The Healthy Snacks BA Editors Are Obsessed With

Extra crunchy almonds, chili limón puffs, and the very best kiwis.
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As Bon Appétit’s resident snackers (conveniently seated across from each other in the office), we spend a lot of time passing snacks over our monitors between writing sessions and meetings. At this point we know a thing or two about healthy snacks—as nebulous as the term “healthy” may be. We’re constantly on the lookout for little treats between meals that also feel satiating and nutrient-rich, but are more exciting than an apple or a handful of nuts.

Of course, we also want snacks that taste really good—the kind of snacks that tempt us to eat the entire bag in one sitting. Sometimes that means nut-butter-filled dates, while other times, what we really want is a bag of sweet potato chips. In general, we reach for healthy snacks with protein (from nuts, beans, or meat), healthy fats, and fiber.

Could you make your own healthy snacks, like these nut butter granola bars? Yes. But sometimes you just want a quick bite that requires absolutely no effort. Everything on this list is store-bought, and since the market for healthy snacks is constantly growing, we’ll be trying all the newest ones and updating this list on a seasonal basis. Read on to see our favorite healthy snacks for spring, or scroll down to see our all-time favorites.


Summer Favorites

Mamame Tempeh Chips

I was a tempeh skeptic until I tried a coconut tempeh larb in the Test Kitchen. Tempeh, a plant-based protein traditionally made from fermented soybeans, lends an earthy, nutty flavor and meaty texture to dishes. After enjoying the larb, I was excited to try Mamame’s Tempeh Chips.

Instead of soybeans, Mamame uses fermented black-eyed peas to create thin chips, then fries the slices in coconut oil, which adds a subtle coconutty aroma and taste. The result is a chip that’s just as filling (there are three grams of protein for every 12 chips or 10 grams per bag) as it is fun to snack on.

Out of the brand’s four flavors—original, sea salt, rosemary, and hot chili—I opt for the sea salt flavor, which is still seasoned generously with sea salt and garlic. —Kate Kassin

Mamame Tempeh Chips

Mamame Tempeh Chips

Daily Crunch

My snacking tendencies can probably best be described as “squirrel-like”; I’m constantly munching on handfuls of granola, seedy crackers, and nuts. Recently, my squirrel snack of choice has been the sprouted almonds from Daily Crunch. Sprouting supposedly makes them easier to digest (I can’t confirm or deny), but it also hollows them out, which makes them extra crunchy—and that I can get behind. They’re available in six flavors ranging from Nashville Hot to Cacao + Sea Salt. My fave is the Dill Pickle, which has almonds, pepitas, and actual dried pickles in it. —Alaina Chou

Daily Crunch (AC)

Daily Crunch

Sunnie Crackers

Sunnie makes grain- and nut-free crackers with just a few ingredients: cassava flour, avocado oil, flaxseed, coconut sugar, and sea salt. I was eating them by the handful or dipping them in all sorts of nut butters and jams until I discovered that Sunnie makes snack packs specifically designed for dipping.

Sure, this is a product geared towards a children’s lunchbox, but it can still be appreciated by adults (like me). The Sunnie Jam Dipper comes with strawberry jam from Smash Foods and sunflower butter with six grams of protein. There are other fun combos too, like s’mores, pizza, and hummus. It’s a perfectly nostalgic, on-the-go snack that’ll make you nostalgic for the days of Lunchables. —K.K.

Sunnie Crackers

Sunnie Crackers

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Sunnie Jam Dippers

Wonderpop

Kate and I have been obsessed with popped water lily seeds since we first tried Asha Pops, and our latest go-to brand is Wonderpop. Wonderpop sources their water lily seeds directly from farmers to ensure they get proper compensation, and they currently offer three flavors: White Cheddar, Chili Limón, and Cinnamon Burst. If you’re a popcorn fiend, you’ll love these—they’re light and crunchy (think cheese puff, but not), ideal for when you want to crush an entire bag of something while watching a movie. —A.C.

Wonderpop (AC)

Wonderpop

Zespri Golden Kiwis

We were fortunate enough to both, on separate weekends, stumble upon the Zespri Golden Kiwi stand at Smorgasburg in Brooklyn. If you’ve never tried a golden kiwi before, you can expect a yellow flesh color with a sweeter, more tropical flavor than a regular kiwi. And summer is the peak season for these beauties. The Smorgasburg stand was handing out special kiwi spoon-knives (spives?) along with each fruit, which feature a serrated edge for cutting your kiwi in half, and a spoon for scooping out the flesh—so now we can get our daily dose of vitamin C and fiber that much more easily. While we can’t transport you to Smorgasburg, you can buy both the kiwis and the “spives” online—K.K. & A.C.

Zespri Golden Kiwis

Zespri Golden Kiwis

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Kiwi Spoons


All-Time Favorites

Hu Kitchen

No nighttime routine is complete without a few squares of dark chocolate, and Hu's fair-trade organic dark chocolate bars are among the best you can get. We love their dark chocolate bars that come in flavors like almond butter with puffed quinoa and crunchy mint. The hazelnut butter-filled dark chocolate bites are one of our favorites for a quick midday pick-me-up. And don’t miss the hunks, a.k.a. almonds and cashews dipped in dark chocolate, and gems, gumdrop-shaped chocolate chunks that are, well, gems.—K.K.

