Eating healthfully can sometimes be associated with an expensive grocery bill, which may be one of the reasons we tend to reach for potato chips over vegetables as a mid-day snack. However, it is possible to have a healthy snack that is just as cheap and tasty.

Annmarie Licatese, owner of Strength in Motion on East Bridge Street and a health food enthusiast and blogger, shares some simple and healthy snack recipes that will not break the budget. Licatese has been creating recipes for her blog since 2014.

As an added bonus for those with allergies, Licatese keeps all recipes gluten and dairy-free:

Honey and Sea Salt Roasted Almonds

When it comes to making snacks, simplicity can be the best thing. This recipe only calls for four ingredients: raw almonds, coconut oil, honey crystals and sea salt.

The almonds will leave you feeling full until your next meal, and the honey crystals combined with sea salt will create a nice sweet and salty flavor. However, Licatese said not to go overboard on the sea salt.

“Too much salt can leave you feeling bloated and make you thirsty,” Licatese said.

Although in moderation salt can add a nice touch to foods, an over abundance in an everyday diet can lead to health problems, like high blood pressure.

Honey Salted Popcorn

If you are more of a popcorn person, all you need to do for this snack is substitute the almonds from Licatese’s honey and roasted almonds with popcorn.

Licatese also gives the option of making this a Valentine’s Day treat by adding melted vegan chocolate chips or M&Ms.

However, if you cannot find vegan chocolate chips, don not stress out. Licatese says choosing the non-vegan option does not necessarily make this snack any less healthy.

“It wouldn’t really make too much of a difference, it’s more of a personal preference,” Licatese said. “It’s more about the amount you use.”

Watermelon, Cucumber and Blueberry Goat Cheese Bites

The ingredients needed are in the name for this recipe, with the addition of mint leaves to top off the bite. Although this snack involves a bit more prep-work in dicing and slicing the watermelon and cucumber, the two ingredients make this snack a refreshing one.

Licatese said natural sugars are the best way to go, and the watermelon in this snack provides just that option.

“When you look at food labels you should always watch out for the added sugars,” Licatese said. “They’re very unhealthy and can leave you with a crashed feeling shortly after.”

White Chocolate and Macadamia Nut Sweet Potato Blondies

If you have a sweet tooth, this recipe can help curb the craving. To put this treat together you will need a sweet potato, raw almond butter, maple syrup, if you are vegan, or honey if you are not, one egg, baking soda, chopped macadamia nuts, white chocolate and the option of vanilla protein powder for added flavor.

This recipe goes along with Licatese’s advice on little added sugars and packs essential nutrients into a small bite, thanks to the sweet potato and macadamia nuts.

Licatese advises not to over indulge, because too much of anything can make it unhealthy.

“Depending on what the snack is I would say a serving size would be like a cup of granola, or a handful of nuts, or one or two of something, enough to get a taste,” Licatese said.

This would be around 250 calories, which Licatese said is the range you want to look at when it comes to snacking.

However, if you find yourself on-the-go and unable to eat one of Licatese’s healthy snacks, she recommends getting cheese, fruit, peanut butter or nuts to hold the hunger over.

“Be careful of granola and protein bars because they have a lot of the added sugars you want to stay away from,” Licatese said.

Full directions for these recipes and others like them can be found on Licatese’s blog, The Fit Foodie Mama.