Our Favorite HEALTHY Store-Bought Snacks
Going to the grocery store can be pretty overwhelming with all the choices available. As a general rule, it is best to stick to the perimeter of the store, where the fruits, vegetables, dairy, and meat sections are located and avoid the interior aisles which are filled with packaged junk food. But, sometimes we just need a little something to tide us over that can be kept in our purse or desk drawer. We have a few go-to favorites that we like to keep around in case we need a quick and healthy snack when we don’t have fresh fruit or vegetables around.
Health Warrior Chia Bar: At less than 120 calories, this mini bar packs a big punch. Full of fiber, protein and omega-3s one little Chia Bar is perfect for a snack between meals. Chia Bars come in a variety flavors such as chocolate peanut butter, acai berry, coffee, and coconut (an Eat Smarter team favorite.)
Siggi’s Skyr: Skyr is an Icelandic yogurt which is thicker and creamier than Greek yogurt, the great thing about Siggi’s is the fact that it is made without any artificial ingredients or colors and has a lot less sugar than other flavored yogurts. You can get Siggi’s in a variety of flavors, as well as grab-and-go tubes (perfect for school lunches), and a drinkable yogurt product called filmjolk in Icelandic. Another added bonus of Siggi’s, it is high in protein, it has 2-3 times more protein than traditional yogurt products. Each serving of Siggi’s contains 100 calories and has 9-11 grams of sugar.
Wonderful Pistachios: Pistachios are a great snack to reach for when you are craving something salty. Pistachios are high in fiber, monounsaturated fat, and potassium, making them a heart-healthy snack. Eating pistachios with the shell on are a great way to slow down your snacking since you have to work a little bit for your snack. Wonderful brand pistachios come in a variety of flavors, but just make sure to keep an eye on your salt intake. A ½ cup serving (with shell on) contain 160 calories.
Bare Fruit Chips: When you want something sweet and crunchy, fruit chips are a great choice. Bare brand has a variety of fruits and flavors, such as banana, cinnamon apple, and toasted coconut. Depending on which variety you choose they have between 110-170 calories per ½ cup serving.
The Good Bean Roasted Chickpeas: Another great choice for savory snack lovers, these crunchy little legumes are a perfect snack to reach for when that three o’clock craving strikes. With flavors such as Thai coconut and smoky chili & lime, you’ll forget that you are snacking on beans. A one-ounce serving contains 120 calories, no matter what flavor you choose. These also make a great addition to salads, a delicious low-carb alternative to croutons.
Unreal Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups: Who doesn’t crave dark chocolate at some point in the day? We love these peanut butter cups from Unreal, with 80 calories per cup and only 5 grams of sugar, they are a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth without completely derailing your diet.
Justin’s Nut Butter Squeeze Packs: These handy little packets are perfect for throwing in your purse, gym bag or desk for an afternoon pick me up. They come in flavors many flavors such as maple almond butter and chocolate hazelnut butter. Depending on which variety you choose they have between 180-190 calories per packet and between 4-8 grams of protein. Added bonus: these little packets are 1.15 ounces, making them TSA liquid guideline friendly.
There are so many choices when you go to the grocery store, in order to make good choices it is important to look at the labels so you know what you are eating. Stay away from products with a lot of sugar, ingredients you cannot pronounce and high sodium levels. Try some of our favorite healthy store-bought snacks, and let us know if you have one you love that we missed (we would love to give it a try!)
