Hey Snack Loving Friends who are looking for the best fruit and vegetable snacks,
For those of you that don’t know me, my name is Lacy, and I’m a registered dietitian and owner of Mindful Vending (a dietitian owned and operated healthy vending company). In our vending machines, we provide all kinds of nourishing snacks including some of the best fruit and vegetable snacks on the market.
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As the owner of Mindful vending, it is my job AND passion to search for the healthiest packaged snacks available. I am constantly looking for snacks to meet a variety of needs. If it is our there, I want to find it!
Since I have to keep a healthy snack database for my company anyway, I thought it might be helpful to share my snack lists here as well. So browse all the categories and find the snacks that best fit with your needs and wants. Happy snacking!
So here they are… (Scroll down to read the tenth post in this series, Healthy On-The-Go Fruit and Vegetable Snacks).
- Dietitian Approved Gluten Free Snacks
- Healthiest Chips and Crackers According to a Dietitian
- Top Omega-3 On-the-Go Snacks
- The Best Nutrition Bars and Protein Bars
- Dietitian Approved Fiber Rich Snacks
- Best On-the-Go Protein Snacks According to a Dietitian
- Dietitian Approved Nut-Free Snacks
- Top Whole Grain Packaged Snacks
- Dietitian Approved Antioxidant Snacks
- Healthy On-the-Go Fruit and Vegetable Snacks (This Post!)
- The Best On-the-Go Probiotic Snacks According to a Dietitian
- The Healthiest Non-perishable Packaged Entrees According to a Dietitian
Fruits
Okay, I know this is not a packaged snack and may seem like a no brainer, but I can’t write a post about healthy fruit and vegetable snacks without including natural simple whole foods like fresh fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are about the healthiest snack you can get! In fact, they are probably one of the best choices when it comes to snacks! Fruits are packed with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and filling fiber. Plus, fruits are low in calories so eating fruits can aid in weight loss. So although they are not “packaged,” fruits like bananas, apples, oranges, grapes, and fruit cups or pre-portioned mixed fruit containers make perfect on-the-go snacks.
Antioxidants have so many benefits:
- May decrease the risk of cancer
- Have anti-inflammatory properties
- Promotes a healthy gut
- Reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke
- May reduces cognitive decline and the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia
- Helps with mood disorders like depression, anxiety, stress
Fruit and Yogurt
When you add yogurt to your fresh fruits, you are getting all of the above benefits of fruit PLUS probiotics and protein!
And Remember, according to research probiotics may:
- Support Digestive heath
- Support immune function
- Have anti-inflammatory properties
- Help with mood and mood disorders like depression, anxiety, stress
- Reduce cognitive decline and the risk of Alzheimer’s and Dementia
- May aid in addiction recovery
- Promote a healthy heart
Vegetables
Diets high in fruits and vegetables have been shown to reduce the risk of all sorts of diseases and conditions like Alzheimer’s, Dementia, heart disease, stroke, and cancer. In fact, the diets of people who live in the Blue Zones mostly consist of beans, legumes, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains. Blue Zones are defined as areas or regions that have lower rates of chronic disease and have reported higher satisfaction with their quality of life and well-being. So if we want to have a diet that more closely resembles the Blue Zones, we should be incorporating more vegetables (and fruits, whole grains, nuts, and legumes) into our meals AND snacks! Raw vegetables make a great on-the-go gluten free and nut free snack. You can pair them with hummus to get some added protein!
Mega Omega Power Up Trail Mix, High Energy Power Up Trail Mix, and Goji Power Up Trail Mix
Okay, so these are not exactly fruits or vegetables, but they do have some dried fruit in them, Plus they have a lot of other good stuff in them as well! If you see a trail mix with Omega-3 in the title you can bet that walnuts are probably in them. The Mega Omega Per Up mix contains a mixture of standout ingredients which include walnuts, almonds, cranberries, pumpkin seeds, and dried mango. Although only one of their trail mixes mentions Omega-3s in the name, many of their mixes actually have Omega-3- rich walnuts. The High Energy Trail mix contains walnuts, dried bananas, cashews, dried papaya, cranberries, dried pineapple, and dried coconut chips, and the Goji Power Up Trail mix contains walnuts, cranberries, pumpkin seeds, cashews, goji berries, and coconut. With ingredients like these, these trail mixes are great sources of protein, antioxidants, healthy fats, and of course Omega-3s. According to the Power Up website, all their products are gluten free as well.
