You know you’re going to need a snack between lunch and dinner to prevent a drop in blood sugar and increase in fatigue (#hangry), but it can be hard to find prepackaged goods that are both healthy and tasty. Luckily, we have registered dietitian Samantha Cassetty, a nutrition and wellness expert and a contributor to Sugar Shock, on speed dial. She reviewed the massive selection of snacks on Amazon and picked out nine of the healthiest (including a few gluten-free and keto options), because we all know that nutrition labels can be deceiving. She notes that added sugars are in practically everything we eat, and we probably eat much more of them than we think. Eighty percent of the 600,000 consumer packaged foods sold in the United States contain added sugars, whether we realize it or not. So what should an avid snacker look out for? Cassetty suggests whole grains and minimal (albeit, real) ingredients. Because it’s going to be a lonnng afternoon if you’re hungry and, sorry to break it to you, but a handful of potato chips just isn’t going to cut it.
9 of the Healthiest Snacks to Buy on Amazon, According to a Nutritionist
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1. Hippeas Organic Chickpea Puffs In Vegan White Cheddar (1 Pack)
“If you’re the type who craves crunch, this snack is a top choice. It’s made mostly from certified organic chickpea flour, which means it supplies plant protein (four grams) and fiber (three grams) for a 130-calorie serving size that will keep you feeling full.”
2. Simple Mills Farmhouse Cheddar Almond Flour Crackers (6 Snack Packs)
“A typical cheese cracker is made with refined white flour, but these are made from a blend of nuts and seeds, which are not only nutritious but also much more filling. That makes them a healthier choice, and they still deliver on taste.”
3. Quinn Snacks Microwave Popcorn (box Of 3)
“Popcorn is an antioxidant- and fiber-rich, gluten-free whole grain. A serving size is a satisfying three cups, so it’s a good snack when you have a big appetite but want to keep the carbs and calories light. This variety has just two ingredients: organic corn and sea salt. But what’s also cool is that the microwavable bags don’t contain a plastic lining, so they’re compostable and recyclable.”
4. Peeled Snacks Gently Dried Fruit Organic Mango (1 Pack)
“This no-added-sugar snack has just one ingredient: organic mango. Natural sugars from fruits, like mango, are in a totally different camp from sugars added by a manufacturer. In this case, you’ll also get some fiber, iron, vitamin A and potassium, along with steady energy to help fuel a busy day.”
5. Lily’s Dark Chocolate Keto Baking Chips (1 Pack)
“When I need a chocolate fix but want to nibble instead of bite into a bar, I snack on a handful of these. They’re also a great addition to baked goods and other snacks (like paired with nut butter and stuffed into a date—a personal fave!). They don’t contain any added sugar or artificial sweeteners, which makes them keto-friendly too.”
6. Super Seedz Gourmet Pumpkin Seeds In Maple Sugar & Sea Salt (6 Pack)
“Pumpkin seeds are a crunchy and nutritious alternative to nuts. A serving packs seven grams of protein and is also a good source of health-supporting minerals like iron, magnesium and zinc. The maple sugar and sea salt flavor is a salty, sweet and crunchy treat, and with just under a teaspoon of added sugar, it’s a healthier way to indulge your sweet tooth.”
7. Just The Cheese Grilled Cheese Bars (12 Pack)
“This is a protein-packed alternative to a granola bar, and unlike a cheese stick, it can be stashed in your bag or desk drawer until a snack attack hits. Each two-bar serving supplies eight grams of protein—more than a boiled egg—along with a third of your daily calcium requirement.”
8. Popchips Yes Peas In Himalayan Salt (6 Pack)
“These chips contain just a few simple ingredients—chief among them being yellow and green peas. A serving is a hearty 21 chips, an amount that has six grams of protein and three grams of fiber from the peas. These are great on their own and also as a dunker in hummus, guac or salsa.”
9. Flavabar Premium Dark Chocolate Bars (10 Pack)
“Studies show that the cocoa flavanols (plant-derived nutrients that help your body maintain healthy amounts of nitric oxide, which in turn promotes healthy blood flow) in dark chocolate vary wildly and that the percentage (say, 70 percent dark chocolate) isn’t the best indicator of these health-promoting compounds. This brand processes dark chocolate in a way that preserves these substances and also delivers gourmet flavors such as Blueberry & Green Tea Matcha and Crystallized Ginger & Saigon Cinnamon.”
