What is a Nutrient Dense Snack?

Did you know that the food and beverage industry spends nearly fourteen billion dollars annually to advertise its products in the United States? 

Unfortunately, about eighty percent of these advertising dollars go towards promoting fast food, sugar-filled drinks, and unhealthy snacks. This is why so few people understand the benefits of eating healthy snacks or where to find them. 

To help you understand what a nutrient dense snack is, we've written a guide. Keep reading, and we will tell you everything that is important to know. 

The Basics of Healthy Snacks 

There are many different ways to define what a snack actually is. Some people believe that a snack should be something that you eat between meals. There are others who believe that snacks can be meals for themselves. 

There are also many different kinds of snacks that you can find in the supermarket. This includes snacks that are full of sugar such as candy bars, snacks that are loaded with fat such as potato chips, and healthy snack foods such as apples and mixed nuts. 

Some snacks are loaded with nutrients, while others contain nothing more than simple carbohydrates, which the body quickly converts into sugar. This is one of the reasons why snacking has earned such a bad name. 

Many people make the mistake of thinking that all snacks are unhealthy because they don't know what a healthy snack looks like or where to find one. 

Fortunately, all you need to do to find a healthy snack is visit the produce section of your supermarket instead of going directly to the aisles that are filled with packaged cookies and potato chips. You can also shop online for tasty and nutritious vegan snacks. 

Nuts and Nut Butters

There are lots of lifestyle websites and blogs that describe how important it is to eat nuts and nut butters when you are snacking. This is because the majority of nuts are filled with unsaturated fatty acids. Those who consume lots of these compounds tend to have healthier hearts. 

Nuts also tend to be high in fiber. This means that when you eat them, you'll lower your cholesterol and will feel more full than you would if you chose to consume the types of fats that unhealthy snacks such as potato chips contain. 

The best nutrient dense snacks contain plenty of raw nuts such as walnuts, almonds, and cashews. They do not have very much sugar or salt. Instead of having lots of sugar, they contain dried fruits such as apricots, apples, pineapple, and mango. 

Healthy Snack Foods Contain Fresh or Dried Fruit

As a rule of thumb, any fresh fruit that you consume as a snack will contain plenty of important nutrients. Though they contain lots of water, they also have high amounts of fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins. 

Fresh fruits contain fewer empty calories than sugar-filled snacks, yet they will make you feel more full. This means that you won't experience a spike in your blood sugar after you eat them. 

But snacks don't need to contain fresh fruit in order to be healthy. Snacks that contain dried fruits also tend to be loaded with nutrients. This is why you should look for high-protein vegan snacks that have plenty of dried fruit.  

Smoothies Are Nutrient Dense

Smoothies are one of the most enjoyable and creative types of snacks because it's possible to add many different nutrients to a very small container. 

The most nutritious smoothies contain organic greens such as spinach, frozen fruits such as blackberries and bananas, and vegetable protein. It's also possible to add superfoods such as chia seeds, coconut, and moringa. 

Foods that Contain Probiotics 

Greek yogurt is one of the healthiest types of probiotic ingredients that a nutrient-dense snack can contain. Not only does Greek yogurt contain plenty of protein and vitamin D, but it is also filled with millions of beneficial bacteria cultures. 

Probiotics will improve the health of your digestive system. If you don't like eating yogurt, you should consider consuming snacks that contain kimchi. This traditional Korean dish contains vegetables, garlic, and ginger which are fermented. 

It's also possible to consume probiotics by drinking a large glass of kombucha. 

Dark Chocolate: A Delicious and Healthy Snack Food 

People tend to give chocolate a bad wrap because they are so used to consuming it with lots of sugar and unnecessary additives. But the truth is that raw unprocessed chocolate is filled with nutrients. 

It contains vitamins such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc. It's also filled with healthy heart fats such as monounsaturated fat.

Raw chocolate is also capable of neutralizing free radicals in the body. This means that you'll improve your physical and mental health if you make a habit of consuming it as a snack. 

Just remember that it is not healthy to consume chocolate by eating lots of candy bars and sweets. It's a better idea to find snack foods that contain cacao nibs or unprocessed chocolate. 

Whole Grains

The most healthy snacks are filled with whole grains such as quinoa, brown rice, millet, and oats. Look for snack bars that contain these grains, which are low in sugar. Instead, try to find snack bars that use honey as a sweetener. 

Find the Perfect Nutrient Dense Snack Today

If you've been trying to figure out what a nutrient dense snack looks like, it's important to know that there are many great options available. Search for snacks that contain plenty of fruit, nuts, raw chocolate, and whole grains. 

If you're ready to buy the highest quality snacks that are nutrient dense, we're here to help you. Don't hesitate to check out our online shop to find out about the many great products we have for sale.