Busy days call for better bites! And when life never slows down, the right snacks can make all the difference. That's why Good Housekeeping's food and nutrition experts dug into ingredients, flavor, and convenience–so you can snack smarter, not harder.
To earn a spot on our list, each snack was carefully reviewed for flavor, ingredient quality, nutritional value, convenience, innovation, and more. Our team of dietitians, culinary pros, and more than 2,000 at-home testers worked together to taste, compare, and evaluate every contender. These are the snacks that rose to the top.
Meet the Winners
How We Tested
At the Good Housekeeping Institute, we don’t take snacking lightly! This year’s winners stood out for being crave-worthy, nourishing, and thoughtfully made. Our top picks delivered on flavor, nutrition, and ingredient quality while prioritizing the following criteria:
- Made with real and recognizable ingredients you can pronounce
- Highlight fiber-filled and protein-rich sources
- Free from trans fat and partially hydrogenated oils
- No artificial flavors or food dyes
- 300 calories or less per serving
- 10 g of added sugar or less per serving
- 400 mg of sodium or less per serving
☑ Nutrition Evaluation
Registered dietitians in the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab spent months reviewing hundreds of snack samples sent to our lab for evaluation, carefully analyzing nutrition labels, ingredient lists, and marketing claims. We focused on products that had real, whole foods as first ingredients along with a simple, recognizable ingredient list. The winning snacks are free from artificial flavors and food dyes while still being convenient and satisfying.
☑ Beverage Assessment
Today’s beverage aisles are packed with innovation, from sparkling sips to plant-based protein shakes. While water remains the gold standard, we know variety can make healthy hydration more enjoyable. Our experts searched for drinks made with purposeful ingredients, low added sugar, and refreshing flavor. We also reviewed certifications, product claims, and overall ingredient quality to identify the options most worth stocking in your fridge.
☑ Culinary Consideration
Nutrition is important, but deliciousness is nonnegotiable. That’s why taste played a major role in our testing process. Drawing on decades of culinary expertise, our food editors and recipe developers evaluated every product for flavor, texture, and more to ensure that each pick was as satisfying as it was wholesome.
☑ In-Person Taste Tests
Beyond our lab analysis, we invited dozens of staffers to participate in comparative taste tests across multiple snack categories. After sampling everything from sweet treats to savory chips, our team selected products that delivered on flavor, nutrition, and ingredient quality in every bite.
☑ At-Home Consumer Testers
When it comes to snack success, one thing is certain: if it doesn’t taste good, no one’s reaching for a second bite. To see how these snacks performed in real life, we sent products to consumer testers nationwide. Participants shared feedback on taste, texture, convenience, consistency, and overall appeal. For our Kid & Baby Snacks category, we even recruited some tiny taste testers.
Meet the Experts
Behind the Good Housekeeping Snack Awards is a powerhouse panel of food and nutrition professionals, including registered dietitians, chefs, cookbook authors, and culinary influencers. Drawing on their varied expertise, our judges work together through a rigorous testing and review process to select standout snacks that balance flavor, nutrition, and broad appeal. This thorough, collaborative approach helps us spotlight snacks that are wholesome and will appeal to snackers of all ages.
Stefani Sassos, M.S., R.D.N., C.D.N.
Stefani is a registered dietitian, a NASM-certified personal trainer, and the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition & Fitness Lab, where she oversees all nutrition-related content, testing, and evaluation. She is dedicated to providing readers with evidence-based content to encourage informed food choices and healthy living. Stefani is a nationally recognized nutrition expert, and her expertise is frequently featured on television and radio, online, and in print. She also spearheads Good Housekeeping's annual Snack Awards, spotlighting nutritious and delicious options for every lifestyle. A champion for healthy living, Stefani hopes to inspire others to prioritize their health and well-being.
Instagram: @stefanisassos
Valerie Agyeman, R.D.N., L.D.N.
