23 Heart-Healthy Snacks with Five Ingredients or Less (2024)

Savor the goodness of simplicity with these snack recipes that are made with just five ingredients or less. They’re a great option for an easy small bite to hold you over between meals. Plus, each of these recipes are made low in saturated fat and sodium to help support a strong and healthy heart. From savory recipes like our Pimiento Cheese-Stuffed Mini Bell Peppers to sweet treats like our Strawberry-Pistachio Greek Yogurt Bark, these snacks make taking care of your heart quick, delicious and satisfying.

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Pimiento Cheese-Stuffed Mini Bell Peppers

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A quick spread of pimiento cheese stuffs these mini bell peppers for an easy, three-ingredient appetizer.

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Passion Fruit Smoothie

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This 3-ingredient smoothie features frozen passion fruit that packs tons of floral notes and tart flavor. While any type of kiwi will work, we like yellow kiwi, which adds more flavor and natural sweetness and brightens the color. Taste and add a teaspoon or two of honey at the end to balance the flavor.

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Peanut Butter Stuffed Energy Balls

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Peanuts do double duty in this easy snack recipe: peanut butter makes a creamy center while chopped roasted peanuts add a welcome crunch to the exterior. We prefer to use natural peanut butter, which is a little oilier and looser, to help create the gooey center. Dates add a natural sweetness to this healthy snack. Use any leftover date mixture to patch any holes in the energy balls. Pack these bites in your lunchbox for a tasty morning or afternoon snack.

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Light & Airy Whipped Cottage Cheese

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Give this whipped cottage cheese recipe your own spin by making it with your favorite fresh herbs. You can use it as a dip with fresh veggies or as a sandwich spread.

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Peanut Butter Blueberry Energy Balls

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These healthy energy balls made with peanut butter, chocolate and dehydrated blueberries deliver a mixture of simple and complex carbohydrates to help fuel you up whenever you need a little boost. They're no-bake and easy to make with ingredients you probably have on hand, like oats and nut butter. Feel free to experiment with different mix-ins—for example, other dried fruit or chopped nuts—in place of the chocolate chips and blueberries.

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Strawberry-Pistachio Greek Yogurt Bark

Strawberries and pistachios top a thin layer of Greek yogurt for a colorful and tasty frozen treat. A sprinkle of chocolate cookie crumbs finishes this satisfying snack or dessert.

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Lemon-Parm Popcorn

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Perk up your popcorn with a bit of lemon pepper and Parmesan cheese.

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Cottage Cheese Snack Jar

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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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Savory Date & Pistachio Bites

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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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Apricot-Stilton Bites

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Savory blue cheese and sweet-tart dried apricots combine for an impressive last-minute appetizer for any gathering. Light agave syrup has a sweet, neutral taste, whereas dark agave syrup will add more caramel flavor. If you don’t have agave syrup, you can use honey in its place.

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Homemade Trail Mix

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Try this with portable mix with any combination of dried fruits and nuts.

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Roasted Butternut Squash Seeds

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Don't throw away your butternut squash seeds; roast them instead! Roasted butternut squash seeds make a great snack or salad topper. Enjoy them plain or jazzed up with one of the variations below.

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Air-Fryer Plantains

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This air-fryer plantain recipe is where the air fryer shines—not sacrificing flavor or texture but saving time compared to cooking them in a deep fryer or on the stovetop. These air-fryer plantains are sweet and salty, with a deliciously crispy crust.

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Cherry-Pineapple Smoothie

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Cherries contain vitamin E, vitamin C and polyphenols, nutrients that may help reduce inflammation in the body. The tart pomegranate-cherry juice pairs well with crushed pineapple and creamy yogurt.

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Almond-Stuffed Dates

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Medjool dates are softer than their semi-dry Deglet Noor cousins and therefore, much easier to stuff with almonds. This healthy snack recipe can also be turned into an addictive appetizer by adding a little blue cheese to the stuffing.

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Air-Fryer Potato Cakes

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These potato cakes make a wonderful appetizer, especially for the holidays. Top them with an array of ingredients, from apples and sage to a red pepper aioli. With a crispy exterior and creamy center, these potato cakes will be the star of any gathering. For a colorful twist, try this recipe with purple potatoes.

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2-Ingredient Pineapple-Bacon Bites

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Fresh pineapple wrapped in crispy bacon is the ultimate mash-up of sweet and savory flavors. Here we deliver this winning combo in the form of a two-ingredient appetizer that's easy to pull together for last-minute gatherings. Fresh, ripe pineapple yields the best results. Serve with toothpicks to avoid sticky hands.

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Prosciutto-Wrapped Mini Peppers

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Wrapping prosciutto around mini bell peppers is an easy way to upgrade the vegetable into an impressive, tasty appetizer.

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Cinnamon-Sugar Roasted Chickpeas

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Roasting canned chickpeas until crispy makes a simple and healthy snack. In this riff on candied nuts, chickpeas are coated with cinnamon sugar to make them irresistible! This snack is best enjoyed the day it is made.

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Peanut Butter & Hemp Banana

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Hemp hearts add texture and nuttiness to this easy three-ingredient snack. Either creamy or crunchy peanut butter works well here.

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Fruit & Granola Pops

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Adding granola to this fruit pop recipe upgrades it from frozen treat to healthy grab-and-go breakfast. Kefir brings probiotic power, and honey and fruit add a touch of sweetness.

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Broiled Tomatoes with Cheddar & Jalapeños

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Give at-their-peak summer tomatoes a Tex-Mex spin with this simple, melty topping.

