Healthy(ish) Snacks to help Satisfy

National Snack month is coming up soon. And next month as we celebrate love in the way of consuming pounds of chocolate, ice cream or both, I thought it would be a good idea to suggest a few healthier snacking options. If you are an office dweller, you know the struggle of mindless eating. I am constantly snacking while I’m at work. And it’s because of my “munchy” ways that I usually try to go for something healthy. And of course, in the spirit of trying to contribute more to the local economy, I managed to find a few healthy snacks made right here in Kansas City.

1. Thez Nuts

Imagine the candied nuts that are always for sale around the holiday season. Thez Nuts are kind of like that, but aside from their cinnamon candied pecans, they also offer Smokey Sweet KC BBQ almonds and Ghost Pepper Peanuts. The latter of which was not tried because I don’t have that kind of spice tolerance. The candied pecans are a sweet treat, but if you’re looking for a little kick and a hint of sweet with savory, the BBQ almonds are the way to go. The coating paired with the meatiness of the almond can almost trick you into believing you’re digging into a rack of ribs, but perhaps without the guilt and meat sweats later. 

2. Dragonfly Gourmet Foods 

Chips and salsa was one of my favorite snacks as a kid. Almost every day, I’d sit down with a bag of chips and a jar of Pace mild salsa to watch tv before starting my homework. Dragonfly uses only the freshest ingredients and takes care to cut, mash, mix, pack, jar and label every product by hand. Talk about a labor of love! And it shows as every scoop of salsa is like biting into the perfect tomato and quickly followed by a blend of onion, garlic, and whispers of jalapeño. Basically, the way all salsa should taste. Dragonfly gourmet foods doesn’t stop at salsa; they also offer pickles, fruit spread, seasonings, and marinara.

3. Yummylicious Cookie Company 

So, generally I would say a list of healthy(ish) snacks wouldn’t include cookies, but Yummylicious strives to make a cookie that is a little healthier for you. Made with wheat flour, flaxseed and oatmeal, you can get a little bit of fiber, protein and Omega-3’s while you satisfy your sweet tooth. I generally buy the dry mix and make my cookies at home. I like a warm gooey cookie. My favorite is the Tuscan Espresso cookie: almonds, caramel, Tuscan espresso from the Roasterie, and chocolate. Did you just die and go to heaven? I think I just did. 

4. Craft Beer Jerky 

I love beef jerky. Blame it on my dad. It’s a lot of sodium, but for a bag of jerky, I’ll risk it. Craft beer jerky was created by two friends who enjoy cooking meat and drinking beer. And what do you do when you love two things? You put them together, naturally. This is how Chase and Danny came to create craft beer jerky. Using local brews throughout KC and the state of Missouri, these little bags of jerky are delicious, unique, and between 70 to 100 calories. A perfect snack if you are on the go and don’t have time for a full meal. My favorite variation has to be the Cinder block porter collaboration: sweet, a little spicy, and complex. It also happens to be the place where these two friends met.

While we’ve only scraped the surface, rest assured there are plenty more healthy snacks to be had around the city. What are some of your favorite healthy snacks? Which of my recommendations did you like the best? Tell me everything.