We all love a good snack. Whether you need something to tide you over between meals or to fuel a busy day, snacks can be a key component of a nutritious, balanced diet.

That being said, traditional snack foods like chips and cookies that lack filling protein and fiber will probably leave you feeling hungry and sleepy not long after finishing. Many of these snack foods are also purposefully engineered with an addictive combination of salt, sugar and fat that keeps you coming back for more. It’s not your fault when you unintentionally finish off a whole bag of chips, they were designed so you would do just that.

On the other hand, healthy snacks can add nutrients to your diet and keep you fueled and satisfied. The key to a nourishing snack? Protein + fiber. This combination promotes fullness and keeps your blood sugars stable so that you’re feeling energized and satisfied. Luckily, there are so many tasty ways to achieve this nutritious combination. If you need some ideas, check out the list below.

How to Build a Nutritious Snack

Mix and match these protein and fiber sources to create a nutritious and satisfying pairing.

A few other tips to keep in mind:

Opt for whole food snacks over packaged snacks when possible. This takes out the guess work and need to read any nutrition facts labels or ingredient lists.
Keep added sugars to a minimum. Aim for about 0-2 grams of added sugar per serving.
Switch it up: Varying your snacks will keep things interesting and also increase your chances of getting all the nutrients you need.
Keep dressings and dips like hummus, pesto or cashew sauces on hand that you can use with a variety of foods and help make veggies more appealing.
If you still want to enjoy more traditional snack foods or find it too difficult to swap these out, then try focusing on how you could add some of the above suggestions to your current snacks.
Consider all-in-one options like these energy balls: PB&J Energy Bites, Chocolate Cherry Energy Bites, or these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls.