The Best Healthy Salty Snacks

Before we jump into this list of the best healthy salty snacks, allow us to address something you’re probably wondering: What exactly constitutes a “healthy” snack? Healthy is such a loaded word and it means different things to different people. We can’t cover every dietary base at once (for instance, some people shouldn’t eat salty snacks at all!), but each salty snack on this list has a quality that makes it more healthful than, say, your average full-fat, full-salt potato chip. As always: We are not dietitians! We are food taste testers and you should always consult with a professional on matters of diet if you have concerns. But if you’re just trying to make slightly better choices when snack time rolls around—and you want snacks that genuinely taste good, too—then we hope this list of the best healthy salty snacks comes in hand. Healthy snacks don’t have to taste like sawdust—we have proof!

Trader Joe’s Roasted & Salted Fancy Mixed Nuts

Fats can be good! Especially the fats in nuts. And there’s nothing more delicious and filling than a handful of nuts (put your “deez nuts” jokes away, this is serious business). It’s hard to beat Trader Joe’s Roasted & Salty Fancy Mixed Nuts when you need a quick salty fix. Keep them in your desk drawer at work, your backpack at school, or hell, even your pockets! In this bag you’ll find a beautiful blend of cashews, almonds, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, and pecans that crunch with every bite. Side note, I hate a soggy nut. Plus, did you hear they’re fancy?? If “good fats” are your thing, this is a perfect healthy salty snack.

Read the full ranking of the best mixed nuts

Smartfood White Cheddar

Popcorn is a great way to trick your brain into thinking it’s eating a lot of food when you are simply eating a lot of puffed corn kernels. These things are downright magical that way. Smartfood White Cheddar capitalizes on that magic by showering the the popcorn with a nice, creamy, cheesy essence that elevates the experience to a whole new level. Wondering what makes something this cheesy and craveable qualify as one of the best healthy salty snacks? Well, Smartfood White Cheddar is gluten free, low cal, and low in saturated fat. And, as we mentioned, it’s high on flavor.

Read the full ranking of the best bagged popcorn

HiLo Life Nacho Cheese Tortilla-Style Chips

Listen. We’re not here to endorse the keto diet (or any diet, really), but if low carb salty snacks equate to healthy salty snacks by your estimation, then HiLo Life Nacho Cheese Tortilla-Style Chips should definitely find their way into your cabinets. Even if you’re cool with carbs, these are pretty good. The salty, savory cheese flavor is just the right fix to satiate any salty cravings you might have in the afternoon or right before bed. There’s no weird aftertaste, so these won’t give you nightmares.

Read the full ranking of the best keto chips

Nicos Green Tea Seaweed Snacks

Seaweed is the ultimate salty craving hack. It’s light as a feather and truly feels like you’re eating air. That feeling is practically reality—there’s only 15 calories and 1 gram of fat per serving of these tasty Nicos seaweed snacks. It really doesn’t get easier than this. There are a lot of great seaweed snacks out there, but Nicos Green Tea flavored snacks are just so flavorful— aromatic and lovely with a pronounced savory flavor that’s simultaneously salty and smoky. If you’re looking for a healthy salty snack that will take you over the moon for 15 measly calories, this is the choice for you!

Read the full ranking of the best seaweed snacks

Rhythm Organic Original Kale Chips

Kale chips turn one of those “it’s healthy so I should force myself to eat it” snacks into an actually enjoyable experience. No sane human thinks kale on its own is a scarfable food, but dry those bitter leaves out and coat them with some seasonings and you can convince me they’re edible. As Sporked senior writer Jordan Myrick explains, these Rhythm kale chips cover a lot of flavor bases—salty, nutty, vegetal—plus, they’re a good source of calcium, iron, potassium, iron, and vitamins A&K, and they’re gluten free and vegan. Whatever you’re looking for in a healthy salty snack, this is a great addition to your snack drawer!

Read the full ranking of the best kale chips