Eat plenty of whole grains and you’ll reap a long list of health benefits. Truly. (C’mon, carb haters, keep reading!)
You’ll likely have lower cholesterol, better blood pressure, a lower risk of diabetes and better blood sugar management; even your liver and teeth may be healthier. Research also shows you could live longer, as well as cut your risk of dying from heart disease and cancer.
If you’re watching your weight, whole grains are also helpful: people who eat more whole grains tend to have lower BMIs and smaller waists, and gain less weight over time. In fact, in one study, people who ate whole grains (and got their recommended amount of fiber) ate fewer total calories each day and had healthier weights than their counterparts who ate refined grains (think: white bread, pasta and rice and baked goods) without much fiber.
Learn more:10 Amazing Health Benefits of Fiber
And while all those are amazing reasons for eating more whole grains, it can be tricky to eat more whole grains when you’re on the go.
These healthy packaged snacks make it easy to sneak more whole grains into your daily living. The first ingredient in each is a whole grain, which is important. Some products look whole-grain but are actually still made with a fair amount of refined grains (we’re looking at you, wheat bread that’s made with white flour instead of whole-wheat flour).
These store-bought snacks aren’t just good for you-we tasted them all and they’re also delicious. (To make your own healthy whole-grain snacks,check out these healthy recipes.)
Kid-Friendly Whole-Grain Snacks
Plum Organics Mighty Snack Bars (Blueberry)
Photo via Amazon.com
Buy them on Amazon
Ella’s Kitchen Organic Nibbly Fingers (Apples + Strawberries)
Jif Power Ups (Apple Cinnamon)
Photo via Walmart.com
Buy them at Walmart
Whole-Grain Snacks for Adults
Bobo’s Oat Bar (Original)
Hearty and filling, this mostly oat-based baked bar has a fairly simple ingredient list and is vegan and gluten- and soy-free. Eater beware, though: the nutrition listed is for half of the bar so if you eat it all (we did!), double all of the numbers (1/2 bar has 180 calories, 2 grams fiber and only 75 milligrams sodium).
Rice Ramen Noodle Soup (Masala Curry)
You might not think of this as a whole-grain snack, but all you have to do is add boiling water to the brown-rice noodles (brown rice is a whole grain) and seasonings that are already in the cup. This tasty snack is ready in 3 minutes-for only 210 calories, 480 milligrams sodium (which is so much lower than most other cup-based soups) and 3 grams fiber.
GG Exceptional Fiber Scandinavian Fiber Crispbread (Raisin & Honey)
These hearty crackers are tasty and quite crisp, as their name implies, but they’re for the eater that leans toward the health-nut category-as they’re quite earnest and fibrous in their texture. A single cracker is fairly large and only 40 calories, yet has 2 grams fiber and 0 milligrams sodium. Use them as a base for a little tuna or chicken salad, or a smear of soft cheese, and you’ll have a very satisfying snack.
Whole-Grain Snacks Everyone Will Love
Skinny Pop Popcorn Mini Cakes (Sharp Cheddar)
Photo via Target.com
Buy them at Target
You might not know this, but popcorn is a whole grain (and is naturally low in calories) so it’s a slam-dunk healthy snack choice, as long as you don’t go wild on the butter or other seasonings. These mini cakes are full of flavor and pack in 4 grams fiber, with no added sugars whatsoever and only 120 calories per serving.
Quinn Pretzels (Classic Sea Salt)
These are one of the few pretzel brands on the market that are made with whole-grain flour. Most pretzels are made with enriched wheat flour-and that’s not a whole grain. These particular pretzels are made with whole-grain sorghum flour, making them gluten-free. And the sodium in them (260 milligrams per 33-pretzel serving) isn’t all that high compared to many other brands.
Bob’s Better Bar (Peanut Butter Jelly & Oats)
Photo via Bob’s Red Mill
Buy them at Bob’s Red Mill
These brand-new bars from Bob’s are slightly more dense, moist and chewy than both Bobo’s and Cascadian Farm bars. It’s likely because the first ingredient is peanuts (for all of the flavors, actually), but thesecondis whole-grain oats. Clocking in at 210 calories, they also give you some fiber (3 grams) and protein (7 grams), helping to make these pretty filling.
Cascadian Farm Organic Soft-Baked Squares (Oats & Chocolate)
This soft and chewy version of their classic chocolate chip granola bar is great for kids and adults. One bar has 150 calories and 2 grams fiber. And the first two ingredients are whole grains (the third is sugar).
Kodiak Cakes Flapjack-on-the-Go Cup (Buttermilk & Maple)
Designed for breakfast, yes, but these quick-cooking pancakes-in-a-cup are easy to take with you on the go-simply add water and microwave briefly. It’s a hearty snack at around 250 calories, but you get a solid 10 grams protein. These are on the higher side in sugar (15 grams) but they do come with their own maple syrup (in the form of flakes) so you don’t need to add additional sweetener.
Top 10 Healthy Snacks for Kids
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See More from EatingWell
Le Creuset Dropped a Heart-Shaped Dutch Oven, and It’s the Perfect Gift for Valentine’s DayThese Cups Are Portable & Leakproof—and Shoppers Say They’re ‘Just the Right Size’ for Overnight OatsLululemon’s ‘We Made Too Much’ Section Has the Best Gear for Cold Weather Workouts
Le Creuset Dropped a Heart-Shaped Dutch Oven, and It’s the Perfect Gift for Valentine’s Day
These Cups Are Portable & Leakproof—and Shoppers Say They’re ‘Just the Right Size’ for Overnight Oats
Lululemon’s ‘We Made Too Much’ Section Has the Best Gear for Cold Weather Workouts
