Choosing heart-healthy snacks isn’t guaranteed to prevent heart disease, but it’s an easy way to help safeguard your cardiovascular health! According to the CDC, heart disease causes around 1 in every 4 deaths in the United States today.
There are many risk factors for heart disease, including smoking, high cholesterol, poor diet, and obesity. I’m sure we could all stand to make healthier choices about what we eat, and the purpose of this post is to help make those choices easier!
Below, you’ll find a list of 18 simple and tasty snacks that each have 200 calories or less. These snacks are quick and easy to put together when you’re faced with an unexpected “snack attack!”
18 Heart-Healthy Snacks With Under 200 Calories
1. Pineapple & Coconut
Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of unsweetened coconut flakes over 1 cup of cubed pineapple. (175 calories)
2. Hummus & Veggies
Serve 1/2 cup of baby carrots, 1/2 cup chopped cucumber, and 1/2 cup of sliced red bell pepper with 1/4 cup of hummus for dipping. (150 calories)
3. Yogurt-Dipped Strawberries
Dip 1 cup of sliced strawberries into 1/2 cup of non-fat plain Greek yogurt, then freeze. (115 calories)
4. Apple & Almond Butter
Slice up 1 medium apple and serve with 1 tablespoon of almond butter for dipping or topping. (170 calories)
5. Mini Meat & Cheese Board
Slice up 1 small apple, and serve alongside 1 ounce of sharp cheddar cheese and 2 ounces of sliced deli turkey. (200 calories)
6. Cherries & Chocolate
Sprinkle 1/4 cup of dark chocolate chips over 1 cup of fresh cherries. (200 calories)
7. Mini Fruit Salad
To a bowl, add 1/2 cup of sliced strawberries, 1/2 cup of blueberries, slices from 1/2 a medium apple. Top with 1 tablespoon of raw honey and 2 tablespoons of lime juice, and stir to combine. (170 calories)
8. Banana & Almond Butter
Spread 1 tablespoon of almond butter over 1 banana, then sprinkle 1/2 tablespoon of granola over the top. (200 calories)
9. Mini Greek Salad
To a bowl, add 1 cup of sliced cherry tomatoes, 1 cup of chopped cucumber, 1/4 cup of thinly sliced red onion, and 2 tablespoons of feta cheese. Drizzle 1 teaspoon of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice over the top. (190 calories)
10. Apricot & Cashews
Serve 1 apricot alongside 1 ounce of cashew nuts. (200 calories)
11. Chicken Salad Bites
Put the contents of 1 small can of chicken into a bowl, and add 2 tablespoons of Greek yogurt and 2 teaspoons of Dijon mustard. Stir, and serve with 1 cup of sliced cucumber. (170 calories)
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12. Deconstructed Chef Salad
Serve 1 hard boiled egg, 1/2 cup of baby carrots, 1/2 cup sliced cucumber, and 1/2 cup of sugar snap peas with 4 tablespoons of tzatziki sauce for dipping. (200 calories)
13. Mini Watermelon Salad
Top 1 cup of cubed watermelon with 1/4 cup feta cheese and 1 teaspoon of fresh chopped dill, and stir to mix. (150 calories)
14. Almond Butter & Honey Sandwich
Spread 1 tablespoon of almond butter and 1/2 tablespoon of raw honey over 1 piece of whole wheat bread. Fold in half and eat! (190 calories)
15. Roasted Chickpeas
Measure out 1/2 cup of canned chickpeas, then rinse and drain well. Toss the chickpeas in 1 teaspoon of olive oil with a pinch of salt, then bake at 400°F for 20 minutes. (160 calories)
16. Lettuce Wraps
Assemble lettuce wraps using 2 pieces of iceberg lettuce, 2 ounces of sliced deli turkey, 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise, and 2 teaspoons of Dijon mustard. (160 calories)
17. Cheese & Grapes
Serve 1 stick of string cheese alongside 1 cup of grapes. (140 calories)
18. Popcorn & Apple
Snack on 3 cups of air-popped popcorn and 1 medium apple. (170 calories)
8 Bonus Tips For Healthy Snacking
1. Look For Pre-Packaged Options
Many stores now offer a variety of pre-packaged healthy snacks that are minimally processed. These can be really convenient to keep on hand! And the more convenient your healthy snacks are, the more likely you’ll be to eat them.
2. Buy Pre-Cut Fruits & Veggies
Speaking of convenience, take advantage of the pre-cut fruits and veggies that your local grocery store offers. You’ll pay a little bit more for the convenience, but you’re much more likely to snack on a container of pineapple chunks if you don’t have to cut up a whole pineapple first!
3. Pair Veggies With Healthy Dips
Who doesn’t love a good dip, right? They make everything better, including raw veggies! Pairing raw veggies with a small amount of a dip like hummus, guacamole, salsa, or even ranch dressing is always a solid snack choice.
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4. Stock Up On Healthy Snacks
When you’re feeling snack-y, you’re more likely to reach for the convenient option than the healthy option. So the trick is to stock your fridge and pantry with snacks that are both convenient and healthy! Avoid buying unhealthy snack foods you know you have a weakness for and replace them with easy-to-eat fruits and veggies.
