Eat healthier snacks with advice from these nutritionists

Improving eating habits is high on the list of popular New Year's resolutions, and it's a big goal, because even small changes to your diet can have big results in the form of more energy, better skin, better sleep, and more.

Of course, "improving eating habits" is pretty vague, and it can feel overwhelming to implement a wholesale change to your diet at a moment's notice.

A smart way to approach a healthy eating goal is to break it down into smaller parts and focus on improving them one at a time, and there's hardly a better place to start than with your snacks.

But snacks are tricky!

Many, many snacks that appear or are marketed as healthy are really not healthy at all, which makes figuring out which type of snack to choose a challenge.

We turned to nutritionists and healthy eating experts to share some wisdom on healthy snacks, including the items they personally turn to and recommend when hunger strikes.

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How to choose a healthy snack

Melissa Vasikauskas, a registered dietitian who coaches clients on healthy eating strategies, says, "A healthy snack encompasses all the nutrients your body needs to function."

She says that listening to your cravings is actually a good thing to do, as long as you make smart choices when feeding that craving.

"If you crave something high in sugar," he says, "it's because your body is looking for fast-acting carbohydrates. You can incorporate foods you love and crave, while also balancing them with other foods to create a healthy, satisfying, wholesome snack." ".

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Kristin Kirkpatrick, founder of KAK Nutrition Consulting, says, "I tell my patients that a healthy snack is one that gives you a nutritional benefit. The snack should be low in sugar (unless it's fresh fruit), and have fiber and adequate protein. Snacks should fuel us, not drain our energy."

The experts we spoke with agreed that aiming for a balanced snack is the goal, and that a balanced snack can have room for indulgent indulgence.

Mallory Gonzales, registered dietitian and head of nutrition at Kencko, says, "If you need a bite of chocolate, take a bite of chocolate!"

Gonzales explains how to incorporate indulgences into your snack:

I would start by looking at the macronutrients in the snack (carbs, protein, and fat) and try to have at least two of them in combination.

Healthy snack supplies

We asked these experts what snacks they make for themselves, and what items and appliances they look for when making their favorite little bites.

This is what they responded to us:

Dash Tashi-Crisp Air Fryer

At Amazon Mexico with

.

From MX$1,180 to

At Amazon USA with 

.

From $59.99 to

Vasikauskas uses an air fryer to collate chickpeas, oil, and your favorite spices for 12-15 minutes.

This was considered the best affordable air fryer by our CNN Underscored test team.

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Breville Super Q

You can buy it on Amazon for

For something sweeter, Vasikauskas uses her blender to make smoothies.

His basic recipe mixes 6 ounces of Greek yogurt, fresh or frozen fruit, half a cup of juice or water, and ice.

This particular blender was our pick for best of last year.

The Smart Oven

You can buy it at Amazon Mexico for

and with the possibility of paying up to 15 MSI.

"A toaster oven is also great for heating up some bread and spreading on peanut butter," says Vasikauskas.

In addition to peanut butter toast, she also loves these simple snacks: raw vegetables and crackers with hummus;

Greek yogurt with berries and nuts;

fruit with cheese

Oxo Good Grips Melon Baller

At Amazon Mexico at

On Amazon USA at

"This gadget makes it easy to prepare fruit," says Kirkpatrick.

Vasikauskas offers a helpful tip for picking up fruit-based snacks: "If it's more than an hour before your next meal, choose a snack that incorporates protein, carbohydrates, and fat. But if it's less than an hour before your next meal, I suggest you choose a piece of fruit, because it is quickly digested and won't spoil your appetite."

Dash Mini waffle maker

At Amazon Mexico at

On Amazon USA at

"I also love these little meal makers," says Kirkpatrick, "because they're easy to use to make low-sugar products covered in almond butter or 70% dark melted chocolate."

Silicone Instant Pot for Eggs

At Amazon Mexico at

On Amazon USA at

If you have an Instant Pot, Kirkpatrick recommends investing in a silicone egg bite mold.

"They can be great for making your own healthy snacks," says Kirkpatrick, and not just the egg ones.

The item can be used to make egg bites, muffins, mini meat loaves and more.

Silicone Instant Pot for Eggs

At Amazon Mexico at

On Amazon USA at

Gonzales likes popcorn made on the stove top or with a popcorn maker like this one.

"Popcorn contains protein," he says.

"When popping popcorn on the stovetop or in a popcorn machine, you can top it with olive oil for a fun and nutritious snack."