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Khanom Tom (Coconut Balls)

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This recipe for traditional Thai coconut balls is all about the coconut. First, skip the preshredded stuff (the filling won't hold together with it) and get yourself to the produce department for a fresh one. Look for a coconut with a brown husk (rather than one with a white fibrous exterior, often labeled "young Thai" coconut). Brown-husked coconuts have firmer flesh that's easier to shred.Editor's note:Brooke Siem learned to make these coconut balls from a woman named Ratachanee on the Thai island ofKoh Phangan. Learn more about this recipe and other recipes Siem learned to make as part of her Grandmother Project in the articleHow Cooking Connected One Chef with Grandmothers Across the World.

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23 Heart-Healthy Snacks with Five Ingredients or Less (2024)

FAQs

Which of the following would be a good snack for someone with heart disease? ›

The Best Heart-Healthy Snacks
  • Apple with Nuts or Nut Butter.
  • Roasted Chickpeas.
  • Energy Balls.
  • Whole-Grain Crackers with Hummus.
  • Roasted Carrots with Dip.
  • Roasted Spiced Nuts.
  • Roasted Pumpkin Seeds.
  • Green Smoothie.
Jun 6, 2023

What is a good easy healthy snack? ›

10 quick and easy healthy snack ideas
  • Blueberries and yoghurt. Combine a small handful (40g) of blueberries with a small pot (125g) of plain low-fat yoghurt. ...
  • Apple and peanut butter. ...
  • Cottage cheese and tomatoes on a rice cake. ...
  • Banana on toast. ...
  • Red pepper and hummus. ...
  • Dried apricots and almonds. ...
  • Avocado on crispbread. ...
  • Crumpet.

What is the healthiest snack? ›

Tips for Healthy Snacking
  • Fresh fruits and vegetables.
  • Frozen fruit.
  • Fruits canned in water or their own juice.
  • Whole grain bread, crackers and cereals.
  • Lower fat yogurt.
  • Lower fat cheese.
  • Unsalted nuts and seeds and their butters.
  • Hummus.
Mar 1, 2021

What crackers are good for heart? ›

This should start you on your way to a healthier heart. Low-fat animal crackers, graham crackers, soda crackers, bread sticks, melba toast, and other crackers that have all of the following: Less than 2 grams of fat per serving. At least 1 gram of fiber per serving.

What are the three foods that heal your heart? ›

Chia seeds, flaxseeds, and hemp seeds are all great sources of heart-healthy nutrients, including fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. Numerous studies have found that adding these seeds to your diet can improve many heart disease risk factors, including inflammation, blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides.

Are sun chips really heart healthy? ›

Yes, SunChips® meet criteria for heart healthy food!

What are the 7 sensible snacks? ›

Take snacks to go:
  • String cheese.
  • Dried fruit.
  • Granola bars.
  • Whole grain crackers.
  • Trail/Cereal Mix.
  • Graham Crackers.
  • Box of raisins.
  • Baby carrots.

Are pretzels a healthy snack? ›

Pretzels may be better than some fatty chips, but four out of five nutrition experts surveyed by Time say if you're trying to eat healthy, pretzels shouldn't be your go-to snack. Although pretzels are low-fat, they are also pretty paltry on the protein and fiber front, and they can be quite high in sodium and carbs.

What should I eat if I crave junk food? ›

Healthier Snacks to Satisfy Junk Food Cravings
  • Nuts. Thanks to their pleasing combo of saltiness and crunch, nuts calm your cravings for other salty snacks. ...
  • Dried Fruit. Skip the candy and choose chewy, sweet dried fruit when you need a sugar fix. ...
  • Roasted Chickpeas. ...
  • Hummus.
Dec 28, 2021

Are Ritz crackers healthy? ›

They are not whole grain and are highly processed. Ritz Crackers are made with sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and partially hydrogenated oils (trans fat). A single serving provides 80 calories, 0 grams of fat, 10 grams of carbohydrate, 1 gram of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

What is the healthiest snack in America? ›

Munchies that crunch
  • Apples sliced with a tablespoon of low-sodium peanut butter.
  • Pears dipped in fat-free/low-fat cottage cheese.
  • Vegetables paired with hummus or tzatziki sauce, such as: ...
  • Roasted chickpeas.
  • Popcorn (air-popped or made with a nontropical vegetable oil).
  • Rice cakes and whole-grain crackers.
Oct 24, 2023

What foods do cardiologists recommend? ›

“Stick to baked things like chicken or deep-sea fish like salmon and tuna, and avoid rich cream sauces,” Dr. DeVane says. “Think about the Mediterranean style of eating—minimal red meat, lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, and olive oil and nuts [which contain the good fats], plus a glass of wine, if you enjoy that.”

What foods help rapid heart beat? ›

Can I change my diet to avoid heart palpitations after eating?
  • Consuming foods rich in potassium, such as avocados, bananas, potatoes and spinach.
  • Cutting back on alcohol.
  • Drinking lots of fluids.
  • Eating regularly to avoid low blood sugar.
  • Monitoring your caffeine intake.
  • Reducing the amount of salt and sugar you eat.
Feb 13, 2022

What is the best food to eat to protect your heart? ›

Lean meat, poultry and fish; low-fat or fat-free dairy products; and eggs are some of the best sources of protein. Choose lower fat options, such as skinless chicken breasts rather than fried chicken patties. And choose skim milk rather than whole milk. Fish is healthier than high-fat meats.

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