairs well with hot coffee for cosy winter days.
7. Nuts Mix
Create a cosy, nutritious, healthy winter snack with almonds, walnuts, cashews, pistachios, and peanuts—each packed with benefits to keep you energized and warm through the cold season.
Almonds and walnuts bring heart-healthy fats and antioxidants, ideal for boosting winter wellness, while creamy cashews offer essential minerals. The fibre-rich pistachios add a satisfying crunch, and protein-packed peanuts complete this power blend.
Eat them with a pinch of sea salt and a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg to capture the essence of winter. Store in an airtight container for a ready-to-enjoy snack that’s both nourishing and delicious all season long.
8. Millet Laddu
Millets are nutrient-rich food ideal for the winter season–millets boost immunity, are fibre-rich, and contain important minerals like calcium, iron and vitamins. It is the best warm snacks for winter.
There are many ways to make millet laddu. Here are the steps to make a simple bajra millet laddu–
Ingredients:
Bajra flour (1 cup), Ghee (1/4 cup), dates (1/2 cup, finely chopped), nuts like almonds and cashews (2-3 tbsp), Cardamom powder (1/2 tsp)
Instructions
1. In a pan, dry roast the bajra flour on low heat until it turns aromatic. 2. In the same pan, melt the ghee. Add the finely chopped dates and cook for 1-2 minutes until they soften.
3. Add chopped nuts and saute until they’re golden.
4. Add the roasted flour and cardamom powder to the mixture. Stir well to combine everything evenly.
5. Let the mixture cool slightly. Take small portions and roll them into round laddus.
6. Store in an airtight container. These laddus make a delicious, healthy treat!
Instead of bajra, you can also use ragi flour or mixed millet flour.
9. A Mini Carrot Salad
Carrots are the best winter snacks, packed with essential nutrients that help keep you healthy through the colder months.
Rich in beta-carotene, carrots support your immune system and skin health, both of which can take a hit in winter. Beta-carotene converts to vitamin A in the body, which strengthens immunity and helps protect skin from dryness and environmental stress.
High in antioxidants and fibre, carrots also aid digestion, making them a wholesome addition to any winter meal. Plus, since carrots are in season in winter, they’re fresher, more flavorful, and have been eaten as winter veggies in India.
For a quick, nutritious carrot salad–
Ingredients:
2-3 fresh carrots, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, salt, black pepper, cumin or parsley (optional).
Instructions
1. Grate 2-3 fresh carrots
2. toss them in a light dressing made with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, a pinch of salt, and a sprinkle of black pepper.
3. For a hint of extra flavour, add a handful of fresh parsley or a dash of cumin. You are good to go!
10. Healthy Energy Bars
Healthy energy bars are healthy and warm winter snacks, packed with nutrients to keep you energized during colder months. Go for healthy energy bars made of nuts, dried fruits, millet and seeds, providing a balanced mix of protein, healthy fats, and fibre. Bars with Winter-friendly flavours like ginger, gold, and jaggery can add both warmth and immunity-boosting benefits.
These bars are a convenient, wholesome option for staying nourished and energised on the go during the winter season. If you are into bite-sized snacks, try our dry fruit laddubar mini.
If you're too busy to cook, go for healthy gond, millet, methi and dry fruit Laddubars for a healthy winter snacking!
Note: The article is provided for informational purposes only. Consult a healthcare professional if you are making any dietary changes as individual nutritional needs vary
