Healthy snacks are a great way to get more whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean protein foods, and low-fat milk products. Use these ideas to get started.

• Make it easy.
  • Have snacks ready for when you get hungry. Keep some healthy snacks at work or school and at home. If you have a healthy snack easily available, it's less likely that you'll pick a candy bar or bag of chips instead.
  • Find healthy substitutes for your favorite snacks. For example, try baked tortilla chips with bean dip or hummus instead of potato chips and dip.
  • Stock up on quick, healthy snack foods. Fresh fruits and vegetables are always good choices. Other ideas include:
    • Yogurt.
    • String cheese.
    • Canned fruit or applesauce in single-serving containers.
    • Raisins and other dried fruit.
    • Air-popped popcorn.
    • Whole wheat crackers.
    • Pretzels.
    • Flavored rice cakes.
    • Unsalted nuts.
• Make it interesting.
  • Use yogurt to add some appeal. If plain fruit doesn't appeal to you, try dipping fruit slices in low-fat yogurt sprinkled with cinnamon or nutmeg. Or mix fresh or frozen berries with low-fat yogurt, and top with sliced almonds or granola to make a fruit parfait.
  • Top whole-grain crackers with low-fat cottage cheese or ricotta cheese. Add sliced tomatoes or red pepper strips for color.
  • Make your own healthy trail mix. Combine high-fiber cereal, dried fruit (such as cranberries, blueberries, and dates), and nuts such as almonds. This mix also makes a great topping for yogurt.
  • Spread low-fat cream cheese on a whole-grain bagel. Sprinkle sunflower seeds and raisins on top of the cream cheese for extra flavor.
  • Dip colorful sliced vegetables in salad dressing or hummus. Try broccoli, cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, and red, yellow, and orange bell peppers.
  • Make a dip for fruits and vegetables. Combine honey and peanut butter or almond butter. Dip raw apples, carrots, and celery. This spread also tastes great on bagels, rice cakes, and whole-grain crackers.