Gone are the days when the only snacks available were crisps and biscuits. Now, more and more brands are focusing on nutritious, portable foods made with natural ingredients. Whether sweet or savoury, they’re a good option for keeping you sustained between meals.
We’ve tried and tested an array of snacks for on-the-go eating, perfect for everything from park trips with the kids to an after-gym pick-me-up or elevenses at home. Included in our round-up are vegan, gluten free, low carb, low sugar, ketogenic and nut-free options, and all are available either online or in selected supermarkets.
For more inspiration, check out our homemade healthy snacks, where you’ll find recipes such as melon & crunchy bran pots and lighter scotch eggs. To inspire your diet generally, browse our list of healthy recipes for dairy-free, 5:2 diet or gluten-free recipes. For a more holistic approach to your diet, we have recipes that are brain-boosting, cholesterol-friendly or incorporate more whole foods.
30 healthy snacks to buy
Savoury
Love, Corn – smoked BBQ
Super crunchy, these corn kernels have a smoky-sweet barbecue coating that, unlike many barbecue flavoured snacks, aren’t high in sugar or salt.
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Shore seaweed chips
With a prawn cracker texture and deep flavour, these ‘seaweed chips’ are a great source of iodine. It’s an important nutrient for vegans and also supports thyroid health, which helps keep cells healthy and regulates metabolic rate.
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Eat Real Veggie Straws
These veg sticks are great for those with allergies – they’re free from all detectable allergens and are also suitable for vegans. Expect a good snap and a salty flavour.
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Cheesies
100% cheese, Cheesies are like a ketogenic popcorn alternative. Available in different cheese varieties, they are baked until crunchy and have a very low carb count. Handily, the rennet used is vegetarian.
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Mister Free’d blue tortilla chips
Strikingly purple-blue in colour, these corn tortilla chips are gluten free and completely natural. They have a slightly sweeter flavour than their yellow counterparts, but are just as good for dipping. Check out our collection of healthy dips to accompany them (though they are perfectly good on their own).
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Salted plantain chips
Thick-cut, these plantain chips have a good crunch and light salty seasoning with a high fibre and potassium content.
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Keto raw rosemary cracker snacks
A keto-friendly alternative to crackers, these rosemary chips have a good snap and a sturdy structure that holds up with cheese or dips. Packed with linseed, they also have a high protein count. Want to find more foods suitable for the ketogenic diet? Read our top 10 foods to try on a ketogenic diet.
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Itsu crispy seaweed thins – wasabi
Wafer-thin seaweed sheets are dusted in wasabi for a salty, hot snack that’s high in B12 and iodine. Ideal for vegans.
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Brave roasted chickpeas – sea salt
Salty and crunchy, these roasted chickpeas are high in protein and fibre. But they contain less calories than popcorn.
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Other Foods okra chips
Paleo-friendly, these unique okra ‘lady fingers’ count as one of your five-a-day and only contain natural ingredients.
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Planet Organic cheezy kale popcorn
Keto-friendly and vegan but with a distinct ‘cheesy’ flavour, these kale chips are light and crunchy.
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Sweet
Urban Fruit coconut chips
These crunchy coconut crisps are simply sprinkled with sea salt and some coconut blossom nectar. Plus they’re gluten free and vegan.
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Boundless nuts and seeds
Contains pecan nuts, almonds, pumpkin and sunflower seeds with an orange, ginger and maple flavour. They are naturally gluten free and contain no soya or dairy.
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Munchy Seeds – roasted warm cinnamon
Tossed in sugar and cinnamon, these pumpkin and sunflower seeds make a more substantial alternative to popcorn, but also top porridge and smoothie bowls nicely. These seeds are a good source of vitamin E, are gluten free and are suitable for vegans.
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Kallo rice and corn cakes – blueberry and vanilla
These low-calorie rice cakes are the perfect base for a sweet snack. Top with yogurt and fruit for a substantial but healthy dessert.
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Nairn’s oat biscuits – coconut & chia
Made from coconut and chia, these low-sugar oat biscuits are vegan and high in fibre with no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. A more nutritious alternative to your average digestive biscuit.
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Nu:tropic bar – salted caramel flapjack
Fortified with brain-boosting nutrients like omega-3 DHA, choline, prebiotics and phosphatidylserine, these oaty snack bars taste more like a homemade flapjack than a health bar. They’re high in fibre, low in sugar and at just under 200 calories per bar, they really satisfied our late afternoon hunger pangs.
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Brave roasted peas – chocolate & salted caramel
British-grown peas are roasted and coated in chocolate and salted caramel for a travel-friendly dessert.
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Cocos organic coconut milk kefir – strawberry
Naturally high in saturated fat, this coconut kefir (a fermented milk drink) mixed with sweet strawberry has billions of live active kefir cultures, which are immune supporting. Read more about kefir in our article on the top 4 health benefits of kefir.
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Nush almond yogurt – raspberry
Made from almonds and raspberry purée, this yogurt is thick and dairy free. Eat on its own or add to granola. It also has live vegan cultures, which are good for the gut.
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Waitrose (£3.50)
Nourish mini coconut macaroons – raspberry
Combining freeze-dried raspberries and cacao butter for a white chocolate flavour, these macaroons are hand-made with all-natural ingredients.
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Planet Organic (£5.30)
BEAR Yo Yos – super sour strawberry & apple
A great alternative to sour sweets, these super sour BEAR Yo Yos have naturally occurring sugars and zing from the strawberry, apple purée and lemon juice. Perfect for kids and adults alike.
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Amazon – pack of 18 (£13.68)
Waitrose (£2.85)
Ombar
Keeping their cacao un-roasted preserves the healthy plant compounds (polyphenols) and ensures their chocolate stays nutrient-rich and flavourful. This dairy-free chocolate bar has floral, jasmine-like notes as well as added gut-friendly live cultures.
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Ocado (£2.30)
Ethical Superstore (£2.30)
Pulsin Keto Bar – orange chocolate and peanut
Pulsin’s orange chocolate bar is full of crunchy peanuts and pea protein, providing 13g of protein per bar. There is also added MCT (a ketone-boosting fat), great for those on a low-carb diet.
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Planet Organic (£2)
Keto8 raw cacao morsels
With a strong chocolate taste and soft texture, these cacao morsels are both keto and paleo friendly, as well as being free from grains, gluten, yeast and dairy.
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Scrapples apple crisps
Eat one of your five-a-day in crisp form with these apple crisps made with whole apples and no added sugar.
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Urban Fruit immune fruit bites
A good source of vitamin A, these bites are made from blended bits of mango, baobab and ginger.
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Livia’s salted caramel million squares
For those times when you need something heavy and indulgent, but you’re really trying to be healthy, these salted caramel squares won’t disappoint. The package is satisfyingly heavy and the dense salted date caramel centre is wonderfully balanced with a crumbly oat base and a thick layer of dark chocolate on top.
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Deliciously Ella salted almond caramel cups
Mimicking peanut butter cups, these salted almond caramel cups have a gooey caramel centre, a thin chocolate layer and an oat cup base. They are a natural source of fibre and are totally vegan. Expect all-natural ingredients, too.
Available from:
Ocado (£1.50)
Tesco (£1.50)
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