Health probably isn’t the first word that comes to your mind when the word “snack” is mentioned. We usually think of snacks as salty delights that are intrinsically poised against leading a healthy lifestyle. However, the truth could not be more different as a snack is just a term for a quick bite to eat. There are endless snack options out there that are rather healthy to consume. The trick is in knowing which snacks are the healthiest and why you should choose them instead of a bag of crisps.

Greek yogurt fruit bars

This fruity snack is quite delicious and it’s as good as any commercial candy but much healthier. It contains 200 calories or less and it is low on fat, fitting into most diet plans. People like to eat them for in the morning as Greek yogurt fruit bars make the ideal homemade breakfast.

One of the reasons behind their popularity is the easy way they are made. Oats, brown rice, coconut, honey, vanilla, chia seeds, and raspberry (or any other fruit for that matter) are ingredients found in every supermarket. The typical serving of muffin contains 5 grams of proteins and 146 calories on average.

Caprese salad

This simple Italian salad contains less than 200 calories and it is sugar-free, gluten-free, and nut-free. A typical serving of a fresh Caprese salad has around 6 grams of protein and all of the health benefits a tomato has, like preventing cancer.

The infusion of Vitamin C is fairly easy to prepare as you need a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, a medium-sized Roma tomato, mozzarella cheese, and some fresh basil. Basically, you slice up all the ingredients and mix them together, drizzling them in the end with balsamic vinegar and oil. Finally, Caprese salad can boast to contain only 4 grams of sugar per serving.

Its majesty the green apple

This one is a classic snack that has found its way into popular culture. Your child probably has no dilemma about which fruit to offers his or her teacher: a green apple. A universally accepted symbol of health, the apple is an essential healthy snack that requires no preparation. All you need is to buy the apples, wash, them, and they are ready to be consumed. However, you should buy organic apples and bite them as a whole them rather than slice them in small pieces. The latter method removes much of the carbs contained inside the apple.

Carrot sticks

An apple might be the fruit champion of snacks but when it comes to vegetables, the carrot reigns supreme. Best eaten raw, a carrot is low in fat and contains 10 grams of sugar or less. Since it is dairy-free (obviously), it is the ideal vegan snack as well. Native to Europe and Asia, carrots are delicious and watery snacks that are loaded with beta-carotene which improves your vision and smoothens your skin. Furthermore, this orange vegetable is full of fibers that help digestion and help you maintain healthy body weight. Add to the list of benefits the fact that carrots are rich in antioxidants and vitamins like C, A, and K and you’ve got yourself a green super-snack.

Cucumber hummus boats

The last healthy snack we list here is a real treat. It combines the health benefits of hummus and of tomato to for the perfect power snack! Deemed as “Biblical fast food” hummus is full of protein (6 grams in this dish) and you already know all about how beneficial tomatoes are.

However, the most intriguing thing about this snack is the arrangement. Baby plum potatoes are places on top of thin slices cucumber and then “mortared” together using hummus. The final look of this dish resembles a fleet of sumptuous bites that are true delicacies. The role of the cucumber base is to provide hydration, while the beans in the hummus are there to give a protein boost. 

As you have seen from just a few snack ideas listed above, your in-between meals bites don’t have to be guilty pleasures. In fact, you can have the best of both worlds by eating healthy and fast at the same time.