Hu Almond Crunch Dark Chocolate Bars

Hu Almond Crunch Dark Chocolate Bars

Dark Chocolate Hunks

Hu Hazelnut Butter Dark Chocolate Bites

Hu Hazelnut Butter Dark Chocolate Bites

Nufs

I grew up on mostly Ritz and Saltines, but these days I tend to gravitate towards crackers with some oomph like nuts, seeds, or fun flavor combinations. Nufs makes crackers free of gluten, dairy, and seed oils, and they are just as good eaten on their own straight out of the bag as with cheese or a dip. The crackers, which come in sea salt, hot honey, and everything bagel varieties, pack just enough subtle flavor without being overpowering and are the perfect size for snacking (they also make “plank crackers” for a wider canvas). They nail the texture— just the right amount of crispy and boast a nice heft from the combination of almond, rice, and cassava flours. —K.K.

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Nufs Sea Salt Crispy Crackers

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Nufs Hot Honey Crispy Crackers

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Nufs Everything Bagel Crispy Crackers

Chia Smash Bites

I aspire to make my own nut butter protein bites at home, but Chia Smash has made it impossibly easy to just buy their superfood bites instead. The jammy, nut butter bites, which taste and look homemade (in a good way), come in bags of five each and pack in seven to nine grams of protein. The best part is that the ingredients are ones you could find in your own kitchen. The bites star their chia-studded fruit jams, which get their sweetness from date syrup and lemon juice, and your preferred nut butter—there’s peanut butter with grape jam, sunflower butter with strawberry, cashew butter with blueberry, and my personal favorite, the chocolate peanut butter with raspberry. They scratch the itch for a PB&J craving and also have enough protein to hold you over until your next meal.—K.K.

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Chia Smash Bites Variety Pack

Jackson's Sweet Potato Chips

I brought these to a barbecue, mostly and selfishly so I could grab a bag for myself and eat them while I grilled all night long. The chips are kettle-cooked in avocado oil and come in flavors like spicy jalapeño, farmhouse ranch, and habanero nacho—my personal favorite of the bunch because they actually have a kick to them. For Ruffle’s fans like myself, there are also wavy varieties in cheddar and sour cream or sea salt (which has only three ingredients!). The chips aren’t greasy and have a nice thicker heft for dipping while still maintaining that optimal crunch for eating them by the handful. The only downside is that I wish the bag were fuller.—K.K.

jacksons sweet potato chips variety pack

Jackson’s Sweet Potato Kettle Chips Variety Pack

Stellar Eats

The mug cake trend has had a few resurgences and for good reason—who wouldn’t want dessert for one whipped up in a few short minutes at the drop of a hat? Naturally, I was thrilled to see the latest release of Instant Treats from Stellar Eats, my go-to brand for gluten-free baking mixes. They’re single-serve portions of their mixes like banana bread, carrot cake, and fudge brownie (my personal go-to) and are ready to eat in less than two minutes—all you need to do is pour the contents into a mug, add an ingredient or two like water or oil as instructed, and patiently wait a few minutes for your cake to cook and cool.—K.K.

Stellar Eats Instant Treat in a Cup Fudge Brownie

Stellar Eats Instant Treat: Fudge Brownie In A Cup

Ella’s Flats

Ella’s Flats are, without a doubt, in our cracker hall of fame. The small family-owned brand makes savory crisps just from seeds, from sunflower to pumpkin to flax, and spices like cumin and caraway. Ella’s Flats are sturdy enough to dip into hummus or work as a bread substitute for avocado toast, yet they’re light enough to eat on their own for a protein-and-fiber-packed snack. We also love the Everything or Spicy varieties crumbled into a salad or the Sesame or Hemp ones into a yogurt bowl for an added crunch.—K.K.

Ella's Flats Sesame All Seed Savory Crisps, 3-Pack

Ella's Flats Sesame All Seed Savory Crisps, 3-Pack

Ella's Flats Variety All Seed Savory Crisps, 4-Pack

Ella's Flats Variety All Seed Savory Crisps, 4-Pack

ellas flats superfood seed crackers variety pack

Ella's Flats Variety All Seed Savory Crisps Snack Packs

Chomps

If you told us a few years ago that everyone would be walking around eating beef jerky sticks, we’d might not have believed you. But the desire for high-protein, low-sugar, and keto- and paleo-friendly foods has led to an influx of packaged snacks in this category. Chomps offers our current favorite meat sticks in beef, turkey, and venison. These sticks contain no sugar and no fillers, and they also come in a half-size option that can fit in your pocket. This is a satisfyingly savory snack that’s great for when you need to each something filling on the go.—K.K.

Chomps Grass Fed Original Beef Jerky Snack Sticks

Chomps Sticks Storefront

Amazi Dried Fruit

Amazi makes dried fruit that isn’t just your run-of-the-mill dried mango or apples. The brand makes craveable flavors like ginger turmeric or chili lime jackfruit, moringa hibiscus pineapple, and salted olive oil plantain chips. All the flavors are free from added sugar and boast just three ingredients in every bag. I can’t stop reaching for the ginger lime jackfruit—it’s sticky, chewy, and lightly tangy. Plus, what sets Amazi apart is the brand’s commitment to both sourcing and producing the snacks in Uganda right at the source. —K.K.

Amazi Dried Fruit

Amazi Dried Fruit


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