Top 20 Unhealthiest Snacks

Anything bite sized may seem like it’s healthier for you, but that unfortunately isn’t the case. Ritz Bits cheese sandwich crackers are the perfect example of this. Despite being tiny, each portion contains around 150 milligrams of sodium. Additionally, the chances of feeling satisfied after only one serving are slim, and can lead to people eating more than the recommended amount. While the filling is technically real cheese, the amount is so minute that you don’t get the same amount of protein you would from just eating the dairy product on its own. We would suggest just having cheese and crackers on their own, so that you can get both the vitamins and the great taste.

It ain’t easy being cheesy. This treat, despite being delicious, is not without its health detriments. One serving contains 160 calories, but it’s hard to keep to just one serving. And that same serving contains almost 300 milligrams of sodium alone, so you can only imagine how much is in multiple bowls of the snack. Additionally, both puffed and crunchy Cheetos contain an ingredient called “Yellow 6”, which is the dye that gives the brand its signature orange color. This dye, when eaten in large amounts, can also have adverse effects on one’s health.

The whole point of a snack is to be able to tide yourself over between meals without spoiling your appetite. However, when said morsels are lacking in certain nutrients, then all you’re accomplishing is taking in extra nutritional units. One example of this is Snyder’s pretzel pieces, specifically, the buffalo wing flavor. While they seem filling, they have less than a gram of fiber and only a couple of grams of protein, meaning it will take more to feel satiated. There’s also few vitamins, giving the food no extra nutritional value beyond providing energy. “Empty” food like this won’t help quell the hunger, and can accidentally result in eating more than originally planned.

Chips made from vegetables sound too good to be true – and unfortunately, they are. While classic potato chips are derived from the root vegetable, Veggie Straws centered their branding around using “healthier” produce such as spinach and tomatoes. However, the truth is that these chips are made by grinding the plants into a powder or paste, which severely reduces the vitamin content. They’re also fried, which lowers the nutritional value even further. So while they may have a lower fat content than regular chips, you aren’t getting the level of the nutrients and minerals that would normally come with eating greens. In fact, we’d recommend skipping the straws entirely and eating raw veggies instead.

While Cheez-Its do have a significant amount of calcium due to the cheese found within them, they still aren’t the healthiest choice to make when it comes to picking something to graze on. They may not contain too many additives- beyond those that extend shelf life – but that doesn’t automatically make them good for you. Eating these won’t do much for you other than increase your calorie intake, as they’re easy to accidentally binge on. They’re devoid of any nutrients other than calcium, and have a high salt content to boot. When choosing something to eat, it’s important to opt for something that will make you feel full quickly and for a long period of time. Cheez-Its– while tasting great– aren’t able to fulfill those requirements.

Popcorn is a classic comfort food, and it does have the potential to be a healthy option. However, one ingredient completely changes that – butter. While popcorn by itself only has about 4 grams of fat, melted butter has at least 80 – which is about 20x more than the snack on its own. Orville Redenbacher’s Pour Over Movie Theater Butter Popcorn also falls victim to this. Besides the butter and soybean oil, the kernels themselves are coated in palm oil, which add to the overall fat content. The small serving size makes it easy to overindulge, which can lead to the added intake of butter and salt. We’d advise sticking to air-popped corn on its own.

Sometimes, when you’re in a rush before work or school, all you have time to do is grab something quick before heading out. Nutri-Grain fruit bars may seem like the quickest and most filling option. However, the unfortunate truth is that the amount of fiber is negligible, meaning that you’re more likely to still feel hungry after consuming it. Additionally, while the nutrition information doesn’t seem too bad, a look at the ingredients list reveals a much different story. Each bar is full of additives and several different types of sugar, making this more dessert than snack. Another option for those rushed moments is to opt for a piece of fruit – while it may contain fructose, it’s at least coming from a natural source.

While the name and overall look of Town Houses’s Flatbread Crisps may give off a healthy vibe, each component of the crisp has its own potential adverse health effects. The crackers themselves are made with refined flour, which has a higher carbohydrate content than its natural counterparts. Sea salt is less processed than other variants, but contains less iodine, which is vital in maintaining good health. There is also the chance of it being contaminated with microplastics. Additionally, olive oil has high amounts of fatty acids, especially compared to other vegetable based oils. Besides olive, the crackers are also made with soybean oil – which is also very rich. So while the concept behind this cracker is good, the execution is left to be desired.

It can be easy to assume that Chex Mix would be healthier, due to it containing a variety of healthier options such as rye chips and nuts. Unfortunately, like other savory foods, it contains a high level of sodium. The Bold Party blend in particular has almost a quarter of the recommended salt intake in just one cup. There are also several types of oil used when making the product, which adds to the overall unhealthiness. It can also be easy to unintentionally overeat, due to the small portion size. While classic trail mix can also have its unhealthy components, we’d propose opting for that, as it at least contains a higher protein content.

We know that chocolate bars have never really been considered healthy, but Twix manages to take it to a whole new level. Just one helping contains a significant amount of sucrose, much more than one would expect from such a small bar. This is most likely due to the caramel found within it, which is composed of several types of fructose. That combined with the chocolate makes for a dangerously good – and excessively sweet – treat. It also has a whopping 12 grams of fat in two bars, seven of which are saturated. If you’re craving that chocolatey taste, then we’d suggest just having a piece of dark chocolate– it’s delicious, and is healthier than other kinds of candy.

