Hey Snack Loving Friends who are looking for whole grain packaged 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 whole grain packaged snacks on the market.
This site contains affiliate links (See full disclosure here.)
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 ninth post in this series, Top Whole Grain Packaged Snacks According to a Dietitian)
- 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 High Fiber Snacks
- Best On-the-Go Protein Snacks According to a Dietitian
- Dietitian Approved Nut-Free Snacks
- Top Whole Grain Packaged Snacks (This Post!)
- Dietitian Approved Antioxidant Snacks
- Healthy On-the-Go Fruit and Vegetable Packaged Snacks
- The Best On-the-Go Probiotic Snacks According to a Dietitian
- The Healthiest Non-perishable Packaged Entrees According to a Dietitian
Best Whole Grain Packaged Snacks
Kind Healthy Grains Bars, Kind Bar Breakfast Bars, and Kind Kids
Although nutrients vary, the Kind Healthy Grains, Kind Breakfast Bars, and Kind Kids have similar beneficial nutrients. They are 100% whole grain and often include super grains like quinoa and oats. The first ingredient will be some kind of whole grain like oats, for example. They are gluten free, have zero trans fat, and rich in filling fiber. One of the cons is that most of these bars have some added sugar, although less than a traditional candy bar.
Kind Bar Probiotic
Kind Bars also make a Kind Breakfast Probiotic Bar. These bars are also whole grain and full of filling fiber. They do have some added sugar, but not as much as traditional candy bars.
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
Made Good Products
Made Good is another 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.
Popcorners
Popcorners are a tasty little alternative to the classic chips and are probably one of the most popular chips in our dietitian owned and operated vending machines. They have a simple ingredients list and are gluten and nut free. Yellow corn is the first ingredient in these low calorie, baked popcorn chips. Like all the chips on this list, they have 0 trans fat.
Nature’s Bakery Fig Bars
Nature’ Bakery Fig Bars are one of my daughter’s favorite snacks. (She has a sweet tooth whereas my son would prefer something salty) These delicious treats are made with real fruit and whole grains! In fact, the first ingredient is whole grain! They are low in calories, have around 2 gm. of fiber, and no added sugar or trans fat. Keep in mind that they do have around 10 gm. of sugar per serving. According to their website, Nature’s Bakery Fig bars and brownies are made on dedicated oven lines that do not manufacture peanuts and tree-nuts.
Nature’s Bakery Brownie
What a delicious way to eat whole grains! The Nature’s Bakery Brownies are made with real dates and the first ingredient is whole wheat flour. Like Nature’s Bakery Fig bars, these brownies have around 2 gm. of fiber, and no added sugar or trans fat. However, they do have around 10 gm. of sugar per serving. According to their website, Nature’s Bakery Fig bars and brownies are made on dedicated oven lines that do not manufacture peanuts and tree-nuts.
Kodiak Cups
Kodiak Cups are 100% whole grain and high in protein whether you get the Flapjacks cups, Oatmeal cups, Brownie Cups, or Muffin Cups. They also come in all sorts of flavors from Peanut butter chocolate chip oat meal to mint chocolate brownies. My kids love the classic flapjack cups! I cannot emphasize enough how delicious these Kodiak Cups are!
Quaker Kids Organic Whole Grain Bars and Bites
These Quaker Kids Organic bars and bites that are geared towards kids come in all sorts of flavors. So whether you are an adult or kid, there is much to love about these 100% whole grain sweet treat.
Quaker Sandwich Minis
Quaker Sandwich Minis have 12 grams whole grains, 8 grams protein, and 3 grams of fiber per serving. So this is a more filling sweet snack compared to other less nutrient dense sweets.
Don’t Go Nuts Products
Don’t Go Nuts is a fun kid-friendly nut free company. Their products include plant-based protein spreads (great alternative to peanut butter) and whole grain snack bars. Along with being nut free, Don’t Go Nuts are gluten free as well.
Zee Zees (All products as of 2019)
All Zee Zees products are nut free and all of their grained-based products like their bars and cookies are at least 51% whole grain. Zee Zees also make dried fruit snacks, applesauce, fruit cups, and sunflower kernel packs.
Way Better Sprouted Tortilla Chips
The star ingredients of the Way Better Sprouted Tortilla Chips are flaxseed, chia seeds, quinoa, and beans. These chips are 100% whole grain and gluten free! When you eat Way Better chips, you’re getting plant-based omega-3s, antioxidants, B vitamins, and potassium. And because of the fiber, you will feel fuller than you would just eating the common chip. These chips have a simple ingredients list, zero sugar, zero trans fat, and less calories and sodium than many standard chips. Bonus for anyone with a nut allergy, Way Better chips are manufactured in a nut-free facility!
Below are a few possible benefits (according to research) of the nutrients found in Way Better Sprouted Tortilla chips:
- May help with mood disorders like depression, anxiety, stress
- May improve energy levels/ fatigue
- Promote a healthy immune system
- May improve GI Inflammation
- Aid in addiction recovery
- Promote healthy gut bacteria and bacteria balance.
- Has anti-inflammatory properties
- Promote healthy digestion
- May reduce joint pain and arthritis inflammation
- Reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke
- Help you feel full after eating; thus, helps with satiety and weight loss
- Protects against diabetes
- May help with ADD/ADHD symptoms
- Reduce cognitive decline and the risk of Alzheimer’s and Dementia
- May improve memory
- Has cancer fighting properties
Did you know the Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio in our diet should be around 1:1? The ratio in the American diet is closer to 16:1 or higher. So the take home message is EAT MORE OMEGA-3s!!!
A Few Cons:
These chips are baked first then fried for a short the in sunflower oil, and they are more expensive than the standard chip.
Triscuits
100% whole grain…check. Simple ingredients (only 3 ingredients in the original)…check. Baked, not fried…check. Triscuits have so many things going for them. The first ingredient is the B vitamin-rich whole wheat! They have 3 gm of fiber and 3 gm of protein per serving. They also have 0 added sugar, sugar, and trans fat. Bonus, triscuits are not as expensive as some of the other healthier crackers.
Sunchips
SunChips have a lot more going for them than the traditional chip. They have a simple ingredients list with the first ingredient being whole grains. In fact, SunChips are 100% whole grains so they are a good source of B vitamins. They have around 2 gm fiber per serving and are less expensive than some of the other healthier chip options on the market.
Quaker Chewy Granola Bars, 25% Less Sugar
These Quaker Chewy Granola, 25% Less Sugar bars are a great option when you are looking for something a little less expensive. The are 100% whole grain and have only 100 calories per bar. The first ingredient in these fiber-rich bars is granola.
Happy Inside Cereal
Happy Inside Cereal is a crunchy cereal that is 100% whole grain and is a good source of probiotics, prebiotics, antioxidants, and fiber. Ingredients include whole grain barley (the first ingredient) and dried fruit.
Skinny Pop
Popcorn is such a yummy, classic snack, and Skinny Pop is also nut free and gluten free. Skinny Pop is made with simple ingredients with the first ingredient being whole grain. Plus Skinny Pop is a great source of filling fiber and low in calories; therefore, eating Skinny Pop may help in weight loss.
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.
