Incorporating low-sugar snacks into your diet is a great way to maintain a healthy lifestyle. But sometimes it’s hard to find the right snacks, ones that are a) actually low in sugar, and b) tasty.
There are plenty of products that are marketed as healthy alternatives to traditional junk food, but often times these items are just as packed with enough sugar to last a week. Of course, you could always choose snacks that don’t have any at all. But sometimes you just really want something sweet.
This list serves as a guide to help you choose a low-sugar snack. Before we dive into them, though, let’s first talk a little about how sugar impacts your health and what we mean by “low-sugar.”
Why too much sugar is bad for you
For a long time, snacks high in sugar were a staple in many a household. But as it became more apparent such snacks were damaging to one’s health, people have become more selective about what they’re eating. Low-sugar foods are highly sought after. The reasons are clear: too much sugar is bad for you.
How so? Here are just some ways too much sugar can impact your health:
- weight gain
- high blood sugar
- heart disease
- nerve damage
- diabetes
The list goes on.
It’s important to note that a lot of it has to do with moderation. A brownie or slice of cake here and there is fine. It’s when you eat foods packed with sugar nearly everyday that you run into trouble.
What do we mean by Low-Sugar Snacks?
There can be some ambiguity around what low-sugar means, so we want to be clear on how we’ve curated this list. The snacks included below have little to no added sugars, so the items that have higher amounts of sugar are from natural sources. Some fruit (we’re looking at you, apples) have a lot of sugar, but it’s natural. Not the table sugar you can buy in five pound bags.
1. KIND Bars
KIND Snacks was built on the belief that if you can’t pronounce the ingredients, it shouldn’t be part of the product. They offer a diverse range of granola bar flavors, most of which are low-sugar.
Cranberry Almond Bar: 8g of sugar
2. Rip Van Wafles
Rip Van Wafels are a European-style healthy snack that pair great with a cup of coffee or on their own. They have 120 calories and low-sugar.
*Chocolate Wafel: 8g of sugar
3. Quest Protein Cookie
With only one gram of sugar, Quest Protein Cookies are a great low-sugar snack that’s guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Quest Protein Cookie (chocolate?): 1g
4. Cottage Cheese with Strawberries
Looking for a snack that’s low in sugar and packs a protein punch? Cottage cheese is the ticket.
Cottage cheese with Strawberries: 16g
5. Skinny Dipped Almonds
Peanut M&Ms are often a favorite, but if you’re looking for a similar treat that’s low in sugar, Skinny Dipped Almonds are a great alternative.
Skinny Dipped Almonds: 6g
6. Wildway Snack Mix
There’s a new trail mix in town. Wildway has created a snack mix that is better for you and made with 100% real-food ingredients that delivers on sustenance and flavor, and is made with no added sugars.
Wildlway Pineapple Mojito: 13g
8. Larabar
One of the original no-sugar added snacks, Larabar makes a variety of flavors to choose from all with only natural sugars.
Larabar: 18g (natural)
7. Apples with Peanut Butter
Apples are high in sugar, but it’s all natural. Peanut butter has about 3g of sugar per serving. Not only is it a healthy snack that’s low in added sugars, it also provides protein.
Apples with Peanut Butter: 21g
9. One Bar
Another delicious snack bar that’s low in sugar is One Bar.
One Bar: 1g
10. Plain Yogurt with Berries
Yogurt is often touted as a healthy snack, and for the most part it is. But flavored yogurts are often packed with syrups that are not exactly low in sugar. That’s why plain yogurt with berries is a better low-sugar choice.
Plain Yogurt with Berries: ~10g