40 Healthy Snacks to Help You Bid Farewell to Hanger for Good

By Betty Gold
Updated August 18, 2019
Getty Images
Real talk: getting from breakfast to lunch to dinner without having a nosh or two in-between is near impossible. The good news is that there's no reason to restrict yourself—having a healthy snack to tide you over is absolutely encouraged by medical pros and dietitians alike. 

Here, we've rounded up ideas for 40 nutritious snacks that won't compromise on flavor. After all, rule number one for sticking to a smart meal plan is to not get bored, and these healthy tasty snacks will keep you on your toes (promise!). Plus almost all are under 200 calories, healthy, satisfying, and pro-approved―what’s not to love?

Want more healthy snack ideas? Find our collection of nutritious recipes perfect for eating in-between meals here. 
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Nutty Superfood Breakfast Bites

Grace Elkus

If you DIY your breakfast bars or energy bites, you can make sure you’re getting ingredients you know and like. You can also customize the recipe to fit your tastes. These make-ahead energy bars are filled with nuts and seeds, which provide fiber and lasting protein. They also have several types of berries, great sources of vitamin C and other antioxidants. When you make these, go ahead and split them into individual portion sizes so it’s easier to grab and go.

Get the recipe: Nutty Superfood Breakfast Bites

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Tropical Creamsicle Smoothie

Greg DuPree

With a bit of prep work, smoothies make for great quick and healthy breakfasts every morning. Wash, chop, and freeze all ingredients in “smoothie packs,” or baggies pre-measured for just one smoothie. Put anything that doesn’t go into a freezer (like the milk or leafy greens) into a glass jar or baggie in the fridge. Then, dump everything into your blender, and let it go to work. You can sip while you dress, or take it with you in a lidded container.

Get the recipe: Tropical Creamsicle Smoothie

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Almond Butter, Yogurt, and Fruit Parfait

Danny Kim

Not an almond butter fan? Swap in peanut butter. You can also use agave nectar in place of the honey.

Get the recipe: Almond Butter, Yogurt, and Fruit Parfait

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Smørrebrød With Yogurt, Beets, and Eggs

Greg DuPree

Smørrebrød is an open-faced sandwich from Denmark, where densely seeded bread is slathered with butter and piled with artfully arranged toppings like pickled herring, cheese, eggs, and herbs. The variations are endless! In this lighter version, yogurt swaps in for the butter, and a fresh marinated beet salad adds fresh tang. Top it off with jammy soft-cooked eggs and briny capers for an especially exciting way to serve your mom her breakfast. If guests are coming, double the recipe and cutt into bite-sized slices.

Get the recipe: Smørrebrød With Yogurt, Beets, and Eggs

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Savory Oatmeal With Spinach and Poached Eggs

Greg DuPree

A heaping bowl of comfort food is a healthy way to start your day, especially if the idea of quick sugar fixes like cereal just isn’t your thing. To make things speedier, make the oatmeal the night before or on the weekend in a big batch. Then portion out enough for your day. When you’re ready to eat, you need only focus on poaching your egg, which makes this incredibly hearty and healthy breakfast easy enough for a weekday.

Get the recipe: Savory Oatmeal With Spinach and Poached Eggs

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Watermelon-Basil Iced Tea

Philippe Desnerck/Getty Images

There may come a time during your watermelon-eating phase each summer when you’re running low on ideas of how to use up extra watermelon, and this recipe helps fill that void: Instead of making a watermelon-flavored drink, you can make refreshing tea, and simply add a bit of fresh watermelon and basil to the tea for a subtle but beautifully balanced beverage.

Get the Recipe: Watermelon and Basil Iced Tea

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Pomegranate, Pink Grapefruit, and Beet Smoothie

Sarah Karnasiewicz

Smoothie recipes with yogurt tend to be richer and creamier than ones made without it, and that’s precisely what you’ll find in this powerful pink smoothie. Whole milk Greek yogurt adds a dose of thickness, a bit of tang, and a lot of filling protein. The pomegranate juice and grapefruits are bright and invigorating. A little honey helps round out the juices’ bitter edges.

Get the Recipe: Pomegranate, Grapefruit, and Beet Smoothie

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Breakfast Popsicles

RealSimple.com

If eating a popsicle at breakfast seems out of the ordinary, know that this one hides several healthy breakfast ingredients: yogurt, fruit, and granola. Make a batch on the weekend, and pop one out each day for a tasty healthy snack to eat as you’re getting dressed. Make a “cup” at the base of the pop with a piece of aluminum foil large enough to catch up wayward drips.

Get the recipe: Breakfast Popsicles

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Homemade Granola Bars

whatsgabycooking.com

Know someone who’s always on the go? These granola bars are chock-full of goodness and make thoughtful food gifts for Christmas for your busiest friends and family members. Cranberries, almonds, and chia seeds provide a boost of nutrition, while chocolate chips make them extra delicious.

