There is an inevitability to a few things in life. Probably the most unavoidable of all are death, taxes, and the mid-morning slump. The latter can be described as a feeling of fatigue that always sets in at around 11am on the dot. This mid-morning slump affects everything from mood to focus to productivity at school or work. Luckily, there is a surefire way to avoid the mid-morning slump with a healthy well-timed snack that comes with a little pre-planning.

The following collection of healthy snack ideas do their best to avoid packaged treats loaded with artificial ingredients, trans fats, and refined sugars:

1. Fruit smoothies
If you’re tempted by a trip to the vending machine, you can thwart a sugar binge by preparing a healthy fruit smoothie instead. Not only are smoothies an excellent way to get your daily recommended servings of fruits and vegetables; they also allow for the incorporation of lean protein (i.e., yogurt, egg whites, milk, or almond milk), healthy fats (i.e., coconut oil, avocados), fiber (i.e., spinach and apples), and natural sweetness (i.e, a touch of honey, vanilla, or frozen berries).  Plus a smoothie is a great snack to take on the go.

2. Energy balls
Sure, these little balls of deliciousness might mimic the granola bar to some accounts. However, these little balls of virtual energy focus on packing in the nutritious ingredients. Look for energy balls that incorporate whole ingredients from fiber (i.e., oats, chia seeds, flax), protein (i.e., nuts and almond butter), healthy fats (i.e., coconut oil), and natural sweetness (i.e., honey, shredded coconut, vanilla, and dried fruit). You can even make a batch at home and pop them in your fridge until your ready to pop them in your mouth.

3. Devilled eggs
Sure, hard-boiled eggs are great in a pinch to grab and go in the mornings or for a quick snack. However, not everyone likes to peel and eat a plain old hard boiled egg. Never fear, you can still get your perfect protein by devilling your eggs. Avoid the mayo and mix your yolks with a dash of hummus, avocado, yogurt, dill and other spices. Kids will appreciate you decorating them with happy faces made with bell pepper and dill pickle pieces. Eggs are jam-packed with protein, vitamin B12, riboflavin, selenium, and healthy fats.

4. Veggie sticks and dip
There’s nothing like prepping a snack with all the colors of the rainbow. You’ll be visually and appetizingly pleased with a plate of raw veggies and healthy dips. Cut up sticks of bell pepper, cucumber, celery, mushrooms, carrots, bell peppers, cauliflower, broccoli and grape tomatoes. Accompany with a few healthy dips. Perhaps a garlic hummus, or guacamole made with mashed avocados, lemon, and seasalt. Also great is a yogurt based dip made with a squeeze of lemon, garlic and dill.