Quick Tips: Making Healthy Snacks
Healthy snacks are a great way to get more whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean protein foods, and low-fat milk products. Use these ideas to get started.
- Make it easy.
- Have snacks ready for when you get hungry. Keep some healthy snacks at work or school and at home. If you have a healthy snack easily available, it's less likely that you'll pick a candy bar or bag of chips instead.
- Find healthy substitutes for your favorite snacks. For example, try baked tortilla chips with bean dip or hummus instead of potato chips and dip.
- Stock up on quick, healthy snack foods. Fresh fruits and vegetables are always good choices. Other ideas include:
- Yogurt.
- String cheese.
- Canned fruit or applesauce in single-serving containers.
- Raisins and other dried fruit.
- Air-popped popcorn.
- Whole wheat crackers.
- Pretzels.
- Flavored rice cakes.
- Unsalted nuts.
- Make it interesting.
- Use yogurt to add some appeal. If plain fruit doesn't appeal to you, try dipping fruit slices in low-fat yogurt sprinkled with cinnamon or nutmeg. Or mix fresh or frozen berries with low-fat yogurt, and top with sliced almonds or granola to make a fruit parfait.
- Top whole-grain crackers with low-fat cottage cheese or ricotta cheese. Add sliced tomatoes or red pepper strips for color.
- Make your own healthy trail mix. Combine high-fiber cereal, dried fruit (such as cranberries, blueberries, and dates), and nuts such as almonds. This mix also makes a great topping for yogurt.
- Spread low-fat cream cheese on a whole-grain bagel. Sprinkle sunflower seeds and raisins on top of the cream cheese for extra flavor.
- Dip colorful sliced vegetables in salad dressing or hummus. Try broccoli, cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, and red, yellow, and orange bell peppers.
- Make a dip for fruits and vegetables. Combine honey and peanut butter or almond butter. Dip raw apples, carrots, and celery. This spread also tastes great on bagels, rice cakes, and whole-grain crackers.
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Current as of: October 7, 2025
Current as of: October 7, 2025