Along with all the benefits of Omega-3s mentioned above, foods with antioxidants also:
- Supports brain function, focus, and attention
- May reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and Dementia
- Provides immune support
- Have Anti-inflammatory properties
- May improve mood, depression, stress, and anxiety
- May reduce the risk of cancer
- Reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke
- May reduce joint pain and arthritis inflammation
- Aids in addiction recovery
Rhythm Superfood Chips
Rhythm Superfood chips are Gluten free chips made out of filling vegetables and fruit. In fact, the first ingredient is a fruit or vegetable! Star ingredients on their simple ingredients list are foods like kale, turmeric, bell pepper, beets, and cauliflower. They are dried chips, not fried and contain nutrients like protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and antioxidants.
Regularly incorporating Turmeric in your diet has many benefits:
- May repair the gut lining
- Have Anti-inflammatory properties
- Enhance anti-bodies and immune cells
- May reduce the risk of cancer
- May improve mood, depression, stress, and anxiety
- Supports brain function, focus, attention
- Reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke
- May help with joint pain/Arthritis
- Reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s
Benefits of Antioxidant Rich Foods include:
- Supports brain function, focus, and attention
- May reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and Dementia
- Provides immune support
- Anti-inflammatory
- May improve mood, depression, stress, and anxiety
- May reduce the risk of cancer
- Reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke
- May reduce joint pain and arthritis inflammation
- Aids in addiction recovery
Sargento Balanced Breaks
The Sargento Balanced Breaks are a delicious little pre-portioned mix of nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and cheese. Sargento Balanced Breaks are packed with protein, and many have antioxidant rich nuts and seeds!
Orchard Valley Harvest Trail Mix
I love all of Orchard Valley Harvest nut mixes! Oh my goodness, I want some right now! Nuts are a great source of antioxidants, super filling protein, and healthy fats as well so you really can’t go wrong with antioxidant rich snacks featuring wholesome nuts as the main ingredient! Although fruit is not a huge part of this trail mix, dried fruit is part of this mix that is why I decided to include them on the on-the-go fruit and vegetable snacks list
Dirt Kitchen
I am super excited about this snack! They are made out of simple ingredients with the first ingredient being dried vegetables! Some of the flavors include: Green Beans + Roasted Almonds with Lemon + Butter +Garlic Seasoning and Zucchini + Roasted Chickpeas + Pistaccios with Sea Salt + Black Pepper. These Dirt Kitchen snacks are high in filling protein and fiber, and are gluten free.
North Coast Probiotic Apple Sauce
I love that these North Coast Probiotic Apple Sauce come in little easy-to-carry applesauce pouches, BUT…
my two favorite things about the North Coast Probiotic are:
- The first ingredient is apples
- North Coast Probiotic has, you guessed it, probiotics.
North Coast Probiotics has a few other things going for them as well. They are gluten free and nut free, made with simple ingredients, and are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Plus they contain zero added sugar and zero trans fat.
According to Research Probiotics May:
- Support Digestive heath
- Support immune function
- Have anti-inflammatory properties
- Help with mood and mood disorders like depression, anxiety, stress
- Reduce cognitive decline and the risk of Alzheimer’s and Dementia
- May aid in addiction recovery
- Promote a healthy heart
That’s It Bars and That’s It Probiotic
That’s It bars are allergy-friendly, gluten free snacks made with real fruit. In fact, That’s It bars are made with fruit…and that’s it! They have zero added sugar so all for the sweet flavors come from the fruit. You can also get That’s It Bars with added probiotics as well.
According to research, probiotics may:
- Support Digestive heath
- Support immune function
- Have anti-inflammatory properties
- May help with mood and mood disorders like depression, anxiety, stress
- Reduce cognitive decline and the risk of Alzheimer’s and Dementia
- May aid in addiction recovery
- Promote a healthy heart
Kind Fruit Bites
Kind Fruit Bites are bite sized bites made with real fruit! They have a simple ingredients list with no fruit juice and no concentrates! They also contain no added sugar and are gluten free!
