“Healthy” Convenience Store Snacks Under $5

Eating healthy on-the-go can be quite difficult (and expensive) sometimes. It doesn’t seem fair that usually the healthy items are more expensive, but luckily we know a couple that you can get that won’t break the bank. Whether you’re on the road or stepping out to grab a snack on your lunch break, there is always a healthy item you can find at your local convenience store—and all you need is a five dollar bill!

Bananas

Though you might want to have a candy bar at first, a few bites of a banana could satisfy your sweet tooth and provide you with way more nutrition. Because of their high sugar content, bananas can curb sugar cravings. Bananas are a great source of potassium and vitamin B6, as well as fiber. Bananas are very low in saturated fat, sodium, and cholesterol, so if you eat a banana, you’ll be eating a heart-healthy snack.

Portion-Controlled Fruit

Sliced mango, grapes, pineapple, apples, and even a mix of all of those, are a few of the fruits you might find packaged up in your local convenience store. The fruit where I’m from ranges in price from about $2.49 to $3.19, while you might be thinking that this is a lot for fruit compared to the three Pop-Tart packs you can get for the same price, there’s no price you should put on your own health.

While I like them for a treat at times, 2 Pop-Tarts are about 400 calories, and I’d rather be filling my stomach with fresh fruit that gives me more nutrition—and has no corn syrup or added colors—with less calories.

Yogurt

If you’re looking for a sweet snack that provides your body with a lot of protein, yogurt just might be the snack for you! When selecting yogurt, be careful and look at the nutritional facts on the back. Look for yogurts that have low fat and low sugar: I always try to choose the yogurt that has more protein than sugar, or close to it, to maximize the nutrition of the item I’m putting in my body.

Small Salad

Some convenience stores have salads! This is a great option for vegetarians or for someone that wants a light snack that is high in nutrition. But be wary of the salad that you’re choosing because toppings, dressing, and other ingredients in salads can pack on the calories. If you can, try to not use the dressing. If you have to use the dressing, put on a little bit at a time instead of saturating your salad.

Nuts, Seeds, & Dried Fruit

Trail mix, dried fruit, almonds, pistachios, sunflower seeds, and raisins can be a very energizing snack to have, especially on a road trip. Each of these items has tons of health benefits for your body and can give you an ideal dose of protein and healthy fats.

However, it is important to keep in the back of your head to watch your portions when eating nuts and trail mix: nuts tend to add up in calories very quickly. I recommend taking a few pieces—rather than handfuls—at a time and drinking some water in-between servings to keep from overindulging.

Single Serving Cereal Cups

I have never been in a convenience store that doesn’t sell cereal. When you go to select your cereal, read the back and look at the ingredients and nutrition information--healthier options include Cheerios and Special K.

Cereal isn’t the most healthy food around, but it is filling, easy to transport, and still nutritious if eaten in controlled portions.

I truly help some of these snacks stay in the back of your mind when trying to choose a healthier option when you're on the go. If you have any questions or need a few more ideas, feel free to contact me as always!