22 Easy Heart-Healthy Snacks You'll Want to Make Forever

a recipe photo of the Cottage Cheese, Cucumber, and Chickpea Jars
Photo: Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Gabriel Greco

Make these snacks when you want to eat something both delicious and heart-healthy. From nutrient-rich energy balls to satiating snack jars, each of these dishes is low in saturated fats and sodium to align with a heart-healthy eating pattern. Plus, they take just 15 minutes or less to make, so they’re easier to prep even when your schedule is packed. Recipes like our Savory Date & Pistachio Bites and Cottage Cheese Snack Jar have earned four- and five-star reviews for being easy, flavorful and nutritious favorites for when you need a bite between meals.

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Savory Date & Pistachio Bites

Savory Date & Pistachio Bites

A touch of sweetness from the dates and raisins paired with crunch and nuttiness from the pistachios make these bites perfect for an on-the-go snack or as an accompaniment on a cheese board.

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Creamy Strawberry Smoothie

Creamy Strawberry Smoothie
Photographer / Brie Passano, Food Stylist / Annie Probst, Prop Stylist / Holly Raibikis

It's hard to beat this recipe for quick and easy strawberry smoothies. All you need is five ingredients and five minutes. It's versatile too: you can use any unsweetened milk for creaminess, your preferred yogurt, and the maple syrup or honey is optional. The vanilla extract acts as a great flavor backdrop that will work with most fruits. Get blending!

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Cottage Cheese Snack Jar

a recipe photo of the Cottage Cheese, Cucumber, and Chickpea Jars
Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Gabriel Greco

This creamy, crunchy snack packs 20 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber in one small mason jar. Adding the chickpeas right before serving will keep them crunchy. If you want to store everything in one jar, opt for 1/4 cup rinsed canned chickpeas instead.

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Garlic Hummus

Garlic Hummus

This garlic hummus recipe couldn't be easier—just toss a few ingredients in the food processor and whir away!

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Cranberry-Almond Energy Balls

a recipe photo of the Cranberry and Almond Energy Balls
Ali Redmond

These energy balls are the perfect make-ahead snack. Filled with cranberries, almonds, oats and dates, these energy balls come together in minutes. Maple syrup and tahini help bind everything together while adding a touch of sweetness and bitterness.

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Raspberry Yogurt Cereal Bowl

Raspberry Yogurt Cereal Bowl

For breakfast, snack or a healthy dessert, try using yogurt instead of milk for your cereal. If making this as a to-go snack, keep the cereal separate and top just before eating.

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Mermaid Smoothie Bowl

Mermaid Smoothie Bowl

Channel your inner mythical creature with a colorful smoothie bowl that's fun to make and eat. Look for blue spirulina powder, a protein-rich supplement made from blue-green algae, at natural-foods stores or order it online.

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Lemon, Mint & White Bean Dip

a recipe photo of the Lemon, Mint & White Bean Dip

CookingLight

This quick, healthy dip is an easy appetizer or snack. If you don't have cannellini beans, chickpeas work just as well. Serve this tasty dip alongside veggies, crackers, pita or pretzels.

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Pistachio & Peach Toast

Pistachio & Peach Toast

This breakfast is great when you have leftover ricotta cheese--plus it comes together in just 5 minutes.

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Avocado Hummus

Avocado Hummus

This vibrant green hummus recipe couldn't be easier—just toss a few ingredients in the food processor and whir away! Aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas) and avocado make this healthy dip extra smooth and creamy. Serve with veggie chips, pita chips or crudités.

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Blueberry-Lemon Energy Balls

blueberry lemon energy balls
Ali Redmond

If you're looking for a midday pick-me-up, these irresistible blueberry-lemon balls come together in minutes and make a perfect on-the-go snack. Walnuts add a boost of plant-based protein and help keep you energized, while a bit of maple syrup adds sweetness.

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Strawberry & Cream Cheese Sandwich

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Sliced strawberries and reduced-fat cream cheese come together in a sandwich for this quick and healthy lunchbox treat.

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Tuna Salad Crackers

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A fun twist on a tuna salad sandwich. This Tuna Salad & Crackers recipe uses wheat crackers instead of bread!

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Peanut Butter and Banana Breakfast Sandwich

Peanut Butter and Banana Breakfast Sandwich

Creamy peanut butter and bananas are the key ingredients to this quick and easy breakfast.

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Yogurt with Blueberries & Honey

yogurt bowl with fruit and honey

A simple combination of Greek-style yogurt and blueberries gets an extra touch of sweetness from golden honey. It's the perfect balance of protein and fiber to keep you energized.

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Rice Cakes with Peanut Butter

rice cakes with peanut butter

Top multigrain rice cakes with creamy peanut butter for a nutritious snack with protein and fiber to keep you feeling full.

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Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

This healthy smoothie recipe has all the flavor of a pumpkin spice latte without all the sugar. Made with real pumpkin and frozen banana, this whips into a creamy, luscious grab-&-go breakfast (or snack) in just 5 minutes.

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Peanut Butter-Strawberry-Kale Smoothie

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This PB&J-inspired green smoothie recipe makes for a quick and healthy breakfast you can easily take on the go.

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Cherry Tomato & Egg Cracker

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Top a crunchy sourdough crispbread with diced egg and cherry tomatoes for a wholesome snack that's pretty enough to serve at a party. It's the healthy, quick way to snack.

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Bread with Peanut Butter

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This quick-and-easy snack is a hearty treat that is packed with protein and has heart-healthy monounsaturated fat.

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Carrot Cake Energy Bites

Carrot Cake Energy Bites

These no-cook energy bites keep well in the fridge or freezer and are easy to grab on the go for a healthy snack.

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Quick Applesauce

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This quick homemade applesauce recipe makes a healthy snack or fruit dessert for kids. Applesauce is also a fabulous complement to potato pancakes or latkes.

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