Snacking is a favorite pastime of many people. Some of us like to munch popcorn in front of the TV, while others might enjoy a covert 2:15 pm candy bar in their cubicle. Others make midnight ice-cream runs or nosh on mid-morning donuts that keep them a little soft in the middle. The more health-conscious among us might have a baggie of grapes or an apple.
Whatever your personal taste, we can all agree that snacks are good. But the best kind of snacks are those that satisfy our hunger and provide our body with valuable nutrients and energy. These snacks get bonus points if they are versatile enough to satisfy both members of a couple or if they can be used in multiple snacking contexts: consider that berries can be mixed with everything from ice cream to yogurt to breakfast cereal, making them a diverse yet healthful snack. Let’s dig in and find some healthy snacks for you and your partner to enjoy.
1. Mixed Nuts
Nuts are certainly one of the best healthy snacks to buy. Nuts are delicious, crunchy, and satisfying. They are also associated with all kinds of great health benefits, including a reduced risk of heart disease. Nuts are nutritionally well-balanced and provide the body with protein, fiber, and healthful fats. They can even be mixed with raisins, peanuts, and M&Ms to make a handy trail mix. All that and nuts are portable, too!
2. Bell Peppers and Hummus
Bell peppers are a highly nutritious snack. These fun fruits are high in antioxidants such as capsanthin and beta carotene. They also taste great and are a fun way to enjoy a crispy snack that won’t expand your waistline. Dipping them in hummus or guacamole can elevate your pepper snack to a whole new level – share your dip with your spouse for an impromptu picnic.
3. Greek Yogurt and Berries
Greek yogurt is a delicious and wholesome snack. Not only is it nice and thick, but it also has lower sugar content than regular yogurt and a pleasantly tart flavor. As if this wonder food wasn’t enough, adding some fresh juicy berries to your yogurt will make this snack sing. If you need a cool summer snack, freeze some berries, and then add them to your Greek yogurt: the yogurt will freeze onto the berries, adding a fun texture to your snack. Greek yogurt is one of the best healthy snacks to buy.
4. Dark Chocolate and Almonds
While some prefer the taste of milk chocolate, those of us with sophisticated palates enjoy the rich and nuanced flavors of dark chocolate. Dark chocolate is packed with antioxidants and may have cardiovascular benefits. This snack-food superstar pairs well with almonds, which are rather nutritious themselves.
5. Fruit
It’s easy to get distracted with all the fancy snacks out there, but let’s face it: fruit is the king of snacks. Natural, wholesome, and chock full of valuable nutrients, fruit is conveniently portable and a delight to eat. Bananas make great snack foods and are perfect for couples: a full hand of bananas will go bad before a single person eats it. Other excellent snacking fruits include strawberries, pears, plums, peaches, cherries, and apricots.
6. Hard-Boiled Eggs
Eggs are a great source of nutrition, but they’re not very portable, and they’d be hard to eat on the go. The solution, naturally, is the hard-boiled egg. This protein-rich snack is very filling and can lead to prolonged feelings of fullness: in other words, you might find yourself snacking less overall if you eat the odd hard-boiled egg. For couples who like to exercise together, making some hard-boiled eggs to eat after your workout routine is a great way to enjoy a healthy snack.
7. Cheese
Few foods can evoke the kind of passion and love that cheese can. Sampling good cheeses with your spouse is a fun thing to do: go to the grocery store and pick a couple of random cheeses to experiment with together. Try a goat cheese log with some fruit or berries on it, or look for Red Dragon, a fine English cheddar with mustard seeds. Brie can be spread, eaten as-is, or even baked into a romantic appetizer.
8. Ants on a Log
They say keeping a sense of humor helps keep a relationship alive, so this snack should be good for you and your partner on several levels. Ants on a log is the iconic snack consisting of celery, raisins, and peanut butter. Make this ahead of time with your partner to enjoy a lighthearted and healthy snack.
9. Jerky
Jerky, or dried and seasoned meat, is a classic snack that hearkens back to the days of old. Modern jerky comes in dozens of interesting flavors: beef jerky is probably the most popular, but you can find buffalo jerky, elk jerky, moose jerky, fish jerky, and who knows how many varieties of this healthy snack. Even vegetarians can enjoy jerky: health-food companies have begun marketing mushroom jerky, a delicious meat-free snack.
10. Blueberry Fig Bars
When you and your partner need a healthy snack that you can both enjoy, blueberry fig bars are a safe bet. Made from vegan ingredients, these cookies are a fun way to share a healthy and nutritious snack together.
11. Pretzel Sticks
Small, satisfying, and relatively low in calories, pretzel sticks make an ideal snack. A fun way to share this snack with your partner is to set out some tips. Try peanut butter, Nutella, or hummus. Are you feeling fancy? Dip your pretzel sticks into brie for a portion of creamy-crunchy snack food.
12. Veggie Tray
Sharing a snack is a fun and romantic thing to do with your partner, but it can also be a great way to stay healthy together. A veggie tray is one of the best healthy snacks to buy because you can get a variety of pre-cut and ready-to-eat veggies for just a few bucks, and it’s perfect for sharing. Your partner will appreciate that you want to feed them and keep them healthy at the same time.
13. Tuna and Salmon Pouches
If you’re shopping for two and you need healthy snack ideas, you’ll find tuna or salmon pouches to be a good value for the money. Available at big box stores and grocers, these pouches have a single serving of seasoned fish that can be spread on crackers or eaten straight for a healthy snack.
14. RX Bars
The RX bar is a great packaged snack that is perfect for health-conscious couples. Made from simple, wholesome ingredients blended into energy-giving snack bars, these snacks are sure to be a hit with your partner.
15. Smart Pop
Popcorn is a classic snack, but that movie-theater butter can really be bad for the arteries after a while. Smart pop is a single-serving popcorn snack that you can easily heat up in the microwave. It’s perfect for lunchboxes and a fun between-meals snack for any couple.
16. KIND bars
Whether you’re packing up for a weekend trip or just heading to the nine-to-five, KIND bars are one of the best healthy snacks to buy. One of our favorites is the cranberry almond and macadamia nut bar, which contains a whopping dose of vitamins and protein in a 190-calorie package.
17. Kale Chips
While less popular than their potato-based cousins, kale chips are a light and healthy snack that is perfect for the health-conscious couple on the go. Kale is a nutrient-dense leafy green, and kale chips are usually seasoned and baked or fried kale leaves.
18. Chickpea Snacks
Most of us know the chickpea from our experiences with hummus, but this versatile legume also makes a dandy snack when cooked like a chip. Chickpea chips are good for eating as a snack but also have the potential to elevate soups, salads, or even fried chicken to a completely new plane.
19. Edamame
Crispy, crunchy, and filled with flavor, edamame is the new potato chip. This healthy and delicious snack comes in a variety of seasonings and flavors and comes in handy pre-portioned snack packs that are perfect for bringing on your next couple’s date. As an added bonus, edamame chips are a good source of protein, which will help you feel fuller for longer.
20. Olives
Not only are these little guys great in a martini, but they are also loaded with good fats and a specific kind of fatty acid that helps reduce the urge to snack. There are a variety of olive snack packs to choose from at most stores — some even include herbs and citrus for those gourmet snackers among us.
21. Apple Chips
Couples who want to find a tasty and healthy snack should look no further than the humble apple chip. Often sold with complementary flavors like cinnamon, apple chips are all-natural, sweet, crunchy, and satisfying, making them an ideal snack for any health-conscious couple. As an added bonus, these snacks won’t bruise or burst if you drop them, unlike the fruit from which they are descended.
