18 Heart Healthy Snacks You'll Actually Want To Eat (2024)

18 Heart Healthy Snacks You'll Actually Want To Eat (1)

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

18 Heart Healthy Snacks You'll Actually Want To Eat (2)

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)

18 Heart Healthy Snacks You'll Actually Want To Eat (3)

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)

18 Heart Healthy Snacks You'll Actually Want To Eat (4)

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)

18 Heart Healthy Snacks You'll Actually Want To Eat (5)

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)

18 Heart Healthy Snacks You'll Actually Want To Eat (6)

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)

18 Heart Healthy Snacks You'll Actually Want To Eat (7)

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)

More Ideas You'll Love

17 Store Brand Products That People Actually Swear By

Find out which store brand products OGT readers love even more than their name brand counterparts! Continue Reading

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)

18 Heart Healthy Snacks You'll Actually Want To Eat (9)

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)

18 Heart Healthy Snacks You'll Actually Want To Eat (10)

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)

18 Heart Healthy Snacks You'll Actually Want To Eat (11)

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)

18 Heart Healthy Snacks You'll Actually Want To Eat (12)

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!

18 Heart Healthy Snacks You'll Actually Want To Eat (13)

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.

More Ideas You'll Love

Is Pyrex Oven Safe? How To Use Your Pyrex Dishes Safely

Pyrex is oven safe, but there are certain things you should avoid in order to use your glass bakeware safely! Continue Reading

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

18 Heart Healthy Snacks You'll Actually Want To Eat (15)

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?

Read This Next

  • Tips For Transitioning Kids “Back to School” + School Lunches Your Kids Will Love!
  • 9 Of The Best Reasons To Snack On Popcorn
  • The Best Foods From The Freezer Aisle + A Quick Pasta Salad
18 Heart Healthy Snacks You'll Actually Want To Eat (2024)

FAQs

18 Heart Healthy Snacks You'll Actually Want To Eat? ›

After a heart attack, it's a good idea to consider a heart-healthy eating plan that prioritizes whole foods, such as fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, fish, lean meats, and whole grains.

What is the most heart-healthy snack? ›

Munchies that crunch
  • Apples sliced with a tablespoon of low-sodium peanut butter.
  • Pears dipped in fat-free/low-fat cottage cheese.
  • Vegetables paired with hummus or tzatziki sauce, such as: ...
  • Roasted chickpeas.
  • Popcorn (air-popped or made with a nontropical vegetable oil).
  • Rice cakes and whole-grain crackers.
Oct 24, 2023

What is the healthiest snack? ›

Tips for Healthy Snacking
  • Fresh fruits and vegetables.
  • Frozen fruit.
  • Fruits canned in water or their own juice.
  • Whole grain bread, crackers and cereals.
  • Lower fat yogurt.
  • Lower fat cheese.
  • Unsalted nuts and seeds and their butters.
  • Hummus.
Mar 1, 2021

What are the best snacks to eat after a heart attack? ›

After a heart attack, it's a good idea to consider a heart-healthy eating plan that prioritizes whole foods, such as fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, fish, lean meats, and whole grains.

What can I eat on a heart-healthy diet? ›

Options include:
  • Seafood — fish and shellfish.
  • Poultry — chicken or turkey breast without skin or lean ground chicken or turkey (at least 93% lean)
  • Lean meats — like pork shoulder, beef sirloin, or lean ground beef (at least 93% lean)
  • Beans, peas, and lentils — like black beans and garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
  • Eggs.
Jul 1, 2023

What is the one snack cardiologists want you to eat for a healthier heart? ›

Both cardiologists praised nuts as a snack because they contain protein, healthy fat, fiber and antioxidants, and are filling. Studies have found a handful of nuts each day may lower the risk of heart disease.