Despite these cups being described as “snack packs”, we would suggest saving these for dessert and nothing more. Not only are they not filling, they are incredibly unhealthy. Pudding is already unhealthy, and that’s before all the additives that come with the mass produced version. The brands’ vanilla pudding comes with Yellow 5 and 6, the latter of which has been found to potentially cause tumors in humans. The excess amounts of fructose don’t help its case either. While the cholesterol contents of the treat are low, that doesn’t offset the negative effects. If you’re hankering for a sweet and creamy treat, then yogurt will satisfy that craving while also providing probiotics and calcium.

#9: Lay’s Classic Chips

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Potato chips are a classic, with different variants from all over the world. Unfortunately, they’re also some of the least healthy things to consume. Lay’s in particular have several flavors that – while delicious – are practically nutritionally empty. The sodium levels in particular are shocking – for comparison, one helping of the original flavor may only have 160 calories, but it will also have almost 400 milligrams of salt. Unfortunately, it isn’t just the classic chips that are bad for you. Other iconic flavors, like barbecue, are also problematic. Even their corn-related options aren’t safe – the chili cheese variant of Fritos are made with the same caramel coloring found in some sodas, which can be detrimental to one’s health.

These cakes may seem small, but they pack a huge punch. For example, if someone is eating about 2,000 calories per day, then having just one package of Swiss Rolls would equate to more than 10% of that caloric amount. While it doesn’t seem like much at first, an extra 280 calories can make or break one’s diet. On top of that, over 100 of those 280 derive from fat, making it even unhealthier. The first two ingredients being sugar and corn syrup is the cherry on top. The only energy you’d get from eating one is from the rush that would immediately follow. For the same amount of metabolic energy, you could have a much more filling and enriching treat.

When it first came on the scene, Nutella was branded as another option for a breakfast spread, like peanut butter or jam. It has also been sold as a dip for other snacks, such as pretzels and tiny breadsticks. However, despite being touted as a potentially healthy option, a quick look into the ingredients proves otherwise. One of the primary components in the spread is palm oil – which can lead to heightened cholesterol levels and increase the risk of some heart-related issues. Most of the calories come from the glucose in the product. The company was even taken to court for falsely labeling it as nutritious. While a healthy chocolate spread does sound like a dream, it’s clear that Nutella isn’t it.

The recipe for Oreos has changed over the years, but unfortunately, it hasn’t made them any healthier. They were originally made with lard, and while they did eventually phase that out, they instead turned to canola and palm oil. While they’re more nutritionally sound than lard, they can still cause cholesterol levels to rise. Additionally, due to the cookies being vegan, there is a slight misconception that they’re a healthy option. While they may not contain any animal products, they still have high-fructose corn syrup, which can eventually lead to adverse health effects if eaten too often. While the company has gone out of their way to improve, it’s important to remember that it’s still a dessert food, and should only be eaten in moderation.

#5: Drake's Fruit Pies

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Just because something claims to be made with fruit doesn’t automatically make it a better option. While produce does come with a natural amount of fructose, Drake’s took things a step further with their fruit pies. Each dessert comes with several different types of sugar within it – including two different types of corn syrup – totaling up to 13 added grams of the substance. While it does add to the delicious taste, that much unnatural sweetness can lead to health complications down the line, including diabetes and tooth decay. So while it may seem you’re getting a serving of apples or cherries, you’re really just getting pure sucrose – making it a better option to eat the fruit on its own.

Every aspect of a Nutty Buddy is delicious, but not so nutritious. Composed of chocolate, peanut butter, and wafer cookies, these delicacies make for a great dessert. However, these are definitely best eaten in moderation. While the bars feel lighter due to the wafers, each one consists of three different kinds of fat – bringing the total up to 18 grams per portion. Chocolate, while having some minute health benefits, is rich in lactose, and has been found to lead to obesity if eaten in high amounts over a long period of time. All in all, the different ingredients end up coming together to make up nearly 40% of your daily sugar amount.

#3: Hot Pockets

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The main issue about Hot Pockets derives from the filling within. While they do have plenty of protein, the meat has been processed – meaning that it has been altered to enhance both the longevity and the taste. However, while processing meat helps the product, it can also be a carcinogen for humans. As if that weren’t enough, they’re also loaded with salt, with each serving containing over 650 milligrams. At over 300 calories, it would make more sense to prepare a healthy side to go with it, and treat it as part of a meal.

#2: Pop-Tarts

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A Pop-Tart is essentially like having dessert for breakfast, and while that sounds amazing, it isn’t ideal healthwise. It’s probably no surprise that sugar is the most overwhelming component – from dextrose to multiple types of corn syrup. Effectively, you’re starting off the day at over half the recommended sugar intake. While it will help give you a spike of energy, beyond that, they don’t contain enough nutrients to sustain it. It’s also important to note that the filling isn’t made with fruit, which Kellog’s had to state on their packaging after being called out in 2006. This means that all of that sweetness was added in, and that little to none of it is derived from a natural source.

While Twinkies are undoubtedly iconic within pop culture, they are truly the antithesis of a healthy snack. The cakes are practically devoid of any nutrients, such as calcium. While they lack vitamins, they make up for it with pure sugar – over 30 grams of it per serving. There’s also 35 milligrams of cholesterol. The daily cholesterol limit is 300 milligrams and ingesting too much over a long period of time can eventually lead to certain cardiovascular conditions. The lack of fiber in Twinkies results in the fructose overloading your system, which could cause your blood sugar to rise. While having a sweet treat every once in a while, doing so often enough could eventually lead to further complications, including damage to the nerves and eyes. Which unhealthy snack is your favorite to indulge in? Let us know in the comments below.