The Best Healthy Snacks to Buy at Target, According to Dietitians

By Aly Walansky

April 13, 2024

Image credit: Lindsey Engelken for Clean Plates

Target can be a great one-stop shop for everything from toiletries to batteries, but one aisle we never let ourselves skip is the snacks section, where you can find some pretty healthy options at surprisingly good prices. So, what exactly do we mean by “healthy”?

Mind the flour. “If you’re in the mood for a baked good, pick one with a nutritious flour, like whole wheat, chickpea, or almond flour, instead of enriched wheat flour, which is a refined flour,” says Samantha Cassetty, MS, RD. These options provide more protein, fiber, and other nutrients, so they’re healthier and more satisfying.
Find a balance. “Compare labels to find products with less sugar, and make sure they don’t have artificial ingredients,” Cassetty says. “Snacks that provide protein can help manage hunger, while whole food carbohydrates provide steady energy.” Sometimes that can mean pairing two snacks to make a whole one, like having an apple with a spoonful of nut butter.
Keep it simple. Avoid snacks with artificial ingredients, like artificial sweeteners, colors, and preservatives. “These types of ingredients are red flags for heavily processed snacks,” Cassetty says.

Here are some dietitian-recommended snacks to pick up on your next Target run.

1. Good & Gather Guacamole Mini Cups

Anything that helps you eat more vegetables is a win. Guacamole is the perfect dip for vegetables, and this is a convenient snack-size cup.

“You’ll get nutritional goodness from avocados — including 3 grams of fiber, potassium, and anti-inflammatory monounsaturated fat, plus the nutrients from the vegetables you pair it with,” Cassetty says.

When it comes to vegetables you can dip, aside from the standard celery and carrots, try red and orange bell pepper strips, fennel, and jicama.

Buy now: Good & Gather Guacamole Mini Cups,$4 for 6 2-ounce cups

2. Hood Country Style Cottage Cheese

Cottage cheese is having a very big year, and with good reason: It’s a filling, protein-rich snack that works as well with fresh fruit in the morning as with veggies or crackers in the afternoon. You can also blend it into a smoothie or dip.

“I keep it on hand for snacks because it’s filling, convenient, and versatile,” says Elizabeth Ward, MS, RDN, co-author of The Menopause Diet Plan. “I love that half a cup has 13 grams of protein to keep me fuller for longer. It’s possible to make a sweet or savory snack with plain cottage cheese, too — sometimes I mix it with fresh herbs and seeds, and other times with fresh fruit.”

Buy now: Hoot Country Style Cottage Cheese, $3.70 for a 16-ounce container

3. Siggi’s Yogurt Skyr

For flavored yogurt lovers, Siggi’s is among the healthiest choices — it’s the only big brand that has low added sugars across the board, including in its flavored offerings.

“Some brands of yogurt are more like dessert in disguise, but with Siggi’s, you can trust that you’re not getting an ice cream scoop’s worth of added sugar in your healthy snack,” Cassetty says. “Besides being lower in sugar, a container of Siggi’s has about 15 grams of protein to help curb hunger.”

Fermented dairy foods, like yogurt skyr, have been shown to help you sleep better, too. And the live active cultures nourish a diverse and healthy gut environment, which may help you relieve stress and prevent stress-related health problems, among other benefits.

Buy now: Siggi’s Yogurt Skyr, $2 for a 5.3-ounce container

4. That’s It Fruit Bars

Cassetty is all for anything that makes it easier to eat fruit, and these bars deliver.

“They have no added sugars, since they contain nothing but real fruit, but they taste like a sweet snack,” she says.

Plus, unlike fresh fruit, you can stash a bar in your backpack, car, or desk drawer without worrying that it will get bruised, damaged, or forgotten. Considering that most people don’t meet their daily fruit requirements, this bar, which has one to two servings of fruit, can be a good way to get a head start on the day’s goals.

Buy now: That’s It Fruit Bars, $7.70 for 10 bars

5. Skinnypop Microwaveable Popcorn in Sea Salt

Sometimes nothing will do but a salty, crunchy snack.

“I feel good about the fact that the bag doesn’t contain any chemical or plastic coatings. Besides that, this snack is gluten free and contains no artificial ingredients,” says Cassetty, who notes that popcorn is a whole grain and filled with antioxidants. “It’s a fantastic snack when you’re stressed and want to eat a lot because it’s airy, so the portion size is very generous and satisfying.”

Buy now: Skinnypop Microwaveable Popcorn in Sea Salt, $5.80 for 6 bags

6. GoGo SqueeZ Happy TummieZ

This snack is great for kids and adults alike — plus it’s just fun.

“These blended fruits and pouches are an easy on-the-go snack that helps you get more plants into your diet. Plus, it has prebiotic fibers, which are good for your gut microbiome,” says Amanda Sauceda, MS, RDN.

Buy now: GoGo SqueeZ Happy TummieZ, $11.50 for 10 3.2-ounce pouches

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