We’ve reviewed hundreds of snacks and narrowed it down to the top 30, based on sugar content, carbohydrates, sodium and fat. These 30 healthy junk foods will forever change the way you snack.
These are the best healthy junk foods available, in 2021!
1. Unreal; Dark Chocolate Crispy Quinoa Gems
140 Calories | 8g Fat | 19g Carbohydrates | 0mg Sodium | 15g Sugar
If you’ve got a sweet tooth and you’re craving some M&Ms, look no further than the Dark Chocolate Crispy Quinoa Gems from Unreal. They’re vegan, they’re certified non-GMO, and they have waaay less sugar than other, similar snacks.
A must-try for anyone looking for a healthy junk food alternative. They’ve got other flavors too, including a dark chocolate coconut bar and almond butter cups. Give them a look!
2. Dough Bar; Cake Doughnut
190 Calories | 7g Fat | 20g Carbohydrates | 12g Protein | 11g Sugar
Looking for a healthy alternative to the OG of junk foods, the doughnut? Dough Bar has got you covered! They’re a small, family-owned business. You may have seen them on Shark Tank, where they pitched their doughnut business and secured a deal with Barbara Corcoran.
This doughnut is baked, not fried, it’s gluten-free, and packed with extra protein! They’ve got tons of flavors to choose from too. Somoa, dulce de leche, red velvet, etc.
3. Catalina Crunch; Keto Sandwich Cookies
90 Calories | 6g Fat | 11g Carbohydrates | 60mg Sodium | 2g Sugar
One of the planet’s most popular junk foods, the Oreo! Drunk em, lick em, double em up, it doesn’t matter how you eat them, they’re delicious. They’re also packed with sugar.
The Keto Sandwich Cookies from Catalina Crunch, however, are a healthy alternative. These cookies are 100% plant-based, low carb, high in fiber, and have only 1g of sugar per cookie. Grab a box and get to snackin’!
4. Amy’s; Vegan Cheeze Pizza Snacks
190 Calories | 8g Fat | 26g Carbohydrates | 450mg Sodium | 2g Sugar
Pizza rolls are my sh#t, y’all! I semi-think I have a problem when it comes to Totino’s Pizza Rolls… which is exactly why I needed to find another, healthier option.
For you fellow addicts looking for a healthy alternative to pizza rolls, look no further than Amy’s Vegan Cheeze Pizza Snacks. While they’re fairly high in sodium, they make up for it in healthy, plant-based organic ingredients. They also provide a solid serving a protein.
5. Smart Sweets; Sour Blast Buddies
80 Calories | 0g Fat | 36g Carbohydrates | 80mg Sodium | 3g Sugar
I’ve always been a big fan of Sour Patch Kids. In fact, I’m pretty sure they were the reason I still had “baby fat” throughout my senior year of high school. They’re addicting!
Fortunately, I found these bad boys. Smart Sweets made a healthy alternative to this junk food, Sour Blast Buddies. They’re plant-based, gluten-free, pack a ton of fiber, and are only 100 calories per bag. Getchu some!
6. Annie’s Organic Crispy Snack Bars
80 Calories | 1.5g Fat | 17g Carbohydrates | 95mg Sodium | 8g Sugar
Oh man, another guilty pleasure of mine. The Rice Krispie treat. I remember when 7/11 dropped the giant Rice Krispie treats. Literally a pound and a half of crispy marshmallow squares. Who in their right mind…
Kellogg single-handedly ruined my chance of having a girlfriend until I graduated. SMH
Annie’s came through for ya boy, though. The Crispy Snack Bars they came out with are solid! It’s a gluten-free, gelatin-free, organic version of one of America’s favorite junk foods.
7. Simply Delish; Instant Pudding
28 Calories | 0.3g Fat | 9g Carbohydrates | 283mg Sodium | 0g Sugar
If you’re like me, you could easily crush a 4 pack of Snack Pack pudding cups… also, if you’re like me, you’d regret it after you’re done.
With the Instant Pudding from Simply Delish, you don’t have to hate yourself anymore! LOL… This is a plant-based, gluten-free, vegan pudding that uses almost zero sugar! A great healthy junk food to add to the pantry.
