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The Best Healthy Snacks

Last updated on November 19, 2021
Best Healthy Snacks

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Snacking is an important part of keeping your energy levels up throughout the day. But it needs to be the right snack to be fully effective. Treats with excess carbs or sugar can elevate your blood sugar levels temporarily, then cause them to plummet later, leading to a feeling known as a sugar crash.

Fruits and vegetables are always great options, but they aren’t always convenient. There are healthy snacks wrapped to make them easy to take on the go with you. At the very least, they’ll be handy to grab on your way through the kitchen rather than having to prepare, slice or peel something for your mid-afternoon snack.

But there are a few things to look for in a packaged snack. It’s important to keep the portions small to avoid the calories adding up. The goal is to give you that little bit you need to get through to your next meal, not to fill up. Look for treats with high fiber content built in. Fiber aids digestion, but it’s also filling, so a little can go a long way.

Another benefit of having packaged snacks on hand in advance? You’ll be more likely to go for a healthy option. If tough-to-prepare snacks serve as your only choice, you could find yourself going for chips or candy.

Not everyone needs to snack. Some people simply do better consuming three square meals a day and nothing in between. But if you find your energy waning a couple or more hours after your last meal, you might be the type of person who does better with smaller meals combined with snacks in between. Those who work out or have physically demanding jobs will obviously burn more calories during the day than those who work sitting down, making snacking even more important.

Our Picks For The Top Healthy Snacks

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Product Overview
Our Take
 Top Pick

Poop Like A Champion Prebiotic Fiber Gummies Healthy Snack

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

Poop Like A Champion

Prebiotic Fiber Gummies Healthy Snack

With a serving of three gummies, you get 9 grams of fiber, which is 30% of your daily fiber needs. These gummies come in an assortment of fruity flavors, including peach, orange and strawberry. You’ll get 50 gummies in a resealable bag that’s easy to take on the go.

Overall Take

Great for Stomach CrampsIf you suffer from bloating and painful stomach cramps, the combination of inulin and fiber in these gummies might help.

 Runner Up

HighKey Grain & Gluten Free Mini Cookies Healthy Snack

HighKey

Grain & Gluten Free Mini Cookies Healthy Snack

Each cookie in these packs features a salted caramel flavor without the carbs and sugar you’d get with traditional sweet snacks. The sweetening agent is a proprietary erythritol and stevia blend to give you a good taste without the sugar and carbs.

Overall Take

Melt in Your MouthThese salted caramel cookie bites provide a low-carb, low-sugar sweet with a flavor that melts in your mouth.

 We Also Like

Seapoint Farms Vegan Salted Edamame Healthy Snack

Seapoint Farms

Vegan Salted Edamame Healthy Snack

This set includes 12 snack-size packets of edamame, making them easy to slip into a lunch bag or backpack to take on the go with you. The soybeans are dried and processed, then seasoned with sea salt, retaining as much of their original nutrients as possible. With only two ingredients, this is a great non-GMO, vegan-friendly snack with only 200 cal...

Overall Take

Great for All AgesEdamame is a popular snack for both adults and children, giving you a great salty treat for the entire family.

 Strong Contender

Eat Different Paleo & Keto Friendly Cookies Healthy Snack

Eat Different

Paleo & Keto Friendly Cookies Healthy Snack

Available in delicious flavors like chocolate chip, birthday cake and chocolate candy cane, these cookies are both healthy and tasty. The key ingredient in these cookies is lion’s mane mushroom, which is believed to help improve brain function. These snacks are free of both gluten and grains and have no added preservatives or fillers. They’re a...

Overall Take

Great for School LunchesPack one or two of these brain-boosting cookies in your child’s school lunch to give them a delicious snack to get them through the afternoon.

What to Look For

  • It’s easier than ever to find healthy snacks that mimic the taste of the sugary, carb-loaded ones that you might rather have. You can find snacks that are healthy but are modeled after gummy treats or chocolate chip cookies, for example.
  • Sugar-free sweets often use artificial sweeteners to keep that pledge. Some of those sweeteners can cause stomach upset, so be aware of it before you buy. If you notice digestive issues after you start eating them, it could be caused by the new sweeteners you’re ingesting.
  • A resealable bag can go a long way in keeping your snacks fresh. You’ll have the convenience of packaging everything back up to store it after you’re finished snacking.
  • If you tend to overindulge, consider separating your snacks into preportioned resealable plastic bags. You can take one with you when you leave for the day or allow yourself one a day if you’re at home. This will keep you from consuming too many calories throughout the day.
  • If you’re diabetic, a snack that keeps your blood sugar in check throughout the day is important. It’s not simply about eliminating sugar from your diet, as it will be necessary to keep you from getting too low.
  • Edamame is a natural, healthy snack that’s filling and delicious. If you choose edamame, look for one that minimizes ingredients and uses sea salt.
  • For children, a healthy snack that can be slipped into a lunchbox or backpack can be helpful. You can give children something to snack on between classes or as an extra item at lunch.
  • Those on special diets will need to look specifically for snacks that eliminate unwanted ingredients. You can find snacks that are non-GMO and free of dairy, gluten, nuts and other items.
  • It can be easy to get into a snack rut. Consider shaking things up occasionally to keep yourself interested in healthy snacking. Otherwise, you might find yourself skipping your usual treat in favor of less healthy options in your kitchen or in the vending machine at work.

More to Explore

There’s a reason you find yourself continuing to eat certain snacks long after your appetite has been satisfied. Both salt and sugar are highly addictive ingredients, and food manufacturers know it. Salt is especially popular since it can act as a preservative, making foods last longer. Unfortunately, salt can raise your blood pressure, which might eventually lead to health issues.

Ingredients aren’t alone in raising your addiction to the snacks you eat. Frito-Lay once famously used a chewing-simulation device to ensure each bite of its chips has a satisfying crunch. Those sodas you love to sip on also have a carefully orchestrated combination of carbonation, sweet syrup and caffeine to keep you coming back for more.

More to explore