As people who cook, eat, and write about food for a living, we know a thing or two about healthy snacks—as nebulous as the term healthy may be. Because of all of that aforementioned work-related eating, we’re constantly on the lookout for little treats between meals that also feel satiating and nutrient-rich. Still, we want something more exciting than an apple or a hard-boiled egg and something that feels a little less unhinged than spooning peanut butter or hummus straight out of the container (though we’ve been known to engage in these snacking habits too).
The single most important factor—for us—in a healthy snack is that it simply has to taste good. Beyond that, it’s hard to apply a one-size-fits-all rubric, because sometimes what you want is a meat stick, and other times you want some really good dried fruit. In general, we try to look for things that don’t have a ton of added sugar or artificial sweeteners and that don’t contain a plethora of stabilizers and protein powders.
We also look for snacks that contain protein from sources like nuts, beans, and meat as well as healthy fats and good-for-you carbs. Because the point here isn’t weight loss, it’s mixing some nutritious stuff into our diets between making triple-chocolate brownies and BA’s best lasagna.
Could you make your own healthy snacks, like these oven-roasted chickpeas? Yes. But sometimes you just want a quick bite that requires absolutely no effort. All of the snacks on this list are 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 monthly basis. Read on to see our favorite healthy snacks for summer, or scroll down to see our all-time favorites.
Summer Favorites
The Peach Truck
For me, peak summer is embodied in a single dilemma: Which is better, a perfect tomato, or a perfect peach? This year, I’ve been leaning peach thanks to The Peach Truck, a company that delivers peaches so flawless they look like they belong in a Studio Ghibli movie directly to your door. The downside? Once you try a Peach Truck peach, you’ll never want to risk the disappointment of buying one from the grocery store only to come home and find that it’s mushy and flavorless.—Carina Finn
Sorbabes & Fudgy Pops
Nothing says peak summer like eating a frozen dessert on a popsicle stick, and Sorbabes might be my new all-time favorites. If you love chocolate-coated ice cream bars (or getting your cone dipped at your local soft serve stand), you’re going to want to stock your freezer with these. The textural contrast of flavorful, fruity sorbet and crisp chocolate coating is pure catnip to me, and I love that they’re dairy-free and don’t contain any artificial sweeteners.
If you want your freezer to feel like pure nostalgia, I also recommend getting a few boxes of Fudgy Pops.