Snack Smarter
Snacks are not the nutritional devils we often make them out to be. Two well-timed snacks over the course of your day can stave off hunger with healthy fats and—yes, even ice cream—can keep you from diving into a junk-food binge, which helps you stick to a healthy diet.
But it's the quality of those snacks that matters most, and not just when it comes to calories. According to the Grocery Manufacturers Association, approximately 80 percent of packaged foods contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that—among other health concerns—put you at greater risk for food allergies and gastrointestinal problems. Because GMOs aren't labeled as such, you can't protect yourself from these iffy ingredients and identify them in that lengthy list of ingredients you either can't pronounce or have never heard of. That's why we compiled this list of the best, healthy certified-organic snacks and snacks certified under the Non-GMO Project Verified program, which tests foods for residues of unhealthy, pesticide-riddled, GMO ingredients.
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Equal Exchange Organic Chocolate Caramel Crunch with Sea Salt
Adding sea salt to a classic combination like chocolate and caramel delivers a crunch guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth. Plus, this tasty bar is certified organic!
equalexchange.coop
Per 9-piece serving size (about ½ bar):
200 calories
2 grams (g) protein
21 g carbohydrates (carbs)
13 g fat
Read More: The Best Organic Chocolates
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Beanitos Chipotle BBQ Black Bean Chips
Free from corn or wheat—and GMOs—Beanitos chips are made with black or pinto beans and provide a satisfying snack that has twice the protein of genetically altered corn chips.
beanitos.com
Per 1-ounce serving:
140 calories
4 g protein
15 g carbs
7 g fat
Read More: 9 Super-Healthy Vegetarian Protein Sources
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Peanut Butter & Co. Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Peanut Butter
Most flavored nut butters are saddled with extra sugar and hydrogenated oils. This GMO-free spread has half the sugar of other flavored peanut butters, with the added bonus of cinnamon, which helps control blood sugar. Spread it on whole wheat crackers, or make the old snack standby, Ants on a Log, using organic celery.
ilovepeanutbutter.com
Per 2-Tablespoon serving:
160 calories
6 g protein
13 g carbs
11 g fat
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B'More Organic Mango-Banana Smoothie
If you want a powerful protein punch after your next workout, look no further than B'More Organic. The certified-organic smoothies contain skyr, an Icelandic yogurt made from skim milk that's rich in protein, which aids in muscle growth and recovery. It's also sweetened with stevia, a natural, zero-calorie sugar alternative.
bmoreorganic.com
Per 8-ounce bottle:
130 calories
16 g protein
16 g carbs
0 g fat
Read More: Shed Pounds on an Organic Diet
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Late July Bite Size Cheddar Cheese Crackers
Back away from the Cheez-Its…. We've got a certified-organic alternative that will blow those processed cheddar chunks out of the water.
latejuly.com
Per 30 crackers:
130 calories
3 g protein
19 g carbs
4.5 g fat
Read More: Make Your Own Cheese Crackers
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Equal Exchange Apricot Geobars
Chewy fruit-filled bars are great for an on-the-go breakfast, dessert in your packed lunch, or a quick snack, and the fiber from the wheat and rice makes it a perfect midmorning hunger-killer.
equalexchange.coop
Per bar:
120 calories
1 g protein
24 g carbs
1 g fat
Read More: Make Your Own Energy Bars
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Straus Family Creamery Brown Sugar Banana Ice Cream
Studies have shown that indulging in a little dessert every now and then actually helps you stick to a healthy diet. Just don't make it boring! Made with roasted banana, chocolate chunks, and dark brown sugar, this ice cream is loaded with banana-split-in-a-cup flavor. What could be better? And it's certified organic, to boot.
strausfamilycreamery.com
Per ½-cup serving:
250 calories
3 g protein
32 g carbs
11 g fat
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Country Choice Organic Snacking Vanilla Wafers
Reminiscent of childhood snack time, these cookies don't disappoint, and they're the perfect addition to a homemade banana pudding.
countrychoiceorganic.com
Per 7-cookie serving:
140 calories
1g protein
22 g carbs
5 g fat
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Golden Valley Natural Sweet 'n' Spicy Beef Jerky
Nix the gas station jerky and check out this beefy snack. Like other forms of processed meats, jerky is typically chock-full of synthetic nitrites, which have been linked to cancer. But this certified-organic alternative has none of those, nor has the meat been injected with hormones, antibiotics, or genetically modified feed. (Also available in turkey or buffalo.)
goldenvalleynatural.com
Per 1-ounce serving:
70 calories
11 g protein
5 g carbs
1 g fat
Read More: The 11 Best Hot Dogs
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Nature's Path Macaroon Crunch Granola Bars
This crunchy certified-organic granola bar has the perfect amount of chocolate and a subtle hint of coconut to satisfy a sugar craving, without all the sugar. Two bars have just 8 grams of sugar, half the sugar of other candylike granola bars.
naturespath.com
Per 2-bar package:
200 calories
3 g protein
27 g carbs
8 g fat
Read More: Take Control of Your Appetite!
