All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Cravings are a fact of life. I know this because sometimes I'm struck by a yearning for Chicago deep dish pizza so fierce, I consider buying a last-minute ticket across the country just to get my hands on a slice. And while cravings can be persistent, they're not inherently evil. Sometimes your body wants delicious food, and completely depriving it of what it's after will usually just backfire. Sticking to a healthy diet is obviously commendable, but telling yourself you can never have a chocolate chip cookie again will only make you want them more. In reality, the best strategy is to indulge sometimes, because that's totally fine. But when you want to make a healthier choice, figure out satisfying, drool-worthy snacks you can reach for instead. Many of the following options, all courtesy of registered dietitians, do double-duty by delighting your tastebuds while still offering some clutch nutritional value. The takeaway: chances are there's a healthy, yet still delicious version of whatever it is your appetite's calling for.
Related: 8 Ways To Snack For Weight Loss
1. "While there's nothing wrong with enjoying some ice cream, I always find that a small cup somehow leaves me wanting more. Instead, I often make banana 'ice cream': a frozen banana broken up and whirled through a blender with just a little bit of unsweetened almond milk until it resembles soft serve. To give it some staying power, I scoop in a tablespoon of peanut butter, which adds a satiating one-two punch of fiber and protein." —Rachel Meltzer Warren, M.S., R.D.N., and author of The Smart Girl's Guide to Going Vegetarian
2. "I want to get the most nutritional bang for my buck, so I opt for whole foods that provide extra protein to curb my hunger. I love making a 'strawberry cheesecake' with cottage cheese, fresh-cut strawberries, some graham cracker crumbs, and a drizzle of honey. A half-cup of cottage cheese contains a whopping 13 grams of satiating protein " —Kara Lydon, R.D., L.D.N., R.Y.T.
3. "I like to make air-popped popcorn and mix it with almonds, freeze-dried fruit, and a hit of dark chocolate chips. I put it all together in a bag, shake, and enjoy! The fiber in the popcorn helps to fill me up while the nuts, fruit, and chocolate satisfy my sweet tooth." —KIND consultant Erin Palinski-Wade, R.D., C.D.E., author of Belly Fat Diet For Dummies
4. "I make frozen Greek yogurt drops. I combine onecup of non-fat plain Greek yogurt with a half-cup of frozen berries, then stir it all up until the fruit has broken down and the mixture has an even consistency. Then I line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and drop quarter-teaspoons of the mixture onto the sheet, leaving enough room between each drop so they don’t touch. After that, I freeze them for a few hours until they're solid, and I'm ready to snack!" —Ashvini Mashru, M.A., R.D., L.D.N., author of Small Steps to Slim
5. "If you listen to your body, it can tell you what you need to keep yourself in balance. A craving for salty snacks could indicate an imbalance in fluid—the body may be craving salt to help the cells retain more water. Sweet cravings can come from a need for brain energy, because glucose helps your brain process. One of my favorite sweet snacks is dried tart cherries, which help reduce inflammation, with heart-healthy dark chocolate chunks and raw almonds." —Emily Edison, M.S., R.D., C.S.S.D., owner of Momentum Nutrition
6. "I always try to listen to my cravings are and respond in the healthiest way possible. If I don't and try to eat, say, a carrot when I want some chocolate, I'll end up eating the chocolate anyway. One of my favorite snacks is a rice cake with almond butter and sliced banana. It kills the sweet craving but also provides fiber, calcium, and protein from the nuts, and some gut-healthy prebiotics from the banana." —Isabel Smith, M.S., R.D., C.D.N., founder of Isabel Smith Nutrition
7. "I like to melt dark chocolate chips in algae oil and dip half a banana into the melted chocolate. Then I pop it into the freezer for a delicious frozen banana treat. The algae oil has a light and delicate flavor, so it allows the banana-chocolate combination to really shine through. I love this snack because it’s portion controlled but still satisfies that need for something sweet. Better yet, bananas are a good source of fiber, meaning this snack can help promote satiety as well." —Chelsea Fuchs, M.S., R.D., C.D.N.
Related: 11 Easy Ways To Eat Healthy When You're Busy As Hell
8. "If I have a hankering for something salty, I’ll exchange French fries for homemade baked sweet potato fries. All you have to do is shake up slices of sweet potatoes in a bag with some olive oil, salt, pepper, and a dash of paprika, bake them until slightly crispy on each side, and voila!" —Abby Sauer, M.P.H., R.D., dietitian with Abbott
9. "I satisfy my pizza cravings by making my version of a super thin-crust pizza using a high-fiber BFree Foods wrap as my 'dough.' Then I spread pizza sauce and top it with shredded mozzarella, lots of ripped kale, mushrooms, and onions. I broil it in the oven until the cheese gets bubbly and the crust gets toasty, then sprinkle it with oregano and garlic powder. Yum! It gets super crispy, salty, and cheesy, and is loaded with fiber and protein that I can feel good about." —llana Muhlstein, R.D., dietitian for A&E's Fit to Fat to Fit
10. "When I want a salty snack, sometimes I enjoy celery sticks with salsa. Or I'll have jicama or cucumber sticks sprinkled with lime juice, salt, and chili powder. Both of these snacks can help satisfy a salty and crunchy craving for a low-calorie budget. There's also the additional benefit of loading up on veggies." —Vandana Sheth, R.D.N., C.D.E., spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
11. "The key for me is volume. I've been known to cut an apple into 50 pieces because a snack is so much more satisfying when it's time-consuming. I've been making brussels sprout shreds lately. I shred brussels sprouts on a grater and quickly toss with seasoning—I prefer garlic and sea salt—and olive oil. Then I spread them out onto a sheet pan and bake until they are crispy and golden, or about 10 minutes." —Sharon Sperling, M.S., R.D. for West Medical
12. "Half an avocado on toast is the perfect snack for me! Some days I top it with dried fruit, other days it's a handful of chopped nuts, grated Parmesan, or sliced veggies and sea salt. The combination of fiber, protein, and fat is my trifecta for feeling full until my next meal." —Cara Harbstreet, M.S., R.D., L.D.
13. "My newest favorite snack is seaweed snack squares topped with an avocado slice, a slice of roasted turkey, a squeeze of lemon juice, salt, and pepper. This snack is crunchy, salty, and tangy. It also fills me up so that I'm not yearning for another snack or meal when I finish." —Tali Pines, M.S., R.D., CEO and founder of Tali Pines Nutrition
14. "Every once in a while I crave something sweet and salty. In those times, I love sliced pear topped with thinly sliced brie and a sprinkle of cinnamon and nutmeg. The protein, fiber, and fat help keep me feeling satisfied after my snack." —McKenzie Hall Jones, R.D.N., of NourishRDs
15. "My perfect snack to satisfy both sweet and salty cravings is a Medjool date stuffed with nut butter. I slice open the fresh Medjool date, remove the pit, and smear some creamy almond butter inside. The date tastes just like candy and has fiber which helps me feel full, while the almond butter gives a nice salty creaminess and adds satisfying protein." —Shannon Garcia, M.D.S., R.D., L.D. with KISS In The Kitchen
16. "I opt for a small handful of dark chocolate and sea salt-covered almonds, or half a sliced banana drizzled with almond butter sprinkled with mini dark chocolate chips and unsweetened coconut flakes. These hit all the marks: sweet, salty, and crunchy. The chocolate makes these treats feel indulgent, and the healthy fat and fiber from the almonds or almond butter keep them satisfying." —Claire Siegel, R.D.N., L.D. at Snap Kitchen
Related: 11 High-Protein Breakfasts Under 300 Calories
Quotes have been edited for length and clarity.
