What To Look For In A Snack

Author Albertsons Market Dietitian | December 20, 2024

A snack can be a tricky thing to navigate especially when you are looking to or actively making changes to your diet. 

 

Overall calories and serving size 

Think about a snack as a way to hold your hunger over until the next meal. Depending on your goals or if you are simply following a hunger cue we want the snack to be roughly 100 calories per hour you are away from eating your next meal. So if you are 2 hours away from a meal, the snack would be 200 calories. While calories aren’t everything, they are a good starting point. Serving size can also be helpful when determining what will fill you up best. So for 200ish calories you might indulge in a small handful of nuts or a Greek yogurt with some ranch seasoning and a whole cucumber. You know your body best - choose what you need.

 

First look at the nutrients

Things like added sodium, protein, and added sugar will be the top three things to be cognizant of in our eyes when choosing a snack. We want to find something balanced to sustain your energy. While true “snack” items are generally higher in sodium and sugar, we challenge you to get familiar with labels and choose the best option for you.

 

Ingredients

Some snacks can be simplistic in nature or can be more along the lines of “ultra-processed”. Pending on the mood of the snack one can go either way. Most of the time we suggest opting for one that is simplistic in nature that has only a few ingredients. Something like edamame, hard boiled eggs, trail mix, popcorn with melted cheese, roasted chickpeas, dried dates with a nut butter would all be more simple foods we’d suggest outside of just a fruit or vegetable. 

Topics: Happy and Nourished

Spice It Up for Dinner! Indian Inspired Meals & Helpful Snacking Tips.

This week, we’ll take you on a flavorful journey through Indian-inspired ideas for breakfast and dinner and also touch on how you can be set up for success when it comes to snack time for your little ...

Read More
Back to School & Picky Eating

Navigating Back-to-School Lunches: Tips for Picky Eaters Back to school season is already here and for many parents that means diving back into the daily challenge of packing lunches, especially when ...

Read More
DIY Birdie Box

This adorable lunch box sandwich hack is a simple way to say ”I love you a bushel and a peck.” What You Need: 2 slices of whole wheat bread 1 slice of cheddar cheese 2 slices turkey 1/2 cup carrots, s...

Read More
Food Swaps Your Kid Will Still Want to Eat

Back-to-school time can be busy, and knowing what to pack for lunches can add to the challenge. We often tend to grab the “usual” lunch box staples. However, with simple swaps, you can take those lunc...

Read More
Back to School - Pantry Must-Haves

Back to school is here and we’re here to help guide you on filling your pantry with nutritious and tasty foods that are perfect for your kids lunches and afterschool snacks. While this isn’t a compreh...

Read More