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By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern

We all know the feeling when a few hours after lunch, we begin to feel “snacky” again. Often, when it comes to buying or preparing snacks, our main objectives are to find a snack that is quick, not too messy, convenient, and fairly healthy.

While these are great goals to have when snacking, another snack food criterion to also consider is how they support heart health. Believe it or not, a lot of foods that are easy snacks also have a great deal of heart health benefits. 

Check out this list of 20 dietician-recommended heart-healthy snacks:

1. Almond butter and fruit
2. Grapes, cranberries, or pomegranates
3. Avocado toast
4. Hummus and veggies
5. Bread and olive oil
6. Tuna, avocado, and cucumber slices
7. Tuna salad
8. Salmon and crackers
9. Walnuts and fruit
10. Bean salsa and sliced bell peppers
11. Popcorn
12. Roasted chickpeas
13. Edamame
14. Pumpkin seeds
15. Cheese and whole grain crackers
16. Trail mix
17. Peanut butter and whole grain toast
18. Overnight oats and nut butter
19. Corn chips and guacamole
20. Yogurt or cottage cheese

If you haven’t noticed already, there are a couple of nutrients that all of these snacks have in common. These would be fiber, healthy fats, and antioxidants, which registered dietician Erica Ingraham considers to be the trifecta of heart healthy nutrients.

But remember, these are tasty snacks so watch how much you eat. Portion control still needs to be in place.

So, the next time that you’re preparing snacks for yourself, or shopping to replenish your pantry, make sure to incorporate some of these heart-healthy foods! Not only will you be satisfying your “snacky” feelings, but you’ll also be doing your heart a favor!

Check out these related snack articles from Fill Your Plate!

• Healthy Snacks to Take on the Road – Fill Your Plate Blog
• Top 5 Healthy Snacks for Back to School (fillyourplate.org)
• Fun Summer Snacks – Fill Your Plate Blog