8. Chocolate Dipped Cuties
I had to include these. I made them the other day and they’re freakin’ tasty! They’re also a much healthier alternative to a lot of junk foods out there, especially if you make them with semi-sweet or dark chocolate.
You’re probably familiar with chocolate covered strawberries, but have you ever had a chocolate covered oranges!? These are as delicious as they are creative! And, they’re super easy to make. Literally only requires three ingredients – semisweet chocolate chips, coconut oil, and mandarin oranges.
You gotta try these!
9. Theo; Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
220 Calories | 15g Fat | 17g Carbohydrates | 55mg Sodium | 12g Sugar
If you’re craving a Reese’s, I’ve got the perfect healthier alternative for you. Honestly, they’re just as good! And, if you haven’t tried Theo Chocolate before, you’re in for a treat.
Theo’s Peanut Butter Cups are made from organic dark chocolate, they’re non-GMO, and they’re vegan! They also have significantly less sugar and sodium than Reese’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter cups.
They are tasty!
10. Bob’s Red Mill; Peanut Butter & Jelly Oats Bar
210 Calories | 8g Fat | 28g Carbohydrates | 90mg Sodium | 11g Sugar
Who doesn’t love a good PB&J? It’s a junk food staple. Crunchy peanut butter, creamy, maybe some Nutella… you can’t go wrong. They’re not always the best snack for your waistline, though.
Bob’s Red Mill makes a variety of healthy and delicious snack bars, including a peanut butter and jelly bar. It’s made with whole grain oats, peanut butter, and organic honey. With less than 9 grams of sugar per bar and up to 6 grams of protein, these non-GMO, gluten-free protein bars are a must add to this list of healthy junk food.
11. Awesome Foods; Kale Chips
110 Calories | 8g Fat | 6g Carbohydrates | 60mg Sodium | 1g Sugar
I know what your thinking, kale, really? Seriously though, if you haven’t tried Kale Chips before you have to give them a shot. They’re definitely one of the healthier junk foods on this list.
Awesome Foods, in particular, make an awesome kale chip. These bad boys are gluten-free, non-GMO, organic, and vegan! I’ve tried a variety of different kale chip brands and these have got to be the best tasting.
12. Lenny & Larry’s; Complete Chocolate Chip Cookie
210 Calories | 6g Fat | 30g Carbohydrates | 115mg Sodium | 12g Sugar
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a cookie feign. There seriously isn’t a cookie I don’t like. Which is why I needed to find a healthier alternative, so I could keep snackin’.
Plant-based, non-GMO, vegan and Kosher-friendly cookies, oh my! Seriously, no dairy, soy, eggs, high fructose corn syrup, or artificial sweeteners. The Complete Chocolate Chip Cookie by Lenny & Larry is a badass healthy junk food. They were actually featured on Forbes “Junk Food, Minus The Junk”.
Check em out!
13. Halo Top; Healthy Ice Cream
70 Calories | 3g Fat | 15g Carbohydrates | 75mg Sodium | 5g Sugar
It’s hard to believe “healthy” and “ice cream” would ever be used in the same sentence. It’s official though, there is now ice cream that won’t completely ruin your diet.
Halo Top offers both dairy-free and Keto ice cream flavors. With as little as 280-380 calories per pint, this low cal, high-protein ice cream is flying off the shelves! They’ve got some awesome flavors too, including oatmeal cookie, strawberry cheesecake, and peaches & cream.
Dig in!
14. Field Trip; Turkey Jerky
80 Calories | 1g Fat | 10g Carbohydrates | 380mg Sodium | 8g Sugar
There are plenty of other junk foods I’d rather have than beef jerky. It’s a popular one though, so I figured I’d make room for it on this list.
Ladies and gentlemen, Turkey Jerky from Field Trip! While this healthy junk food is a bit higher in sodium than many of the others on this list, it’s still a great alternative to traditional beef jerky. No preservatives, no added MSG, and no Corn Syrup.
15. Open Nature; Cauliflower Crust Pizza
410 Calories | 19g Fat | 39g Carbohydrates | 1080mg Sodium | 5g Sugar
One of my favorite junk foods is pizza… who doesn’t love a good pizza? However, it’s tough to find a pizza that isn’t packed with sodium and unhealthy fats. There is hope for us pizza lovers, though.