What chips are heart healthy? ›

Healthier chip ideas:
  • Safe and Fair Popcorn Quinoa Chips.
  • Siete Sea Salt Tortilla Chips.
  • Splitz Original Crunchy Split Pea Crisp Snacks.
  • Pulp Pantry Jalapeño Lime Chips.
  • Hippeas Organic Sea Salt and Lime Chickpea Tortilla Chips.
  • Back to Nature Rosemary Garlic Dipper Crisps.
May 2, 2024

What is the healthiest cracker? ›

Here are the top 5 best crackers I recommend for my clients looking for a healthy snack:
  • Crunchmaster Multi-Seed Crackers. ...
  • Mary's Gone Crackers. ...
  • Simple Mills Almond Flour with Rosemary and Sea Salt. ...
  • Late July Chia and Quinoa Crackers. ...
  • Back to Nature Whole Lotta Love Hemp Heart Crackers.

What is a healthy snack all day? ›

Protein- and fiber-rich snacks are good choices to help keep you satisfied throughout the day. Examples of healthy, filling snacks include hummus and sliced veggies; cheese and olives; and yogurt with fruit, nuts, and seeds.

Are pretzels a heart-healthy snack? ›

Pretzels won't lead to heart problems right away. However, if you're likely to get heart troubles, have a history of high blood pressure, or need to watch your sodium intake, you may need to replace pretzels with a lower sodium snack.

What are sweet heart-healthy snacks? ›

  • Raspberry Streusel Muffins.
  • Cinnamon Sweet Tortilla Chips with Fruit Salsa.
  • Cantaloupe-Lime Sorbet.
  • Blackberry Lemon Drop Cupcakes.

What meat is best after a heart attack? ›

Choose lean meats with trimmed fat, or poultry without the skin. These are much better choices than processed meats such as schnitzel, salami, ham and bacon. Fish is a great source of lean protein, and the fatty fish species like salmon and tuna are rich in omega-3, heart-healthy fats.

What is a good breakfast for someone who had a heart attack? ›

Turn to real, whole food like vegetables, berries, nuts and seeds, and whole grains and stay away from processed, refined, and high-sugar foods. Include more of these foods: Nuts and seeds. Berries and fresh fruit.

What are the three foods to quit? ›

For better health, try to limit the amount of food that you eat from these categories:
  • Foods with added sugar. Examples: Cookies, cake, ice cream, candy, sugary breakfast cereals, flavored yogurt. ...
  • Foods with added salt. ...
  • Refined carbohydrates. ...
  • Processed meats.
Nov 18, 2021

What is the 3 day cardiac diet? ›

The diet constitutes a three-day diet plan (on days) that provide between 800-1000 calories. This is followed by four days of responsible eating when a person can have a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean meat and nuts. The diet pattern can be followed over and again till the desired weight loss is achieved.

What are four signs your heart is slowly failing you? ›

You may have trouble breathing, an irregular heartbeat, swollen legs, neck veins that stick out, and sounds from fluid built up in your lungs. Your doctor will check for these and other signs of heart failure. A test called an echocardiogram is often the best test to diagnose your heart failure.

What foods help rapid heart beat? ›

Can I change my diet to avoid heart palpitations after eating?
  • Consuming foods rich in potassium, such as avocados, bananas, potatoes and spinach.
  • Cutting back on alcohol.
  • Drinking lots of fluids.
  • Eating regularly to avoid low blood sugar.
  • Monitoring your caffeine intake.
  • Reducing the amount of salt and sugar you eat.

Is peanut butter heart-healthy? ›

Helps heart health

Due to its high amount of unsaturated fats, peanut butter may help reduce a person's LDL cholesterol levels. Having optimal LDL levels is linked with a lower risk of heart disease. A 2015 study found that people who had a high intake of nuts may have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease mortality.

What is the number one food to slow heart rate? ›

Potassium can help regulate your heart rate and can reduce the effect that sodium has on your blood pressure. Foods like bananas, melons, oranges, apricots, avocados, dairy, leafy green vegetables, tomatoes, potatoes, sweet potatoes, tuna, salmon, beans, nuts, and seeds have lots of potassium.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Aron Pacocha

Last Updated:

Views: 6246

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (68 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Aron Pacocha

Birthday: 1999-08-12

Address: 3808 Moen Corner, Gorczanyport, FL 67364-2074

Phone: +393457723392

Job: Retail Consultant

Hobby: Jewelry making, Cooking, Gaming, Reading, Juggling, Cabaret, Origami

Introduction: My name is Aron Pacocha, I am a happy, tasty, innocent, proud, talented, courageous, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.