You’re at the supermarket and you want to make some smart snack choices. But how do you tell whether a packaged food is actually healthy?

Currently we know from a recent report that just 3 in 10 intended products have the Health Star Rating, the government’s front of pack labelling system that’s designed to help shoppers make healthier choices.

Some snacks are also sneaking through cracks in the system, as the algorithm doesn’t take into account the level of processing, which is why you may see some lollies and chocolate coated protein bars scoring 5 stars. But this doesn’t necessarily mean they’re healthy.

So what is the best way to know whether your snack is a healthy choice?

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Here are my 4 tips:

1. Less is more

Turn over the packet and have a look at how long the ingredients list is. If it’s extremely long with loads of additives and ingredients that your grandmother would never understand, it’s probably worth leaving on the shelf.

Make sure you understand what’s in your food - ask yourself, are these ingredients that I know and trust, or are they unfamiliar?

2. Choose snacks as close as possible to nature

You can’t beat a piece of fresh fruit, a tub of yoghurt, a handful of nuts or some snacking vegetables for a grab & go snack.

In general, as a nation we’re not eating enough fruit and veg, so finding ways to enjoy more fresh produce as snacks will go a long way in helping to meet our daily serves. Try qukes dipped into hummus or tzatziki, or snack on cherry tomatoes and cheese for a flavour packed combination.

3. Go for naturally sweet foods

The World Health Organisation last year released a new guideline recommending against the use of intense sweeteners, suggesting we’re far better off tailoring our taste buds away from super sweet foods, and when we do need a boost, to choose naturally sweet foods instead.

This could be a banana, a bunch of grapes or even a handful of sultanas. Choosing naturally sweet foods will give you extra vitamins, minerals and fibre, and they’ll keep you fuller for longer.

4. Chat with a dietitian

With so much confusing labelling, it can be hard to make healthy snack choices. Dietitians do this every day with their clients and help them navigate the supermarket aisles to find choices that meet their personal needs.

As an Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian I work with businesses to drive growth through health, in line with my mission of inspiring health and happiness. Please get in touch if you’d like to chat more about how we can work together.

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