By Jason (a.k.a. Gina’s fiance)

Most of the time, it seems that the snacks that are the least expensive tend to be not so good for you.  There’s the chips, the cookies, the candy, and many others that are very tasty, but also packed with calories, sugar, fat, preservatives, or many other things that, in excess, can be detrimental.  So what to do?

Of course, with any kind of food, you will always want to consult the nutrition facts to see if the following ideas will work for you.  One quick and easy way to find this information for virtually any kind of food is to visit CalorieKing.  I used this to help gather the calorie content and nutritional value of the foods I discuss below.  It is a great tool to use anytime!

And don’t forget to keep allergies in mind when trying something new!

But without further ado, check out this list of 10 healthy, easy, and inexpensive snack ideas…

Bananas – At about only 100 calories for medium-sized ones, which are also packed with many beneficial nutrients, and no fat or cholesterol, they make for a great place to start!  Not only are they quite portable for convenience, they are easy to eat.  And at around 60 – 70 cents per pound, they are cheap!  Compare that to a bag of chips bought from a snack machine.

Popcorn – To start, keep in mind that there are many ways to pop it (with oil, with butter, without), and many ways to consume it (no butter added, drenched in butter, etc.), which will affect the calorie and fat content.  The great thing is though that when these additives are used sparingly or in moderation, then you can pretty much count on regular, air-popped popcorn to have around 30 calories per cup.  You can pop some in bulk, and easily portion it out in plastic bags, which you can just grab and go!  And a bag of popcorn kernels is super inexpensive!  Even certain brands of microwave kinds are low on price!

Low fat cottage cheese – You may not have thought of eating this as a standalone snack before, but it is quite tasty, satisfying, and has minimal calories.  One four-ounce serving has around 100 calories, and the saturated fat content is on the low end of the spectrum.  Just keep track of what constitutes a serving by measuring it out for the first time, so you can get an idea of what makes a four-ounce serving, so you don’t end up consuming more than you think!

Carrots – Another idea packed with nutrients, but extraordinarily low in calories and with no fat, they are very easy to eat on the go.  Baby carrots are sold by the bag in the produce section, with no preparation needed, aside from washing.  They keep for a long time in the fridge, and can be quite satisfying as well.  Try them with your favorite dip to make them even more flavorful!  Just don’t douse them in ranch or another high-fat, high-calorie dressing.  This will negate the healthfulness of them.

Cheddar-flavored rice cakes – Don’t be shy about trying these because of what you may have heard – they are quite tasty!  At about 45 calories a piece, you can eat three of them, get a good feeling of sustenance, and only top out at 135 calories!  At only around $2 a bag, they’re easy on your wallet too!

Celery – Similar to the nutritional value of carrots, these are just as easy!  You can buy a bunch in the produce section for a small cost per pound, cut them up into smaller servings, and package them in small plastic bags to reach for on the run!  They’re great for dipping to!

Wasa Brand Fiber Crispbread – Come on now, not everything has to have a tasty title to be flavorful!  Don’t let the name fool you – these, especially with just a touch of cream cheese spread on them, are awesome.  Quite hearty, these will fill you up, but without the high calorie count to boot!  They are 35 calories per cracker, are made from whole grains, have no preservatives, and pack a punch of fiber!  And at about $2 per package of 22, they will last a long time for little cash!  They can be found in the cracker section of virtually every grocery store in my area – hopefully they’ll be in yours too!

Whole-grain tortillas and salsa – On the heartier spectrum, a couple of these will fill you up right quick!  At about 150 calories, and usually a good deal of fiber, they taste great dipped in your favorite salsa!

Whole, raw almonds – When purchased in bulk at your local whole food store (in my area, that could be Sprouts Farmers Market), you can usually get a pound for around $5.  Even Wal-Mart sells Blue Diamond brand, with a pre-packaged bag costing about the same.  A one-ounce serving contains about 165 calories, with minimal saturated fat.  They do have a higher amount of fat than other snacks, but it is generally in the form of the unsaturated kinds, many of which experts say may help reduce your cholesterol, when incorporated into a balanced diet.  With the loads of other important minerals and nutrients, almonds may become a staple in your snack arsenal.  Just be sure to also measure these out a couple times before you start eating them regularly, so that you can get a good idea of what a serving size consists of.  You can pre-portion them in snack bags, so that you can take them to work, etc.

Raisins – You can’t forget about this old stand-by!  A 1.5-ounce serving contains about 130 calories, no fat, and lots of nutrients to help keep you going throughout the day!  And if you buy them in bulk or in larger containers, and avoid the boxes of individual servings, then they will be quite friendly to the bank account as well!

So next time you get hungry between meals, try one of these instead of going by the old snack machine.  Your wallet and body may thank you for it!

Tags: healthy snack ideas