More than 72 million adults in the United States are obese; according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And experts blame the increased consumption of junk food for the obesity epidemic, but not all snack foods are created equal, some can be good for you.
Here are seven easy to find “healthier” snack foods…
1. Odwalla Super Protein Bar
Made with ingredients like soy, raisins, date puree, and unsweetened coconut; grains, such as organic rolled oats and barley flakes; and vitamins and minerals, including calcium, iron, protein, beta carotene, and vitamins C.
Odwalla Super Protein Bars have 210 calories per bar, 2.5g of total fat, only 1.0g of saturated fat, 14.0g of protein, 4.0g of fiber, 150mg of sodium, 17.0g of sugar, and 30.0g of carbohydrates.
2. Sunsweet Ones
Sunsweet Ones are individually wrapped prunes (dried plums) and prunes are sources of omega-6 fatty acids, protein, zinc, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin A.
Per serving (four prunes), Sunsweet Ones contain 100 calories, 0g grams of total fat, 0g of saturated fat, 1.0g of protein, 3.0g of dietary fiber, 5mg of sodium, 12.0g of sugar, and 24.0g of carbohydrates.
3. Mott’s Plus Light Sauce
Varieties of Mott’s Plus Light Sauces are made with things like apples, pomegranates, cranberries, and raspberries; and are good sources of vitamin C and potassium.
Per serving (3.9oz, one cup), each flavor contains 50 calories, 0mg of total fat, 0mg of saturated fat, 0g of protein, 1.0g to 3.0g of fiber, 0mg of sodium, 11.0g of sugar, and 13.0g of carbohydrates.
4. Snyder’s Sticks Pretzels – 100 Calorie Pack
Ingredients in Snyder’s Sticks Pretzels include unbleached wheat flour, canola oil, water, malt, salt, yeast, and soda; and contain iron.
Each serving (one pack) has 100 calories, 1.0g of total fat, 0.0g of saturated fat, 2.0g of protein, under 1.0g of fiber, 260mg of sodium, under 1.0g of sugar, and 2.0g of carbohydrates.
5. Mini Babybel Lights
Mini Babybel Lights are cheese made with part-skim milk, salt, whey protein, and enzymes; and are good sources of calcium and vitamin A.
One serving of Mini Babybel Lights (one cheese) has 50 calories, 3.0g of total fat, 1.5g of saturated fat, 6.0g of protein, 0g of fiber, 160mg of sodium, 0g of sugar, and 0g of total carbohydrates.
6. Apples (honorable mention)
The old standby, apples are good sources of fiber, vitamin C, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and antioxidants.
Apples contain approximately 50 calories, 0.17g of total fat, 0g saturate fat, 0.26g of protein, 2.4g of fiber, 0mg of sodium, 10.39 of sugar, 13.81g of carbohydrates.
7. Bumble Bee Fat Free Tuna Salad, with Crackers
Dolphin safe, Bumble Bee Fat Free Tuna Salad, with Crackers is made with stuff like light tuna, vegetable broth, eggs, onion powder, water chestnuts, carrots, soy, and enriched wheat flour; and contain nutrients like iron, calcium, and vitamin A.
Bumble Bee Fat Free Tuna Salad, with Crackers has 70 calories per can, 0g of total fat, 0g of saturated fat, 7.0g of protein, 0g of fiber, 450mg of sodium, 5.0g of sugar, and 10.0g of carbohydrates.
The crackers have 80 calories per serving (6 crackers), 1.5 grams of total fat, 0.5g of saturated fat, 2.0g of protein, 1.0g of fiber, 310mg of sodium, 2.0g of sugar, and 14.0g of carbohydrates.
Image credit: mealsandmiles, meaganenglish333, kmart, Marissa McClellon, kmart, iateapie, mrivera_416, argthepirate
i like all of this food. i do not want to resist them for being slim. in my opinion, to lose weight, we have many other simple ways, like exercise, diet and pills. so i just want to eat well and reduce weight at the same time. do you agree with me?
Some of the items on this list are disappointing to me. I follow the Zone diet, an anti-inflammatory diet based on hormonal control. At the basis of the diet is eating a balance of moderate amounts of protein, carbohydrate and fat at each and every meal and snack to promote stable blood sugar levels, which lead to the hormonal control I mentioned. Eating the apple, the applesauce, the pretzels, or the dried fruit by itself will result in a blood sugar spike, which would cause cravings and possibly additional hypoglycemic symptoms. A better choice would be to eat half the apple with one Baby Bel Cheese, or half the apple with a bit of the tuna ad a little dressing but pass on the crackers.
Great list this – shame we can’t get half the stuff in the UK. I will get on and make a UK equivalent list on the Healthy Hideout – Of course with thanks to diet blog for the inspiration!
I’ve learned to love apples. They seem to fill me and go down well, don’t bother me with indigestion, help satisfy me on a long day at work. One consideration I have with them is they take longer to eat than a protein bar so on a 10 min recess break when I only have 5 mins left, I find myself wolfing them down. So I save them for after school when I can eat slowly.
Along with that, folks, it’s just a crazy busy day on some of our jobs—it’s crazy when you have only 30 mins to eat and 10-15 are for the bathroom/freshening up (don’t forget waiting in line to USE the bathroom), checking your mailbox and simply taking a breath from all those demanding kids. I personally can not eat when I am stressed or my belly will hurt so these types of snacks I would definitely try, packaged or not, because they are small quantities. I do pack carrots with a cold pack but variety is important, too. I get tired of carrots. I figure better to eat one of these snacks than snatching up a donut as you run through the staff lounge!
Most of these sound horrible – very processed. What’s with wrapping prunes individually? Just a way to make them more expensive, I imagine.
I don’t think many people like to eat apples. That’s why they added commercial food.
Apples are probably the healthiest snack on the list and it gets an “honorable mention”?
I’ll take the cheese, pretzels, apples, apple sauce, and tuna salad please
So we have soy, grain that isn’t fermented or sprouted, canola oil, skimmed milk, and white flour? Great.
Maybe I’m just too strict.
I disagree somewhat with the list–I really don’t think processed foods are a good choice for snacks. About as processed as I go is individually packaged yogurts. What about baby carrots? I’ve seem them packed in individual serving bags (for those people that can’t be bothered to buy the regular-sized bag and divvy them up) or oranges? That “light tuna salad” looks kind of disgusting…I’d probably rather just buy a little can of tuna in water and eat it plain.
Anna Chun Seaweed Snacks! Wasabi flavor is the best!