Convenience Leads to Successful Frugality

When I first started living frugal, I really struggled with the snack portion of our menu.  I used to buy Little Debbie's snacks and individually packaged fruits for convenience but, as you probably know, that gets expensive fast.  Here are some budget-friendly and (mostly) healthy snacks that also rank high on the convenience scale.

• Easy Peach Sorbet. Pick up a cheap bag of frozen peaches at your local dollar store and add a splash of milk.  Blend until smooth.  (Thanks Cyrene!)
• Homemade Granola. Find the recipe here.  Add chocolate chips to fill your sweet tooth.
• Old-Fashioned Popcorn.  We buy a 50 pound bag of popcorn kernels from our local bulk foods store.  No need for an air popper.  I just pop it on the stove top in just a splash of vegetable or olive oil.  Salt to taste.

• Carrot Sticks.  To make this snack as cheap as possible, buy whole carrots and peel and cut them yourself versus buying baby carrots.
• Homemade Tortilla Chips. You can snack on them plain or open a can of diced tomatoes to use as a dip.  To make them, use this tortilla recipe then slice them into triangles, brush on some vegetable oil and bake at 325 degrees for about five minutes or until crisp (watch closely so they do not burn).
• No-Bake Cookies. Great quick option if calories aren't your concern.  This recipe is here.
• Apples, Oranges, or Bananas. Be sure to only buy fruit that is in season to ensure the best value.  Also, as an added bonus, preliminary studies have shown that our bodies respond more positively to in-season fruits than off-season.  Nature sure knows best!
• Store Brand Pretzels. They taste just as good as name brand at a fraction of the cost.  This is a great snack when you are in a rush.
• Raisins. 1/4 cup is a whole serving of fruit!
• Pancakes. I make them in large batches and freeze them individually.  You can pop them in the toaster and have a snack in a minute.
• Peanut Butter and Homemade Crackers. High in calories, so be sure to eat in moderation, but the protein makes a great mid-afternoon pick-me-up!  (Stay tuned for an easy cracker recipe).
• Frozen Vegetables. Usually a great value, frozen peas, broccoli, and green beans make a filling snack that, when popped in the microwave, can be ready in two minutes.

How about you?  What are your go-to snacks on a budget?