Valerie is a nationally recognized women's health dietitian and founder and host of The Flourish Heights Podcast, for which she produces science-driven content covering often overlooked nutrition and women’s health topics. She has more than 10 years of combined nutrition communications, corporate wellness, and clinical nutrition experience. In recent years she has brought hundreds of women together to inspire change, empower and educate, and build stronger, healthier communities. Valerie is a trusted expert in the media, regularly appearing on local and national television segments. She is also a contributing expert to publications like Women’s Health, Good Housekeeping, and The Everygirl.
Instagram: @flourishheights
Susan Choung
Susan is the recipe editor for Good Housekeeping, for which she produces food content and leads all drinks coverage. In the Test Kitchen, she works with developers to create the best recipes possible. A graduate of Brown University and a collaborator on several cookbooks, Susan has previous experience that includes stints at Food & Wine, Food Network, three meal-kit companies, a wine shop in Brooklyn, and Chez Panisse, the pioneering restaurant in Berkeley, CA. This is her fourth year as a GH Snack Awards judge. She is particularly enthusiastic about cheese, chips and dips, tea, and flaky pastries.
Instagram: @suddenly_susan
Kevin Curry
Kevin is an entrepreneur, a thought leader, and the founder of FitMenCook, a highly popular food blog and cookbook that has inspired millions of people around the world to live healthier, happier, and more balanced lives through food. With millions of followers worldwide, Kevin has become one of today's most sought-after personalities in nutrition, health, and wellness. He is also the founder of the FitMenCook App, which has consistently been ranked as one of the top Food & Drink apps globally and has been downloaded by more than 2 million people worldwide. In 2018, he released his first cookbook, featuring over 100 quick and easy meal-prep recipes to help jump-start people’s wellness journeys. Kevin is a regular guest on several national television networks.
Instagram: @fitmencook
TikTok: @fitmencook
Yumna Jawad
Yumna is an entrepreneur, a social media influencer, and a recipe developer. She is the CEO and founder of the popular Feel Good Foodie, a website dedicated to healthy-ish recipes with feel-good ingredients. Based on her love for all things oat-related, she founded Oath Oats, a unique brand specializing in overnight-oat mixes. A graduate of the University of Michigan Business School, Yumna has created a massive social media following, with 10 million followers on multiple platforms on which she shares food hacks as well as tips and tricks along with Mediterranean-inspired recipes that are “so good.” She and her viral food trends have been featured in several major publications and on national broadcast segments. Yumna lives in Grand Rapids, MI, with her husband and two kids, and she launched her debut cookbook last year.
Instagram: @feelgoodfoodie
TikTok: @feelgoodfoodie
Lindsay Ostrom
Lindsay is the creator, voice, and recipe developer behind Pinch of Yum, one of the internet’s most beloved food blogs. What began as a side project in 2010 while she was teaching fourth grade has grown into a thriving business that reaches millions of home cooks each month with approachable, flavorful recipes and relatable storytelling. Lindsay’s work has been featured by major national outlets and publications. She lives in St. Paul, MN, with her husband, Bjork, and their dog, Sage, and spends her free time enjoying sunny days, pad Thai, and trips to the dog park. This is Lindsay’s first year serving as a GH Snack Awards judge.
Instagram: @pinchofyum
TikTok: @pinchofyum
Alejandra Ramos
Alejandra is a television host, a writer and an on-air Today show contributor. Currently she is the host of The Great American Recipe on PBS. Known for her vibrant, playful culinary point of view and passion for style and art both inside and outside the kitchen, Alejandra has an ability to inspire in a way that is fun and approachable, which has made her a favorite with audiences nationwide. Alejandra lives in New York City with her husband, Eugene, and their dog, Jojo. A lifelong learner, she has recently returned to school to pursue a degree in art history at Columbia University, which means most of her off-camera time is spent in class or at the library. This is Alejandra's third year serving as a GH Snack Awards judge.
Instagram: @alwaysalejandra
Photo credits: Mike Garten and courtesy of judges and testers
