Mum spent $100 to make 140 healthy snacks – that’s 70 cents per snack!

This innovative mum has found an ingenious way to make her money go further and save herself from snacking on junk food.

Samara Syed has come up with a clever and healthy way to make six weeks’ worth of her own homemade snacks using recipes from the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge and it only cost her $100!

“Snacking seems to be one of my worst habits,” she tells us. “When I am not prepared, I tend to find it much easier to grab a bar of chocolate or a bag of chips.

“Pre-making snacks not only makes it easier to stay on track, but leaves me with more time through the week and on the weekend to spend with my two girls.”

Mum spent $100 to make 140 healthy snacks – that’s 70 cents per snack!

For $100, Samara was able to make 140 SNACKS – which works out at SIX WEEKS’ worth of snacks if you were to have three a day.

“It took me just a few hours through the day and just $100 to make 140 serves of 10 different Healthy Mummy snacks,” says Samara. “That works out to be enough for over six weeks’ worth of snacks and comes to just 70 cents per serve.”

Samara says, “The common misconception is that eating healthily is too much hard work, so I decided to prove myself and to my friends that I could spend just a few hours and very little money to make a bulk variety of healthy, family friendly snacks.”

What Samara made:

Mint Chocolate Crunch x 24

These bites are ONLY 102 calories and totally yummy!

Get this recipe here. 

Healthy Peanut Bubble Crunch x 18

Chocolate and bubbles are two things kids cannot seem to get enough of. So to keep the kids happy we have combined the two into this delicious Peanut Bubble Crunch! Plus, they’re only 134 calories per serve.

Get this recipe here.

Healthy Peanut Bubble Bites x 18

With only 4 ingredients and a mere 86 calories each, this snack will be a hit in most households!

Get this recipe here.

Raw Cherry Slices x 12 serves

Packed with healthy fats and fibre and free from refined sugar, this easy to prepare Cherry Slice doesn’t require any baking which makes it perfect for hot summer days when you don’t want to switch on the oven. This works out at 135 calories per serve.

Get this recipe here.

Healthy Snickers Slice x 24 serves

This recipe is gluten free, dairy free and refined sugar free so if you love chocolate bars like Snickers now you can make a healthy treat alternative and actually do something good for your body when indulging. And it’s only 187 calories per serve.

Get this recipe here.

Cheese and Olive Pinwheels x 10 serves

This snack is only 163 calories per serve and it tastes delicious.

You can find this recipe exclusively on the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge.

Flourless Parmesan and Seed Crackers x 30 crackers = 10 serves

This snack is perfect for baking on the weekend and is ONLY 73 calories per serve!

You can get this recipe on the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge.

Passionfruit Muffins x 6 serves

A delicious muffin recipe that is ideal for the whole family as a dessert or snack. Plus, it’s only 132 calories.

You can also get this recipe on the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge.

Double Chocolate Mini Muffins x 10 serves

Get your chocolate fix with this healthy recipe, which is only 130 calories.

You can also get this recipe on the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge.

Pesto, Ricotta and Spinach Rolls x 8 serves

For 230 calories you can make this quick and easy recipe, which makes sure of your leftovers if you choose to.

Again, you can get this recipe on the28 Day Weight Loss Challenge.

“I wanted to make a mixture of sweet and savoury snacks, because I have a sweet tooth,” Samara says. “I also used a mixture some free recipes and some challenge recipes.”

Samara’s top tips for making snacks:

1. Look for recipes that have similar ingredients. That way nothing goes to waste and you spend less at the shops by purchasing less ingredients.

2. Make slices or muffins. It’s the same amount of work but you get more than one serving.

3. Make snacks you can freeze. This means they last longer.

4. Swap some ingredients, like honey for rice malt syrup, that was you don’t have to buy certain ingredients and can substitute for what I already have at home.

5. Use frozen fruits and veggies where you can. You often get more for less.

6. Always look for what ingredients are on sale and base your prep around them. When peanut butter is on sale, I buy 2 as I use it so often.

7. Don’t be afraid to shop around. This shop I did was at Coles, but you can often buy more for less at Aldi or at your local fruit market.

Samara’s incredible 17kg weight loss journey

Samara says, “When I used to look at people’s progress photos, my head would try to tell me that the results should come almost instantly. This is to show you that it takes time.

“I didn’t go from 1 to 6 instantly. There are all these other photos in between!! Slowly but surely I am getting closer and closer to my ultimate goal body!!

“I still have off days, I still have down days. I still have dimples in my butt!! But I’m more confident and happy than ever before.”

If you haven’t joined up to the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge yet, this is your sign! This is what you’ve been waiting for! Do it! You won’t regret it!