8 Healthy Snacks With Big Beauty Benefits

Sakara Watermelon Jerky ($11)

Beauty Benefits: One serving of this watermelon “jerky” contains 70 percent of your daily vitamin A requirement and 80 percent of your daily vitamin C requirement, both of which help brighten skin and keep it youthful-looking. 

Why It’s So Good: If you crave sweets but don’t want to sacrifice your slim waistline for candy or cookies, you can’t go wrong with this chewy, low-carb snack. It’s 100-percent watermelon (nothing else has been added) and it tastes like a Jolly Rancher. Yes, the sugar content is high, but that’s the case with most high-glycemic fruits, whether you eat them fresh or as “jerky.” Tip: Buy more than one bag because you’ll be jonesing for more when it’s gone!

Mamma Chia Chia Squeeze ($12.50 for eight; $25 for 16)

Beauty Benefits: Chia seeds are a powerhouse superfood and praised for their abundance of protein (20 percent more than soy beans) and fiber (it helps you feel full for longer), as well as omega-3s (more than a serving of salmon provides), which help prevent hair loss and promote glowy skin.

Why They’re So Good: They may look like baby food, but these organic, gluten-free “vitality snacks” are totally adult-friendly. Chia seeds are mixed with a variety of fruits and veggies to create the perfect low-calorie, grab-and-go option (they don’t need to be refrigerated, but they taste better cold in my opinion), and there are six yummy flavors, so everyone in the family can find one they can like. 

NeoCell Collagen Cookie Bars ($3 each)

Beauty Benefits: In addition to protein, each bar contains 6.1 grams of grass-fed collagen, which helps replenish the body’s natural collagen supply that diminishes with age. Increased collagen intake helps minimize fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity, thicken hair and strengthen weak nails.

Why They’re So Good: Gluten-free, non-GMO and low in sugar, these aren’t your typical protein bars thanks to the addition of collagen, which gives people another way to get the benefits of the ingredient if they aren’t into taking traditional pill or powder supplements. Available in Coconut Chocolate Chunk and Peanut Butter Crunch, they combine the flavor of a cookie (but not too sweet) with the consistency of a protein bar.

Purely Elizabeth Probiotic Granolas ($7)

Beauty Benefits: You get a hefty dose of probiotics, specifically GanedenBC30, a patented, vegan strain of the gut-healthy bacteria that, according to clinical studies, has been shown to survive 10 times more effectively than yogurt cultures. Many nutritionists say that when the gut is balanced and healthy, the skin is directly affected, and as a result, it becomes healthier and better-looking as well.

Why They’re So Good: The first probiotic granolas on the market, these gluten-free recipes are made with ancient grains and beloved for so many reasons. Both flavors—Maple Walnut and Chocolate Sea Salt—are incredibly addictive, but you only need a little bit to feel satisfied, and there are only 130 calories and 5–6 grams of sugar per serving. I like to sprinkle some on top of a smoothie or yogurt to add some crunch, or eat them alone as cereal with some almond milk. Yum!

Suja Drinking Vinegars ($3.50 each)

Beauty Benefits: Organic coconut vinegar (an alternative to apple cider vinegar) and non-GMO cold-pressed fruit juice are the key ingredients here—each bottle is chock-full of antioxidants and live vegan probiotics that help balance your gut health, which can lead to clearer, brighter skin, less bloating and a stronger immune system. 

Why They’re So Good: Each of the 10 flavors—my three favorites are Strawberry Balsamic, Cucumber Ginger and Grapefruit Jalepeño—is uniquely delicious and offers different “beauty from the inside out” benefits, but they all contain the same potent organic coconut vinegar and probiotics. And, you might think they’re loaded with sugar when you see the word “juice,” but the majority of them only contain 1–5 grams per bottle (Blueberry Lemon has the most at 7 grams).

Health Warrior Pumpkin Seed Bars ($15 for 12 bars)

Beauty Benefits: Pumpkin seeds are nutrient-rich superfoods and deliver a hefty dose of minerals like zinc, magnesium, copper, phosphorus and manganese, as well as antioxidants, vitamins and omega fatty acids, all of which work together to help keep skin moisturized while reducing oxidative damage and inflammation like redness and acne.

Why They’re So Good: They come in three tasty flavors—Dark Chocolate, Cinnamon Spice and Honey Cracked Pepper with Turmeric (this one has a spicy kick)—and only contain seven to eight ingredients total, so you don’t have to worry about anything “bad” hidden inside the bars.

KRAVE Pink Peppercorn Jerky ($6)

Beauty Benefit: Protein is necessary for keeping your energy levels up and your metabolism on track, and when combined with healthy carbohydrates and fats, it also helps you feel full and provides your body with the fuel it needs to burn fat.

Why It’s So Good: Made with 10 grams of protein, this flavor-packed beef jerky is a classic American snack with a sophisticated twist that will keep you coming back for more. Plus, KRAVE is partnering with Susan G. Komen for Breast Cancer Awareness through August 31, 2018, so a portion of all retail sales from each bag of jerky sold will benefit the organization. A win-win!

Setton Farms Pistachio + Blueberry Cranberry Chewy Bites ($6 for six)

Beauty Benefits: Pistachios are the lowest-calorie nut and loaded with healthy fats that not only help keep your skin supple and beautiful (especially in dry winter weather), but also benefit your heart as well. And, blueberry-infused cranberries deliver a mega boost of antioxidants to protect your skin from free-radical damage.

Why They’re So Good: You know when you crave a little something in the afternoon, but you don’t want too much because it might spoil your dinner? That’s where these bite-size bars come in. More than half the bar is made up of California-grown pistachios, and the rest is a mix of all-natural ingredients including cranberries, coconut and a bit of maple brown rice syrup to hold it all together. It’s the perfect mix of crunch and fruit to hold you over until your next meal.

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