Healthy Snack Ideas

Healthy snacks are an important part of a balanced diet. Healthy snacks:

• Provide needed vitamins, minerals, and fiber
• Satisfy cravings
• Help prevent overeating at mealtime
• Provide energy
• Whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy are good choices for healthy snacks.

Below are some examples:

• Medium apple and 1 tablespoon peanut butter
• Low-fat string cheese and a medium piece of fruit: apple, pear, peach, or nectarine
• 6 oz. low-fat yogurt with 2 tablespoons of cereal or nuts
• ½ cup low-fat cottage cheese and ¼ cup unsweetened frozen berries
• Two graham crackers with low-fat frozen yogurt and sliced banana
• ½ cup of oatmeal with cinnamon and fresh or frozen berries
• Fruit smoothie: 1 cup low-fat milk, ½ cup frozen berries, half of a banana
• 100% fruit juice frozen fruit bar (try making these at home)
• Low-fat fudge bar
• 6 oz. container of light whipped yogurt, frozen
• 2 celery sticks with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter or low-fat cream cheese
• Broccoli, carrots, or peppers with 2 tablespoons of hummus or reduced-fat vegetable dip
• Small baked potato with 2 tablespoons each of salsa and low-fat shredded cheese
• 3 cups of air-popped popcorn or 1 “mini” bag of light microwave popcorn
• Homemade trail mix – 2 tablespoons each of unsweetened cereal, dried fruit, and nuts
• Six whole wheat crackers with one ounce of low-fat cheese
• 1 slice of whole wheat toast with 1 tablespoon each of peanut butter and jelly
• ½ cup old-fashioned oatmeal with 2 teaspoons of honey and ¼ cup of berries
• Veggie pizza – whole wheat English muffin, pizza sauce, low-fat cheese, and veggies
• Mini bagel with 1 tablespoon of reduced fat cream cheese