Open Nature, a Safeway owned brand, has one of the best Cauliflower Crust Pizzas out there. It’s packed with protein and has significantly less sodium than many of the most popular frozen pizzas.
16. Flax 4 Life; Chocolate Brownies
130 Calories | 7g Fat | 16g Carbohydrates | 65mg Sodium | 10g Sugar
It’s honestly hard to find a brownie that isn’t packed with sugar and fat. It’s equally hard to find a brownie that’s both dairy-free and gluten-free, and still tastes good. I wasn’t sure if they even existed.
Until I found Flax 4 Life…
Flax 4 Life, through some sort of witchcraft, I’m sure, created one of the tastiest brownies from flaxseed. These brownies provide a healthy punch of fiber, protein, and Omega 3’s. Another solid healthy junk food, for sure!
17. Flourless Banana Bread Bars
Banana bread, banana cream pie, banana split… some of my favorite junk foods have bananas. But, even though they include fruit, they’re still heavy on calories and pack a ton of sugar.
The Flourless Banana Bread Bars, from Armen Liew’s food and lifestyle blog, The Big Man’s World, are simple, delicious, and healthy! And, they’re super easy to make. They only have 3 ingredients – bananas, rolled oats, and peanut butter. These vegan bars are gluten-free and pack a ton of protein (13g)!
Definitely a bangin’ snack!
18. Van’s; Multigrain Waffles
140 Calories | 5g Fat | 20g Carbohydrates | 380mg Sodium | 3g Sugar
Oh, the waffle… this is one food I’ve loved since I was a kid. It goes great with almost anything. Syrup, whipped cream, fruit, peanut butter, it’s a probably one of the most versatile junk foods. However, they’re usually packed with sugar and refined carbs.
Not Van’s though, Van’s Multigrain Waffles are made with 8 different whole grains and sweetened with honey. They’re dairy-free, egg-free, and non-GMO. Had to include this healthier alternative on our list!
19. Zevia; Zero Calorie Soda
0 Calories | 0g Fat | 0g Carbohydrates | 0mg Sodium | 0g Sugar
I’m not a big soda pop drinker, but if you’re looking to enjoy a soda these are definitely a great option.
Zevia, unlike Coke or Pepsi, uses plant-based ingredients, are naturally sweetened (with Stevia), and have zero artificial ingredients. They have over a dozen different flavors and also offer energy drinks, mixers, and sparkling water. A healthy junk food, for sure!
20. bare; Baked Apple Chips
110 Calories | 0g Fat | 27g Carbohydrates | 0mg Sodium | 21g Sugar
When you think of junk food, I’m guessing you don’t think of sliced, baked fruit. And, neither do I… but, that’s why we’re here. We want something sweet and satisfying, but without all the sugar and calories from traditional desserts.
This is the snack for you.
Seriously, if you’re looking for something sweet, look no further than Baked Apple Chips from bare. These are a great healthy snack. They’re gluten-free, dairy free, fat free, vegan, and a great source of fiber. Bare is a great brand too
21. Larabar; Peanut Butter Cookie Bar
220 Calories | 12g Fat | 23g Carbohydrates | 85mg Sodium | 17g Sugar
Majority of the protein bars and energy bars out there are glorified candy bars. They’re usually packed with sugar, carbs, and a bunch of ingredients you can’t pronounce.
Not Larabar, though…
Larabar makes over a dozen different flavors of “fruit and nut bars”. They usually only have a few ingredients. One of my favorites is the Peanut Butter Cookie Bar. It has only 3 ingredients (dates, peanuts, and sea salt). Meaning it’s dairy free, vegan, non GMO, and soy and gluten-free!
22. SkinnyPop; Healthy Popcorn
150 Calories | 10g Fat | 15g Carbohydrates | 75mg Sodium | 0g Sugar
A big bowl of popcorn goes good with just about any activity. It’s virtually impossible to cut yourself off once you get started, too. If only there was a healthier alternative!
Skinnypop, awarded one of the best healthy snacks of 2018, is easily one of the best still to this day. It has no artificial ingredients, zero grams of trans fat, and is gluten-free and non-GMO.
Grab a bag!