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Clif Kid Strawberry Z Fruit Rope
Remember your old friend, the Fruit Roll-Up? A quick glance at its ingredients list will make you realize why the world needs an organic version: hydrogenated oils, corn syrup, and concentrated fruit juice, but no actual fruit. This organic spin on a childhood favorite contains said fruit and little else—not even sugar.
clifbar.com
Per piece:
70 calories
0 g protein
17 g carbs
0 g fat
Read More: The Worst Summer Fruits
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Late July Dark Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
It's like an Oreo, only organic. Grab the milk and start dunking.
latejuly.com
Per 3-cookie serving:
150 calories
2 g protein
21 g carbs
6 g fat
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Nuts.com Organic Trail Mix
Nuts are a filling snack, not to mention a fantastic source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats. Add dried raisins, cranberries, banana chips, and a few pumpkin seeds and you get a dose of potassium and magnesium, which keep your mind sharp during those midafternoon slumps.
nuts.com
Per 1-ounce serving:
120 calories
1 g protein
22 g carbs
4 g fat
Read More: 7 Economical Superfoods for Everyone
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Pure Organic Cranberry Orange Bar
Prefer to get your nuts in bar form? Grab one of these bars, which mix walnuts, almonds, and cashews with real orange zest and antioxidant-rich cranberries. It's like Thanksgiving cranberry dressing—in bar form! And they're gluten-free.
thepurebar.com
Per bar:
190 calories
6 g protein
27 g carbs
8 g fat
Read More: Could You Ever Go Vegan?
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Snyder's of Hanover Organic Honey Whole Wheat Pretzel Sticks
These sticks are a sweet zing on the classic crunchy favorite, and they're made with whole wheat, a more filling alternative to the refined white flour used in ordinary pretzels.
snydersofhanover.com
Per 1-ounce serving:
110 calories
4 g protein
20 g carbs
2 g fat
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Luna & Larry's Organic Coconut Bliss Ginger Cookie Caramel Ice Cream
Ginger cookies mixed with caramel mixed with coconut ice cream…do we really need to say more? Actually, it gets better: Aside from the fact that it tastes fantastic, this decadent dessert is both certified organic and verified as non-GMO, and is made with Fair Trade–Certified vanilla. And because the ice cream is made from coconut milk, it contains all the heart- and immune-protective properties found in coconut fats and oils (though it still has a lot of sugar, so keep that in mind before you down the whole pint, tempting as that may be) and is a good dairy-free alternative for people who are lactose-intolerant.
coconutbliss.com
Per ½-cup serving:
220 calories
2 g protein
24 g carbs
14 g fat
Read More: 5 Reasons to Support Fair Trade
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Rumiano Organic Mozzarella Cheese
The smoky taste of this mozzarella opens a whole new world for grilled-cheese lovers. Or cut up the block into individual string-cheese–style sticks for an easy snack—it's worth the effort. Rumiano's cheeses are certified both organic and Non-GMO, and are from animals raised entirely on grass, which means the products are full of healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
rumianocheese.com
Per 1-ounce serving:
90 calories
7 g protein
1 g carbs
6 g fat
Read More: Why Healthy Milk Comes from Organic Cows
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Lakewood Organic Lemonade
Try selling this at your next lemonade stand and see if sales suddenly skyrocket. Ironically, very few lemonades on the market can claim to contain nothing but fruit juice. Most are doctored up with artificial flavorings, high-fructose corn syrup, and other sugars. But this stuff is the real deal—lemons, fruit juice, and that's it.
lakewoodjuices.com
Per 8-ounce serving:
80 calories
0 g protein
20 g carbs
0 g fat
Read More: 6 Scams in the Juice Aisle
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Kettle Brand Organic Salt & Fresh Ground Pepper Potato Chips
Kick your old pesticide-laden chips to the curb. These organic chips have just enough seasoning to spice up your life without the toxic pesticides used on conventional potatoes.
kettlebrand.com
Per 1-ounce serving:
150 calories
2 g protein
16 g carbs
9 g fat
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Attune Foods Erewhon Organic Cinnamon Grahams
Dip them in milk, spread them with some of our recommended cinnamon-raisin-flavored peanut butter, or eat them plain. There is no wrong way to enjoy these classic crackers.
attunefoods.com
Per 2 full cracker sheets:
130 calories
2 g protein
24 g carbs
2.5 g fat
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So Delicious Mint Marble Fudge Ice Cream
This creamy, cold treat doesn't disappoint—imagine eating a Girl Scout Cookie, but in soft-serve form. The added bonus? It's made from organic soy, so even those who prefer non-dairy can enjoy without worrying about the toxic pesticide residues that contaminate genetically modified soy products.
sodeliciousdairyfree.com
Per ½-cup serving:
140 calories
1 g protein
27 g carbs
3 g fat
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