10 Best Healthy Snacks | UK Dietitian Reviewed

Complex carbohydrates are another filling snack component, as they are digested slowly and high in fibre, which will boost your energy and keep you satiated until your next meal. This will be especially beneficial for dieters.

These complex carbs are mostly found in foods containing oats or other whole grains, pulses, nuts and fruit and veggies. Note that their amount isn’t too important unless you are limiting carbohydrates, so focus on snacks with these particular types of carbs rather than how much they contain.

If you have a sweet tooth in the afternoon or after a meal, opt for snacks that contain natural sources of sweeteners for a smart swap. These could be dried fruits or unrefined sugars such as maple syrup. As well as being healthier, they won’t give you the “highs and lows” you feel after eating regular sugary snacks, which can be counterproductive at work or school.

Snacks with low or natural sugars will also be ideal for kid’s lunchboxes, as they will often taste just as good as a packet of sweets and still feel like a treat for them. Of course, a little sugar won’t do us much harm, but try to stick to snacks with around 5g per 100g. Anything with over 15g is considered “high sugar” and is best avoided unless as an occasional treat.

Too much salt or sodium can raise our blood pressure. Whether you choose nuts, crisps, or crackers, foods with less than 140mg (0.14g) of sodium are considered low, so use this as a guideline when checking the labels to factor this into your daily intake.

If you are active throughout the day you could probably handle a little more than this as your energy output will be greater. But if you are fairly static in your day to day life, for example working in an office or sitting down most of the day, this would be a good guideline to follow.