5 Go-to Healthy Snacks, According to Dietitian

• Nutritionist Kirsten Jackson follows one of the healthiest ways to eat: the Mediterranean diet.
• She shared her favorite snacks, which are loaded with fiber and protein to keep you feeling full.
• Jackson recommends chocolate oatcakes with peanut butter instead of cookies.

The Mediterranean diet is widely considered one of the healthiest ways to eat. Vegetables, legumes, seafood and olive oil are its main ingredients. A moderate amount of wine is fine, but avoid processed and fried foods, red meat, refined grains, added sugar, and saturated fat.

This diet is very popular, including celebrities such as John Goodman, Selena Gomez, and Penelope Cruz.

Registered dietician Kirsten Jackson previously told Insider that she follows a Mediterranean diet and incorporates her favorite breakfasts, lunches and dinners into her meal plan.

When snacking, Jackson aims to eat whole foods that contain protein and fiber, often including fruits and vegetables.

Here she tells Insider about her go-to snacks.

roasted chickpeas

Roasted chickpeas are a good substitute for potato chips, says Jackson.

Chickpeas are an excellent source of protein and fiber and are easy to make, he says. Simply drain the canned chickpeas, pour into a baking tray, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt, pepper and spices. It is then baked until crisp.

homemade trail mix

Ms. Jackson creates her own trail mix by combining dark chocolate, dried fruits, nuts and seeds.

Dark chocolate has many benefits, including promoting heart health.

apple slices with peanut butter

Apple slices with peanut butter make for a filling snack thanks to the combination of fiber, fat, and protein.

A nutritionist previously told Insider that eating nuts and nut butters with fruit makes you feel much more full than fruit alone.

Vegetable sticks with hummus

If you don’t have time to cut carrots, peppers, cucumbers, celery, etc., it’s a good idea to buy pre-cut vegetables.

Combining veggies with hummus will fill you up more than veggies alone.

Oat cake with peanut butter

Jackson also snacks on oatcakes with peanut butter. She always aims to eat complex carbohydrates such as oats, sweet potatoes, black bread and whole grain pasta. Complex carbohydrates contain more vitamins, minerals, and fiber than refined carbohydrates such as white bread, potatoes, and pasta.

When you’re craving a cookie, Jackson recommends looking for chocolate oatcakes to satisfy your sweet tooth.