Organic Snacks

Natural versus Organic

Natural snacks are quite different from organic snacks. While natural snacks are less processed than other snacks, they do not have the same rigid certification process as snacks that are labeled as certified organic do. In fact, the term natural does not refer to the growing of the ingredients, so a natural snack may have come into contact with a wide array of harmful substances before it was bestowed the label natural.

For this reason, you should never assume that a snack labeled natural is organic. Your best bet is to look for snacks which actually have a certified organic label on them, which means that the ingredients within the snack have been certified as organic by an approved authority. You may find that some snacks are only partially organic, such as those that only list certain ingredients as organic but do not make the claim that the snack is completely organic.

If you are looking to only eat snacks that fall into the category of organic, you will have to read labels carefully to make sure that you’re getting what you want.

Great Organic Snacks

Eating organic does not doom you to a life of only snacking on fruits and veggies. The lists of snacks that are certified organic grow exponentially as more consumers demand a better selection. Examples of popular organic snacks include:

• Jerky: Organic jerky comes in a variety of forms, including beef, chicken, and other products.
• Fruit snacks: Organic fruit is always a healthy option, but other organic fruit offerings include dried fruit, fruit bars, and fruit chews for kids.
• Popcorn: Organic popcorn is sold in microwaveable form in a variety of flavors, and can also be purchased for traditional preparation as well.
• Cookies: Plenty of sweet baked goods are available in organic form.
• Trail mix: This snack combines a host of organic ingredients such as nuts, fruit, and more.
• Chips: There is a huge selection of organic chips available, with some popular brands now offering organic versions of best-selling chips.

This is a brief listing of snacks that you can find with the certified organic label. If you’re willing to spend a little more money for your snacks, there is a good chance that you can find an organic version of the things you already love to eat.

Not Fat Free

Just because a snack is labeled organic it does not necessarily mean that the snack is the healthiest snack you can choose. Remember, there is such a thing as organic sugar, so an organic muffin is still a muffin nonetheless -- it just has organic ingredients.

So while it is true that an organic muffin will probably be healthier for you than a regular processed muffin, you still must pick and choose which organic snacks are best for your dietary needs. With organic foods becoming commonplace you can find organic lollipops, candy bars, and chips. Regardless of whether these foods are organic, they still may not be the best choice for someone who is trying to lose or maintain weight.

On the other hand, if you are looking for a snack to splurge on and have to make the decision between an organic chocolate bar and a regular chocolate bar, the overall healthier choice is the organic chocolate bar. In this instance, organic may not necessarily be healthy, but it is the healthier choice between the two options.

Where to Buy

Many grocery stores now offer an impressive selection of organic foods, including snacks, but there are some specialty stores which may have a better selection:

• Trader Joe’s
• Whole Foods Market

Don’t discount locally owned health food stores, because they may have the best selection of organic snacks in town.