23. Alexia; Sweet Potato Fries
140 Calories | 5g Fat | 24g Carbohydrates | 140mg Sodium | 6g Sugar
Ah, the french fry… they’ve been around forever and I still can’t get enough of them. However, with all the grease and salt from french fries it makes it harder and harder to binge on them.
Not Alexia Sweet Potato Fries, though!
I actually prefer these over traditional French fries. They’re so much healthier, too. Alexia uses certified USDA organic potatoes and uses less than 50% the amount of sodium used by some of the more common French fry brands. Sweet potatoes are also a heck of a lot better for you than most other potatoes.
24. One Degree Organics; Ancient Maize Flakes
110 Calories | 3g Fat | 19g Carbohydrates | 150mg Sodium | 7g Sugar
Feeling a little nostalgic? Pick up a box of Ancient Maize Flakes from One Degree Organic Foods. These are a tasty (and healthy) alternative to the cereal we all know and love, Frosted Flakes.
They’re made with organic maize and sweetened with low-glycemic coconut palm sugar. A great addition to the junk food section in your pantry.
25. Dates and Peanut Butter
Had to include these on the list as I was just turned on to them, and I absolutely love them! It’s a simple, healthier alternative to Snickers.
…swear, they taste just like a Snickers.
The recipe I used was from Ania, over at Lazy Cat Kitchen. All you need is dates (she uses Medjool dates), peanut butter, and chopped dark chocolate. Split the date, pack with peanut butter, and sprinkle with chocolate.
You can thank me later 😉
26. Harvest Snaps; Green Pea Crisps
130 Calories | 5g Fat | 16g Carbohydrates | 75mg Sodium | 0g Sugar
One of my favorite foods to snack on while I’m working at my desk are the Green Pea Crisps from Harvest Snaps. They’ve got a bunch of flavors to choose from, too.
This healthy junk food is a tad bit higher in the sodium department, but still a healthier alternative to snacks like potato chips and crackers. It also has a solid amount of protein and is a great source of fiber! They’re gluten-free, non-GMO and baked (never fried).
27. Jackson’s Honest; Sweet Potato Chips
150 Calories | 9g Fat | 18g Carbohydrates | 150mg Sodium | 4g Sugar
I’ve always been more of a sweets guy, than a salty guy. That said, I’m always in the mood for a good potato chip.
Jackson’s Honest Potato Chips are made from nutrient-rich potatoes, like heirloom purple potatoes and Japanese heirloom sweet potatoes. And, instead of being fried over high-heat, they’re slow cooked in coconut oil using low heat.
Healthy fat, low sodium, great healthy junk food.
28. Back To Nature; Harvest Blend Trail Mix
160 Calories | 11g Fat | 14g Carbohydrates | 0mg Sodium | 10g Sugar
While I love a good bag of trail mix, I’d be lying to you if I told you it wasn’t junk food. Peanuts and M&Ms… it’s pretty easy to go overboard.
A great alternative to traditional trail mix is the Harvest Blend Trail Mix by Back To Nature. This plant-based, non-GMO mix includes raisins, almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, dried apricots, and pecans. It’s a healthy junk food, and it’s damn tasty.
29. Flax 4 Life; Blueberry Muffins
310 Calories | 14g Fat | 38g Carbohydrates | 660mg Sodium | 21g Sugar
I love a good muffin, especially a blueberry muffin. They’re usually packed with lots of butter and sugar though, so it’s hard to enjoy them on a stricter diet.
That said, Flax 4 Life makes a great, healthy blueberry muffin. These gluten and dairy-free muffins are packed with Omega 3’s, fiber, and protein. Add them to the list!
30. Theo; Sea Salt Dark Chocolate
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210 Calories | 17g Fat | 20g Carbohydrates | 150mg Sodium | 13g Sugar
Okay, I know I’ve already included Theo’s on this list. They know what they’re doing when it comes to chocolate, though. They’re also from Seattle, so maybe I’m a little bias…
Regardless, their Sea Salt Dark Chocolate bar is fire! And, it’s a great alternative to other junk foods, like milk chocolate. This bar is everything you wished chocolate would be. It’s vegan, gluten-free, organic, and non-GMO.
Trust me, you’ll love it!
