USDA - Choosing Healthy Snacks (2024)

FAQs

USDA - Choosing Healthy Snacks? ›

Choosing snacks that are lower in sodium can help you stay healthy. Fruits, vegetables, unsalted seeds, and nuts make great lower-sodium snacks. Choose "unsalted," "low-sodium," or "reduced-sodium" versions of other foods like popcorn, baked chips, and cheese.

Calorie Limits: All snacks, including extras like butter and cream cheese, must have no more than 200 calories per serving. Fat Ceilings: Fat must make up no more than 35% of the total calorie count, with saturated fat content at less than 10% and trans fat content at 0.

The Healthy, Hunger‐Free Kids Act of 2010 establishes nutrition standards for all foods and beverages sold to students before, during, and 30 minutes after the school day.

Choosing snacks that are lower in sodium can help you stay healthy. Fruits, vegetables, unsalted seeds, and nuts make great lower-sodium snacks. Choose "unsalted," "low-sodium," or "reduced-sodium" versions of other foods like popcorn, baked chips, and cheese.

Healthy snacks, as a simple definition, are those that have health-boosting ingredients that are good for your body. Healthy snacks are designed to: Boost energy and give you the fuel you need to keep going through your day without creating a frustrating sugar crash. Provide healthy fuel.

Aim for fruits, vegetables, whole-grain snacks, and low-fat dairy. Limit foods and drinks that contain added sugar. Fresh fruit is a healthier choice than a fruit-flavored drink. Foods and drinks that list sugar or corn syrup as one of the first ingredients are not healthy snack choices.

Which food item is considered a healthy snack choice? ›

Consider these snacks:

Chose low-fat, whole-grain crackers, whole-grain pretzels or unbuttered popcorn. A sandwich with one slice of whole-grain bread and a one-ounce, low-fat protein source is a great choice. Dairy foods are an excellent source of calcium and protein.

Look for snacks that are lower in sugar and salt. Tasty options include fruits and vegetables, nuts and low-fat yogurt. All can help tide you over until the next meal. Dietitians recommend trying to pair a complex carbohydrate with a lean protein and healthy fat – and don't forget the fiber.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (Dietary Guidelines), jointly issued by USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services, is the cornerstone of Federal nutrition policy and nutrition education activities.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans provides advice on what to eat and drink to meet nutrient needs, promote health, and prevent disease. It is developed and written for a professional audience, including policymakers, healthcare providers, nutrition educators, and Federal nutrition program operators.

USDA regulations provide official marketing standards for grains and oilseeds, and require that exported grains and oilseeds be officially weighed and inspected. The Department's laws also regulate the slaughter and manufacture of meat products.

The existing definition has limits for total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium and to qualify, foods must also provide at least 10% of the Daily Value (DV) for one or more of the following nutrients: vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron, protein and fiber. Use of the “healthy” claim is voluntary.