5 Surprisingly Tasty Healthy Snacks for Picky Eaters

5 Surprisingly Tasty Healthy Snacks for Picky Eaters

We all know about the surprisingly healthy foods (think: dark chocolate and red wine) but what about the healthy foods that everyone is talking about (think: kale and quinoa)? Sure, if you are a healthy eater these are probably already staples in your diet but what about all you picky eaters out there? For the people who see green, and subsequently turn green; here are five snacks you probably didn’t know could be so delicious (and will have you shopping for healthier foods in no time!)

PB2 Powdered Peanut Butter

Any of my SpaFinder®  coworkers will tell you I’m obsessed with this healthy peanut butter alternative – and once you try it, you will be too! The slow-roasted peanuts are pressed to remove the oils, so you are left with a PB powder that when mixed with water, has the consistency of full-fat peanut butter and all the natural flavors – but 85 percent LESS fat calories! Can I get an AMEN?! Just two tablespoons of powder plus one of water is enough to satisfy any PB craving – 45 calories (13 from fat) 1.5g total fat and 5g protein. For a healthy dessert, I like to dip banana slices in PB2 (and for a little added sweetness – I drizzle a little agave nectar over the bananas).

4-pack, $15.96; bellplantation.com

Brad’s Raw Leafy Kale

I will admit that it took me a long time to jump on the kale train. I didn’t get the appeal of it. I, for one, like to completely enjoy everything I consume, so kale and I were not on a first-name basis. Enter: Brad’s Raw Leafy Kale (in “Nasty Hot”) – the dehydrated kale is covered in red bell pepper, cashews, sunflower seeds, lemon juice, jalapeno pepper, chickpea miso, Himalayan sea salt, and cayenne pepper – and each bite delivers a spicy kick! One ounce (which is a little less than half the box) is just 134 calories, but packs a punch with vitamins A and C, calcium, iron, and 9g of protein. While these tasty snacks are no match for fresh kale as part of a larger meal –they opened the door for me and became an excellent alternative to snacking on potato chips.

2.5-oz. box, $7.49; bradsrawchips.com

Trader Joe’s Roasted Seaweed Snack

Seaweed doesn’t just have to be the wrapping of a California Roll – it can also be a surprisingly tasty, healthy snack. What started as an eighth-century culinary paste in Japan has turned into a global snacking sensation –in paper sheet form, no less. Trader Joe’s Roasted Seaweed Snack is roasted with a touch of sesame and canola oil, sprinkled with sea salt, and cut into strips. Half a package is just 30 guilt-free calories, plus has vitamins A and C and iron.

4-oz., $.99; your local Trader Joe’s

Go Raw Spirulina Energy Bar

Truth: When I first saw this little green bar I assumed it would taste like a mix of freshly cut grass and misery (if, you know, I had ever tasted those things before), but to my pleasant surprise, it tasted like a banana chip – and now, I’m addicted. Made with organic spirulina, sprouted sesame seeds, unsulphured coconut, and sweetened with bananas and dates – this little tiny bar is the perfect way to curb cravings. While it’s only 70 calories, it’s packed with potassium (90 mg) and omega-6 (116 mg), the essential fatty acid, which like omega-3s, plays a crucial role in brain function.

Small bar(14g) $1.19; goraw.com

WhoNu? Cookies

Okay, so I’m sort of bending the rules here – obviously cookies taste good, but they are not usually healthy – WhoNu? Cookies are. I’m pretty much obsessed with the chocolate flavor, which is basically a Oreo, but unlike its more famous doppelganger, three WhoNu Chocolate Cookies are full of fiber, vitamins A, C, D, E, and B12, calcium, and iron. While three cookies are 150 calories – at least you can get some vitamins and nutrients in with your mid-day (or midnight) snack. Who knew?

15.2-oz., $3.79; cvs.com

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