Beside the Mountain

  • All Recipes
  • About
  • My Pantry
menu icon
go to homepage
  • All Recipes
  • About
  • My Pantry
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • All Recipes
  • About
  • My Pantry
×
Home

About

Welcome here! I'm Danika Vanderpyl and I'm stoked to help you crush snack time with simple, energizing, and healthy snacks. 

My experience in the kitchen started more than 20 years ago (in my parent's home) when I would bake my family treats. I loved to bake anything sweet. When I struggled with personal digestive issues, I wanted the food and snacks I ate not to be overloaded with sugar and void of nutrition, so I taught myself how to make delicious recipes into healthy recipes.

I specialize in creating simple snack recipes with real whole foods to energize the body.

All the recipes you will find on the site have been tested at least three times, but often more than this!

I am Certified in Holistic Nutrition, which means I studied the 11 interconnected systems of the body and how to support the systems through lifestyle and food. I am a big believer in eating nutrient-dense and diverse foods.

Canadian School Of Natural Nutrition Certification Badge.
Badge of membership to the Canadian association of natural practitioners.
Badge of membership to CSNN alummi association.

Here are some of my favorite snack recipes:

  • A close up of the side of a strawberry muffins.
    Strawberry Muffins with Frozen Strawberries
  • Yellow smoothie in jar with turmeric powder on top.
    Turmeric Banana Smoothie
  • No bake almond butter protein bars with chocolate on top on platter.
    Incredible Almond Butter Protein Bars
  • pistachio-balls-on-wood-cutting-board
    Pistachio Date Balls (3 ingredients)

The inside scoop

I'm a wife and mother of two boys. We live in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Our family loves to travel, and we choose to go outside every single day, (often for walks, hikes, or lake days) - come along with us!!

I started a podcast in December 2024, it's all about exploring and adventuring with our kids, check out the Let's Go Outside Podcast here.

Nutritionist outside in the mountains throwing her son into the air.

The days are full and we are often on the go and...in need of a wholesome snack! So I started creating simple recipes (aka recipes with not too many weird steps or ingredients) that are nutritious and enjoyable (not just for the kids but for myself too). The most common snacks at our house are muffins and smoothies!

  • A close up of a quinoa egg bite with a orange banana pepper on top with kale around it.
    High Protein Quinoa Eggs Muffins
  • A light orange muffins with red cranberries poking through on a little plate with orange slices behind it.
    Hemp Heart Muffins with Fresh Cranberry Orange (High Protein)
  • A dark muffin with coarse sugar on top with a little rosemary beside it.
    Gingerbread Pumpkin Muffins
  • A light colored muffins with a lot of chocolate chips poking out of it, sitting on a brown napkin, with other chocolate chip muffins around it.
    Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Muffins
See more Muffins →
  • A light brown smoothie with tahini swirled into it with a sprinkle of cinnamon of top.
    Incredible Quinoa Smoothie (with cooked quinoa)
  • A flat lay photo of a dark red smoothie with hemp hearts, cherries, strawberries, and raspberries on top.
    Smoothie for Your Period
  • A brownish pink smoothie in a glass with tahini on top with raspberries.
    Luteal Phase Smoothie
  • A glass cup filled with light brown smoothie with pumpkin seeds on top, with leaves in the backgrounds.
    Pumpkin Seed Smoothie (Super Creamy)
See more Smoothies →

Check out what I have in my kitchen pantry with a detailed list of the foods I use regularly in my recipes!

If you are feeling overwhelmed by constant snack time, that's so legit. Sign up to get emails (it mostly comes weekly on Tuesdays...) this is where I share mostly quick snack ideas and recipes with a little peek into what I'm thinking about this week.

Danika-vanderpyl-hiking-with-mountains

Hey hey! I'm Danika.

I'm certified in holistic nutrition and I create snack recipes! Because unprocessed, wholesome, nutrient-dense snacks are hard to find but I want everyone to know they are easy to make!

About me

Popular

  • A bite out of a chocolate energy balls with specs of ground oatmeal and a flecks of dried rose.
    Banana Chocolate Balls

  • Light brown energy ball with flecks of dates and oats, sitting on red and green apples.
    Apple Cinnamon Bites

  • A brown moist bar with pieces of oats and chocolate chips visible stacked on two other bars with a bite out of the top protein bar.
    Banana Oat Protein Bars

  • Light brown oatmeal apple cookies on a parchment paper on a plate with an apple beside it.
    Apple Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Footer

↑ back to top

Info

  • About
  • Contact
  • Work With Me
  • Privacy Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for snack recipes and inspo

Recipes

  • Smoothies
  • Adventure Friendly Snacks
  • Baking
  • No Bake

Copyright © 2025 BesidetheMountain

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.