Healthy Snacks for Movie Night

5 Healthy Twists on Classic Movie Night Snacks

The weekend is here and it’s time to share my favorite healthy snacks for movie night!

Friday nights are when I make big bowls of popcorn and my family watches movies together. It’s something that we look forward to all week, and really makes our Friday nights special. There’s nothing like enjoying a good movie and snacking on some yummy treats. However, it’s important to remember to snack mindfully – especially at night. Try to choose snacks that are natural, fresh, or high in protein. Of course you can have your weekend treat, but keep everything in proper proportion and try not to get too crazy – even if it is the weekend.

1. Popcorn

I know this is the typical movie snack, but I want to mention a few pointers and some fun variations on the traditional buttery popcorn. First of all, I would highly recommend investing in an air popper. I can’t even tell you how often I use this. I  LOVE popcorn and could eat it every day. However, if you’re snacking on those microwaveable bags of popcorn, or popping it on the stove, chances are you’re getting more fat in your snack than you probably need. I admit, that oil and butter is tasty, but using an air popper helps cut down the fat considerably and makes this snack a bit healthier.

On the weekends, I use my air popper to make a big bowl of popcorn, and then melt a tablespoon of coconut oil and drizzle that on top. I also sprinkle salt on my popcorn, but if you’re looking for a sweeter alternative, add cinnamon and drizzle melted peanut butter on top. Finish it off with a handful of semi-sweet chocolate chips. Popcorn is definitely one of the simplest healthy snacks for movie night.

2. Ice Cream

I love ice cream, but don’t always want all that sugar and fat. Opt for a healthier option such as frozen yogurt, or make your own version of ice cream. For a high protein and tasty treat, add some peanut butter to a single-serving container of plain or vanilla Greek yogurt. Mix it well and top it off with a sprinkle of cocao nibs or semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Peanut butter and yogurt are an amazing combo, and Greek yogurt makes it really thick and creamy. Click here to get the full recipe and instructions.

3. Chocolate

Okay, this one is pretty basic, but sometimes all you need is chocolate. I don’t mean chocolate cake, or chocolate chip cookies, we’re talking about pure chocolate. Instead of grabbing a candy bar, here are some of my favorite alternatives. I am currently obsessed with Larabars, and right now the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip is my favorite. I can’t get over how simple and “clean” they are. Check out these ingredients: dates, peanuts, chocolate chips, sea salt. That’s it! Pure deliciousness in one small package.

Another amazing bar is the Quest Double Chocolate Chunk bar. I avoid their bars that contain sucralose, so thankfully this one is completely clean. This is one of the most delicious bars ever and I could eat these all the time. It’s a low-calorie snack and since it’s a protein bar, I find it a bit more filling. I also love the Justin’s Peanut Butter Cups. I am a dark chocolate type of girl, so these are my personal favorite. And you can never go wrong with peanut butter and chocolate. You could also make your own chocolate bars with this simple recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie.

4. Chips

Depending on the night, I may be craving something sweet, something salty, or both. 😉 Sweet potato chips/fries are delicious and are a perfect balance between sweet and salty. You can buy sweet potato chips or make them yourself. Check out this super simple recipe from the Minimalist Baker. Since we’re on the topic of chips, I’ll mention some of my other favorites.

I’ve made kale chips before and they are delicious. Just be careful when you’re adding salt. They cook down considerably and do not need much salt, just give them a sprinkle. You can also buy kale chips if you don’t have fresh kale available. I’ve heard great things about these kale chips that are ranch flavored – yum! I also love Pirate’s Booty Aged White Cheddar and Veggie Straws are awesome. Both of these are great healthy snacks for movie night.

5. Cookies

We’ve reached the last treat on our list of healthy snacks for movie nights. Cookies are always a good idea, and chocolate chip cookies are a classic. You can whip up a delicious batch of flourless chocolate chip cookies in just 6 minutes. I’ve been making the recipe from the Chocolate Covered Katie Cookbook like crazy! You can check out my review of that amazing book here. If you’re not in the mood for baking, then grab a Lenny & Larry’s cookie at the store. I usually get mine at Publix, but you can also order them online. I reviewed these cookies as well, so if you want to check that out click here.

Well, there you have it. These are my 5 favorite healthy snacks for movie night. I hope this gave you some ideas for healthy snacks you can make these weekend. Be sure to comment below with your favorite healthy snacks for movie night.

Question of the Day: What is your favorite movie?