By Erica Watson

In our house, snacks are life. But they can also add up to a heck of a lot of plastic. And while it’s all good and well to send them back to the soft plastics recycling bin, it’s even better to skip the packaging altogether. You don’t need to go all out, but you will be surprised by what you can make with just a tiny amount of preparation. Here are five of our tried-and-tested favourite zero-waste snacks for kids – and adults – alike. 

Roasted chickpeas 

Don’t get caught up in the convenience of buying these little packaged snacks. They’re just as easy to make at home and they’ll cost a fraction of the price. Simply add two cans of rinsed chickpeas (and yes, you can also soak your own) to a baking tray with olive oil, salt (and spices like cumin, ground coriander of chilli, if you like) and roast for 30-45 minutes or until crisp. 

No bake seed and nut bars 

Skip the store-bought muesli bars for these simple – and tasty – zero-waste snack bars. Combine your choice of seeds and nuts (almond, cashews, pepita, chia, sesame, oats, hemp, dates etc.) with sweeteners like agave and peanut or almond butter. We love this fool-proof recipe.

Dehydrated fruit 

Dried fruit isn’t only delicious, it’s also a great way to give life to all those fruits that are starting to look a little sad. If you don’t have a dehydrator you can still use your oven on its lowest setting and achieve the same results. Store in an air-tight container. 

Veggie sticks 

We often underestimate how good the humble veggie stick is, especially when it’s paired with easy to make dips like lemon yoghurt or hummus. If you’re pressed for time in the mornings, you can cut up a batch and store in a container in the fridge, they’ll last  a couple of days.  

Popcorn 

Skip the microwave bags and the individual packets for a stove-top option. Super easy to make, add roughly ½ cup of kernels (you can also buy these readily from your bulk store), to two tablespoons of oil such as olive, grapeseed or coconut). Keep shaking the pan to make sure none stick to the bottom. Keep any leftovers in an air-tight jar or container. zero-waste snack genius! 

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