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    Hummusapien Β» Recipes Β» Snacks Β» 8 Healthier Snack Swaps

    8 Healthier Snack Swaps

    Published Mar 17, 2016 Β· Modified Mar 13, 2022 Β· by Alexis Joseph Β· 13 Comments

    Sometimes I crave lentils and sometimes I crave cookies. More often the latter.

    8 Healthier Snack Swaps

    I love me some legumes, but lezbehonest---there's a time and a place for nommy dark chocolate, salty chips, and crunchy crackers. I'm not the dietitian that's gonna recommend carrot or celery sticks when my client says they're having crunchy, salty cravings. That's just plain unrealistic. If I want a cookie, I want a freaking cookie, I'm gonna eat a cookie and that's that.

    But there just so happens to be some tricks of the trade when it comes to squashing those snack cravings. We're going to meet in the middle of spectrum. These aren't carrot sticks, but they're not straight up potato chips either. I always have these goodies on hand for when the hunger beast strikes and for when feeding that beast vegetable sticks will only make it hangrier.

    When you're craving tortilla chips...

    snck3

    Try Beanitos.  It's not like fried tortillas are the devil, but why not sneak in some fiber from whole beans while you're at it? These chippies have way more fiber and protein than the typical chip, so the idea is that you won't have to eat the whole bag to satisfy your cravings. I guarantee they'll become  a favorite among health nuts and junk food addicts alike. The flavor and texture is spot on; and you'd never guess they were made with beans!

    When you're craving pretzels...

    pretzels

    Try Mary's Gone Crackers. Let's get something straight. Pretzels are not a healthy snack. They're essentially baked, salted white flour with a little oil and baking soda. Whole wheat pretzels can be super dry, but these snacks are packed with whole grains and healthy fats like chia seeds, flax seeds, quinoa, brown rice, and tamari for that key salty kick. The crunch is SPOT ON.

    When you're craving crackers...

    brown rice

    Try brown rice cakes. I like Lundberg Farms because they're made with twice the rice, so rather than having the texture of styrofoam, they actually have great crunch. All they are is puffed brown rice, so you can go sweet or salty. If I'm feeling savory, I'll dip them in Oasis roasted garlic hummus with hot sauce or spread one with avocado. If I'm craving sweet, I'll do nut butter, sliced banana, and cinnamon. SO versatile!

    My friends at Simple Mills (remember these grain-free raspberry chocolate cookies?) just came out with these incredible grain-free crackers made primarily with nuts, and they taste just like your favorite cracker. The sea salt and rosemary flavors are to die for!

    When you're craving a fruit roll up...

    dried mango

    Try dried mango. When's the last time you even laid mouth on one of those bad boys?! Dried mango has been my obsession lately. It's like chewy, naturally sweetened candy. Now beware---since this is dried fruit, the sugar is more concentrated. Moral of the story? Stick to the serving size so you don't go into sugar overload.

    When you're craving croutons...

    chickepas

    Try roasted chickpeas. My favorite brand is Watusee Foods. In fact, we just started selling their organic chickpeatos at Alchemy! Roasted chickpeas are gaining popularity in the health food aisle, but beware of ones with yeast extract, a hidden form of MSG. Because of their awesome crunch and flavor, roasted chickpeas make a spectacular substitute for croutons. I adore the rosemary flavor, but the cinnamon ones are awesome, too!

    edamama

    Dry roasted edamame is another crunchy, high-protein snack I always recommend to clients. Make sure they're non-GMO, like Seapoint Farms. It's less than two dollars a bag---score!

    When you're craving ice cream...

    snack1

    Try So Delicious minis vanilla ice cream sandwiches. First of all, they're adorable (hello, portion control!). Second of all, they're made with coconut milk so you still get that decadent creaminess of traditional dairy ice cream. Coconut Bliss is another fabulous brand made with wholesome ingredients that doesn't sacrifice in the taste department.

    When you're craving cheese spread...

    kite hill

    Try Kite Hill soft fresh truffle dill and chive. Ok wait. Is cheese spread a thing? I think it's a thing. I am the last person to recommend the typical processed vegan cheese substitutes---there's a reason you never see them on this blog. But I tried Kite Hill for the first time a few weeks ago and I was extremely impressed. I like that the products are made with almonds rather than soy. It truly tastes cheesy and has that key creamy texture of a typical cheese spread. I guarantee your guests wouldn't know the difference!

    When you're craving bagels...

    snack2

    Try sprouted grain bagels. The same goes for bread, tortillas, buns, and English muffins. Why sprouted? Sprouting grains helps improve digestibility by breaking down the starches in grains, increase absorption by breaking down enzyme inhibitors, and increase antioxidant content. Think of these as a higher protein, more wholesome bread option.