Poshi Marinated Vegetables
Poshi Marinated vegetables are next on the gluten free snacks list. Vegetables are sometimes not the most portable snack..unless you get these A-mazing Poshi Marinated Vegetable Snack packs! These snacks are gluten free, low in calories and made of simple ingredients with the first ingredient being, you guessed it, vegetables! They have zero added sugar, zero sugar, and zero trans fat. My favorite is the marinated artichoke hearts!
You Love Fruit and You Love Veggies Fruit Leather
You Love Fruit and You Love Veggies is a fruit and vegetable leather made with 100% fruit and veggie pulp. In fact, the first ingredient on their simple ingredients list is either a fruit or veggie. Besides fruits and vegetables, some of their products even have chia seeds! They are gluten free and nut free and have no added sugar. They are a good source of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Antioxidant Benefits Include:
- May decrease the risk of cancer
- Have anti-inflammatory properties
- Promotes a healthy gut
- Reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke
- May reduces cognitive decline and the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia
- Helps with mood disorders like depression, anxiety, stress
GoGo Squeeze
GoGo Squeeze is a nut free and gluten free product made with 100% real fruits and vegetables (fruits or vegetables are the first ingredient). They have a simple ingredients list, contain no added sugar, and are a good source of fiber!
Enjoy Life Seed and Fruit
All Enjoy Life products are made in an allergy friendly factory. They are free of many common allergens such as wheat, nut, soy, egg, dairy, gluten, and more. The Enjoy Life Chewy Bars and the Enjoy Life Seeds and Fruit Mix have a variety of healthy ingredients such as pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, and organic oats. (The ingredients vary among products.)
Made Good Granola Minis
Made Good is an allergy friendly company. Their products are organic, whole grain, and low in sugar. This company makes delicious products for those looking for a whole grain snacks that are wheat free, gluten free, and nut free. The Made Good Granola Minis also have fruit and even a few vegetable extracts listed on their ingredients list.
Chips and Pace Organic Salsa
Adding Salsa to a healthy chip like the nut free/gluten free Way Better Tortilla Chips is such a super easy and healthy snack option. Salsa or Pico De Gallo is loaded with vegetables, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. Look for a salsa with a simple ingredients list and no added sugar like the Pace Organic Salsa.
Take Home Message
Diets rich in antioxidants, Omega-3, probiotics, fiber, vitamins and minerals have been linked to reducing the risk or alleviating the symptoms of a multitude of conditions like:
- Heart Disease & Stroke
- Diabetes
- Inflammation
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- GI Problems like bloating, distention, stomach pain, cramps, constipation, diarrhea, GERD, heartburn & gas
- IBS, IBD, & SIBO
- Migraines & headaches
- Fatigue
- Frequent colds and illnesses
- Alzheimer’s and Dementia
- Autoimmune Diseases
- Mucus drainage and phlegm
- Allergies
- Lack of brain focus and attention
- Memory problems
- Joint Pain
- Hormone Imbalance
- Mood disorders like depression, anxiety, and stress
- Acne
- Insomnia
- Inability to lose weight
- Crohn’s disease
- Lupus
- Celiac disease
- MS
- Parkinson’s
These nutrients are found in many of the snacks listed above as well as in wholefoods like whole grains, vegetables, fruits (make sure to include berries), nuts, seeds, fermented vegetables, kefir, kombucha, miso, kimchi, sauerkraut, yogurt, lean meats, and fish (especially salmon and tuna). Make sure you are eating these wholefoods regularly to get the most out of your diet. You can find out how to incorporate more of these nutrients into your meals in The Nourishing Meal Builder.
Lacy Ngo, MS, RDN, the owner of Mindfulness in Faith, LLC, is one of the top experts in faith-based mindfulness and nutrition. Ngo is the author of several books including The Nourishing Meal Builder, The Nourishing Meal Builder: the Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Edition, Faith, Mindfulness, & Nutrition, and Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals.
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