Get the recipe: Homemade Granola Bars

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Egg Salad Toast with Fresh Herbs and Capers

Greg DuPree

These open-faced egg toast beauties are much more than your average egg salad sandwich—the flavors, textures, and even look are elegant and original. Folded into the egg salad mixture is a mustardy vinaigrette, briny capers, fresh parsley, and just-bitter-enough radicchio leaves. Heaped on top of toasted sourdough, the result is both fresh and hearty, a win-win! This mixture would also be delicious piled on a whole grain like brown rice or quinoa, or even served as a salad for a lighter meal.

Get the recipe: Egg Salad Toast with Fresh Herbs and Capers

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Celery, Cucumber, and Pineapple Smoothie

Levi Brown

This healthy smoothie is the ultimate in refreshing drinks. Frozen pineapple, juicy cucumber, and hydrating celery fill the beverage with flavor and nutrients. To round out this healthy snack, herbaceous basil combines with zippy lime juice for a sweet-tart smoothie that’s unique and quenching.

Get the Recipe: Celery, Cucumber, and Pineapple Smoothie

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Spiced Quinoa-Oat Granola

Brie Passano

Removing the lid of the slow cooker for the last 30 minutes of cooking ensures this granola gets nice and crispy. We stirred in cranberries for some holiday flare, but dried blueberries, cherries, or even dates would be great.

Get the Recipe: Spiced Quinoa-Oat Slow Cooker Granola

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Toast With Yogurt and Smoked Salmon

Charles Masters

Toasted bread is a blank canvas for creativity. At dinner, you can stretch the bounds of typical “breakfast” toasts, too. Smoked salmon is a rich and luscious fish, and a little goes a long way: a pound will easily feed a family of four. Creamy yogurt, tangy capers, and crisp red onions balance the fattiness of the fish, but you can let people pick and choose the toppings they want with their smoked salmon toast. No one would say no to a bit of smashed avocado on this easy breakfast for dinner dish.

Get the Recipe: Toast with Yogurt and Smoked Salmon

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Gingery Berry and Oat Smoothie

Grant Cornett

Instead of eating a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, blend those grains into a smoothie for a tasty healthy snack. A quick soak in water will soften them up so they break down smoothly with the berries and yogurt. For a richer finish, you can use oat milk in place of the water.

Get the Recipe: Ginger Berry and Oat Smoothie

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Mushroom and Egg White Omelet

Charles Masters

Omelets are a filling breakfast dish that’s equally at home for dinner. The almost effortless preparation makes them ideal when you’re pressed for time, and their versatility makes them great for eating regularly and never getting bored. Indeed, you can use any omelet-worthy ingredients you have on hand, from sausage to spinach, bacon to bell peppers. We like the simplicity of this Mushroom and Egg White Omelet, though, because you can cook one for each person in just a few minutes. Cook all the mushrooms and scallions at once, then you need only cook the egg base. For a full meal, add a side of home fries or hash browns.

Get the Recipe: Mushroom and Egg White Omelet

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Sliced Cucumbers and Light Swiss Cheese

Sang An

Sliced cucumbers and one or two wedges of Laughing Cow Light Swiss Original Cheese make a quick, healthy snack.

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Cereal

Sang An

One cup of mixed cereal (like bran flakes, Wheat Chex, and Health Valley Organic Oat Bran Flakes).

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Popcorn and Dark Chocolate

Sang An

Three cups of air-popped popcorn sprinkled with dark chocolate shavings make a quick, delicious, healthy snack.

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Rye Melba Toast

Sang An

Make this nutritious snack with rye melba toast, low-fat cream cheese, and dried cranberries.

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Apple Slices With Almond Butter

Sang An

Apple slices dipped in a tablespoon of almond butter.

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Tomato Soup

Sang An

Small bowl of pureed tomato soup with a dollop of low-fat sour cream.

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Energy Bar

Sang An

Energy bar containing at least four grams of protein (like Lärabar Cherry Pie).

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Cheese

Sang An

One-inch cube of hard cheese (like aged Gouda), plus four to six dried apricot halves.

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Endive Leaves

Sang An

Endive leaves filled with part-skim ricotta make a quick, nutritious snack.

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Low-Fat Greek Yogurt

Sang An

Low-fat Greek yogurt with chopped walnuts and honey.

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Turkey and Grapes

Sang An

Two slices of low-sodium deli turkey and a handful of grapes.

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Cottage Cheese and Vegetables

Sang An

Half cup of low-fat cottage cheese with chives and pepper, plus vegetables for dipping.

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Almonds and Dried Berries

Sang An

Handful of almonds mixed with dried tart cherries or blueberries.

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Soy Crisps

Sang An

A 1.3-ounce bag of Glenny’s Soy Crisps.

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Oatmeal and Berries

Sang An

Small bowl of plain oatmeal topped with fresh berries and a splash of skim milk.

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