    Looking for more homemade snacks? Try my...

    Banana Zucchini Oatmeal Cups

    Banana Zucchini Oatmeal Cups (vegan + gluten-free)

    Almond Coconut Snack Bars

    Almond Coconut Snack Bars (vegan + gluten-free)

    Blueberry Banana Streusel Muffins

    Blueberry Banana Streusel Muffins (vegan + gluten-free)

    Raspberry Protein Bars

    No-Bake Raspberry Protein Bars (vegan + gluten-free)

    Lemon Coconut No-Bake Bites

    Lemon Coconut No-Bake Bites (vegan + gluten-free)

    Apple Oatmeal Bars

    Apple Oatmeal Bars (vegan + gluten-free)

    [Tweet "Snack smarter, not harder. 8 Healthier Snack Swaps via @TheHummusapien"]

    This is not a sponsored post. Just sharing a few of my favorite go-to brands!

    About Alexis Joseph

    Oh HEY there! I'm Alexis Joseph, food writer, blogger, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), new mama, and co-founder of local restaurant group, Alchemy. I use my passion for cooking and wellness as fuel to help others ignite a more freeing and happy relationship with food. Learn more about Alexis!

    5 Secrets to Delish, Healthy Lunches

    Reader Interactions

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    1. Jewel says

      March 30, 2016 at 3:44 pm

      Love all your alternatives for snacks. I ma gluten free,egg and dairy free so it makes life a bit difficult.

      Reply
    2. Jen says

      March 19, 2016 at 6:16 pm

      I agree that if always given the choice, I would totally choose those over the other option. But being realistic, all that stuff is about three times more expensive than everything else. If I really want it, I'll buy it, but all the time? No way. I eat really healthy, and don't mind spending money on food, but when I can pay $2 for rice cakes that only have two ingredients but aren't name brand or a $4 bag of organic brown rice cakes or whole fruit over expensive dried fruit, I know what I'm going to do.

      Reply
    3. masala girl says

      March 18, 2016 at 1:29 pm

      except for the coconut, i love all of these!! i'm wary to try the kite hill cheese though because it is $$$$!
      i also love shagbark tortilla chips, and spelt pretzels! (<whole grain, high fiber and protein, but now i'm realizing i havent bought them in almost a year! i was buying them a lot before.)

      Reply
    4. Victoria says

      March 18, 2016 at 9:33 am

      Loved this post! I have tried most of these products, but a few are new to me- will definitely be trying them out soon!

      Reply
    5. Liz @ I Heart Vegetables says

      March 17, 2016 at 9:09 pm

      Love love loooove these snack swaps! and I agree, when I want something crunchy and salty, a carrot stick isn't going to cut it, haha.

      Reply
    6. Emilie @ Emilie Eats says

      March 17, 2016 at 3:05 pm

      Crispy chickpeas have my hummus-loving heart. <333 Absolutely love all of these products!!

      Reply
    7. Heather@hungryforbalance says

      March 17, 2016 at 2:41 pm

      So many good things here!!! Rice cakes are always a favorite of mine- especially with almond butter, banana, and cacao nibs!

      Reply
    8. Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious says

      March 17, 2016 at 12:41 pm

      Chickpeatos? I need to try those! I'm obsessed with roasted chickpeas as a snack lately

      Reply
    9. Lindsay edwards says

      March 17, 2016 at 11:33 am

      The dry roasted edamame is my favorite! I couldn't believe how inexpensive they were at my store. I stock up every week. πŸ™‚

      Reply
    10. Sam @ Barrister's Beet says

      March 17, 2016 at 10:54 am

      Yum! Those So Delicious bars are my JAM. I have to try those pretzels, too. I see them all the time at Whole Foods. Awesome post! : )

      Reply
    11. Addie Martanovic says

      March 17, 2016 at 9:54 am

      So happy you tried Kitehill! I am legitimately OBSESSED and I never even liked cream cheese/cheese spreads haha. I dip everything in it! Love this list! πŸ™‚

      Reply
    12. dixya | food, pleasure, and health says

      March 17, 2016 at 11:55 am

      everyone knows celery and carrots are good but no one really wants that in real life. i try and find realistic answers to my clients and this post will come super handy. thanks friendddd

      Reply
    13. Marina @ Snackie Bird says

      March 17, 2016 at 5:52 am

      I always a bit envy when I see post like this! I am healthy living blogger from Russia and we don`t have this good stuff in our area. I am gonna make some roasted chickpea at home, though.

      Reply

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