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5 snack-food favorites made healthier

Follow these simple to tips to make some of your go-to treats more nutritious, while reducing calories. 

Updated on January 25, 2024

Woman eating ice cream
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Snacks can be a part of a healthy diet. You just need to know which to choose. Fruits and veggies with a tablespoon of hummus or nut butter are always healthy options, but they're not always the most fun.  

If you’re craving something tasty but unhealthy, internal medicine specialist Tassia Pfefferkorn, MD, with Saint Joseph Mercy Health System has someShow More

roasted french fries
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Bake some homemade french fries

Snacks often get a bad reputation, but many experts actually recommend eating snacks every day. Having healthy bites between meals can prevent you from overeating later on. “I promote an eating plan with five meals a day," Dr. Pfefferkorn says. "Three major meals, and two snacks in between."

As aShow More

popcorn
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Give light popcorn a try

Crispy, crunchy, salty foods like potato chips are traditional snack favorites, but they tend to contain a lot of calories. One ounce of plain potato chips—about 15 chips—contains about 150 calories. That doesn't sound like much, but most people will eat more than just one ounce and then theShow More

healthy snack
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Munch on energy bites

Packaged cookes are also snacking stand-bys. But just one store-bought cookie has about 160 calories, plus lots of fat, refined carbohydrates, and sugar.

As an alternative, you can make your own batch of energy bites. Made with a base of whole grain oats and nut butter, these bite-sized delightsShow More

a bowl of nuts and dried fruit
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Feed a sweet tooth with homemade dried fruit

Chewy candies often satisfy a craving for something sweet, but they’re also loaded with calories and refined sugar. As an alternative, you can make your own dried fruit bites.

Slice up your favorite fruits—such as apples, strawberries, mangoes, and more—and pop them in the oven. Crank the dial toShow More

vanilla ice cream
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Blend up banana “nice” cream

If a pint of your favorite ice cream is what your taste buds are calling for, there's a lower-calorie solution: banana “nice” cream.

Simply freeze a banana or two, put them in a blender, and blend with unsweetened cocoa powder, chopped nuts, or fresh berries. One medium banana contains just aboutShow More

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