Snacking is one of my favorite activities – I mean, who doesn’t love a little mindless eating once in awhile? Because I work at home, in dangerous proximity to my fridge, it is important that I limit my unnecessary caloric intake. So, when my budget will allow, I like to indulge in healthy ready-made snack options. Here are a few of my favorites, for when carrot sticks just won’t do the trick.

• The Munchie: Mediterranean Snack Foods Baked Lentil Chips (Cucumber Dill)

A savory snack with four grams of protein and a good source of fiber. This snack is all natural and made of lentils, garbanzo beans, and adzuki (East Asian bean).

Pros: Tasty, crunchy, and a healthy alternative to chips (these lentil chips have 70% less fat than potato chips. This snack is also available in other flavors.

Cons: The cucumber flavor was a bit too much like sour cream and onion for my taste. I’d like to try the sea salt flavor.

• The Munchie: Annie’s Homegrown Organic Snack Mix Bunnies

Annie’s a long time favorite of consumers who like to eat well, but care about their bodies. This particular snack mix comes with bunny-shaped pretzels and two flavors of bunny-shaped crackers (cheddar and “buttery rich”).

Pros: Tasty, crunchy, and great for kids. A healthi-ER alternative to Cheez-Its and Chex Mix.

Cons: While organic, these snacks are still heavy-handed with the salt.

• The Munchie: Willamette Valley Granola Company Vanilla Bean Granola Chips

These bite-sized granola “chips” are a mixture of crackers and wholesome granola. The granola chips are made with oats, barley, and quinoa.

Pros: Sweet, crunchy, and great for an afternoon snack. These chips are available in a variety of flavors. For a late night snack, I even put them in a bowl and added milk! (Sometimes I get desperate).

Cons: The only con is that I ran out.

• The Munchie: LesserEvil Black and White Kettle Corn

Imagine delicious, sweet and savory kettle corn. Now take half of that kettle corn and cover it in rich chocolate. Don’t worry, you’re not dreaming. The people at LesserEvil have made what is now one of my favorite snacks. This snack also has no high fructose corn syrup and only 110 calories per serving.

Pros: Delicious, crunchy, salty, and sweet. Need I say more?

Cons: Not great for your teeth (no time like the present to start flossing). Also, it’s difficult not to eat the whole bag and I blame that on the folks at LesserEvil, not my lack of will power.

The next time you’re in the natural foods section of your grocery store, step outside your snacking comfort zone. These treats offer a healthy respite from the usual snack crackers and fruit snacks. Treat yourself, and your kids, to a new snack with your health in mind.