5. Pre-Portion Your Snacks
I’ve always been a big fan of buying certain things in bulk to save money. But bulk-sized portions can sabotage your healthy eating, so it can be really helpful to divide it up into snack-sized portions. For example, if you spring for that big bag of cashews, measure it out into snack-sized portions of about 20 cashews each when you get home.
Related: These 9 Tips Make Portion Control So Much Easier
6. Steer Clear Of Unhealthy Snacks
Crunchy, salty snacks have always been a problem for me! Once I start eating them, it’s hard to stop! So most of the time, it’s just best for me to steer clear of things like chips, pretzels, and crackers altogether. (Or you could always pair a few crunchy crackers with some fruit and veggies to help fill you up!)
7. Look For High Fiber Snacks
If you struggle with feeling full or satisfied after a healthy snack, look for healthy options that are also high in fiber. Fiber is going to help keep you feeling full for longer. Good high fiber snack options include raspberries, dark chocolate, popcorn, chickpeas, and pears.
8. Don’t Forget About Protein & Fat
Healthy snacks don’t have to be limited to fresh fruits and veggies alone. Adding in fats like cottage cheese or avocado and proteins like eggs or deli turkey can help keep you feeling satiated until your next meal.
What’s your favorite healthy snack?
Hi, I like the idea of yogurt dipped strawberries. But plain Greek yogurt?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Can’t you use flavored Greek yogurt? like strawberry and banana Greek yogurt?
Thanks for posting this. I always enjoy your blog. I struggled with being heavy and unfit – very unfit and unhealthy for 20 years. I tried every diet, and lost weight on each one. Then I gained it back and got bigger than before. I finally about 7 years ago did weight watchers and learned to eat healthily. I lost a little bit of weight and gain a lot of health. About a year later, I joined a gym and was on a treadmill every day. I know this was good for me but my body wasn’t looking or feeling any better. Then I started lifting weights and stayed off of the machines and the treadmill. I had a wonderful trainer who taught me how to do things safely. That was so important. I’ve been injured really badly in 3 car accidents where I broke lots of bones. That is why I got so out of shape. I just really felt sorry for myself and did nothing to get better for 20 years. Once I learned to properly and safely (considering my injuries) strength train with free-weights at the gym I really got in shape.
I’m 55 years old and have been doing this since just before my 50th birthday and I am in better shape than ever in my life. That’s saying a lot too, as I was a fit and healthy youngster and pretty athletic in gymnastics even into my late teens. I’m in better shape now and stronger.
What I’m getting to is food though. I have to eat things that are tasty and good for me. I pretty much eat whatever I want. I eat healthy stuff and stuff that is not so healthy as well. It is all about balance. I don’t eat diet foods. I eat foods that have few ingredients and lots of fruit, veggies, meat, dairy and I do not skimp on eating things like butter, heavy cream, whole milk and other foods with lots of fat. I know for sure that fat doesn’t make you fat. Lack of muscle does. Food fat is actually really good fuel for the body and it helps to keep you feeling more satisfied. I don’t overdo it with fat, but I don’t watch fat grams or any food counting. My favorite things to eat happen to be fruits – fresh fruit and vegetables. I just want to encourage others to get strong – building muscle is important. As we get older we lose muscle. We need to really work to keep what we’ve got and gain more. When you lose muscle with dieting, it slows your metabolism down and makes you gain weight more easily.
Jillee – I love your blogging and all of the awesome healthy and money saving and time saving tips. Thank you for what you do. I’ve been enjoying your blog for at least 5 years and I’m sure I will continue for at least another 5.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks Roberta! I’m so glad you’re here – and thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love all the things & ideas you post for us to enjoy. Thank you for sharing!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.We enjoyed a wonderful Charcuterie for Christmas and ended up with leftover pecan halves and a tub of candied ginger pieces. The ginger was delicious as it was softened during the process and the chunks were easily eaten in one bite. Come January at a very chilly and hungry lunchtime, I grabbed the pecan halves, dotted the top with a little dab of cream cheese and placed a slice of ginger on top. I was totally amazed at the taste and how it filled me. Who would have thought that combination would be so delicious. Now I need to find a good recipe to make more of the candied ginger as it was special ordered only at Christmas. I’ve made it before but never was it the softer version – like biting into candied pineapple chunks. YUM.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.That sounds delicious!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Please give carb counts for diabetics
Please log in or create a free account to comment.For the lettuce wraps I would recommend butter lettuce instead of iceberg. Butter lettuce is softer and more nutritious than the brittle iceberg.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for the tip!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I do like celery with peanut butter!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I am so surprised to see processed meat and cheese listed as a healthy snack. Both have been linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.my evening snack is usually a piece of cheese, some olives for the healthy fat, and homemade sauerkraut. sounds weird but its my favorite. the kraut is fermented not heated so it is really good for your gut.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It is both amusing and bewildering/that your healthy snacks article includes an ad for Lay’s potato chips!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Your snack suggestions all look good. I quite often will have an ounce of cheddar with celery or apple. I also learned recently that grapes can be frozen and eaten which I’ve been told is quite good, haven’t tried it yet.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It is extremely difficult to break the sweet/fat snack, I wish everyone good luck to that.
I love frozen grapes!
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