The 2020 Good Housekeeping Healthy Snack Awards

If you’ve ever wandered into a grocery store “just for eggs” and walked out with a cart full of snacks you didn’t know existed five minutes ago,
congratulations: you’ve experienced the modern snack aisle. It’s colorful, chaotic and absolutely packed with health claims that range from helpful to
“this granola bar is basically yoga.”

That’s why The 2020 Good Housekeeping Healthy Snack Awards were such a big deal. Instead of relying on hype, the
Good Housekeeping Nutrition Lab dug through ingredient lists and nutrition facts to find snacks that are both actually nutritious
and genuinely enjoyablebecause nobody wants a “healthy” snack that tastes like regret.

In this deep dive, we’ll break down how the awards worked, what the winners reveal about snack trends in 2020, and how you can use the same logic to
shop smarter today (without turning every trip into a 45-minute label-reading marathon).

How the Good Housekeeping Healthy Snack Awards were judged

The core idea behind the awards was simple: healthy snacks shouldn’t be a scavenger hunt. The Nutrition Lab evaluated products using a clear set of
nutrition and ingredient standardsbasically a “no funny business” policy for your pantry.

1) Ingredient lists that sound like food

One of the headline requirements was that snacks be made with real, recognizable ingredientsthe kind you can pronounce without
needing a running start. (If an ingredient looks like it belongs in a chemistry lab, it probably shouldn’t be the star of your afternoon snack.)

2) Plant-forward fiber and protein (because hangry is real)

Many winners leaned into plant-based fiber and protein, which helps snacks feel more satisfying. Translation:
fewer “I just ate and I’m still hungry” moments, and more steady energy between meals.

3) Clear nutrition guardrails

The awards also used straightforward limits that make label-checking faster:

• 300 calories or less per serving
• 10 grams of added sugar or less per serving
• 300 mg sodium or less per serving
• Free from trans fat and partially hydrogenated oils

Those cutoffs matter because “healthy” can get slippery fast. A snack can be gluten-free, keto-friendly and blessed by a unicorn… and still be loaded
with added sugars or sodium. The awards tried to keep the focus on the basics that tend to impact everyday health.

What the 2020 winners reveal about healthy snacking trends

Trend #1: “Plant-based” went from niche to normal

The list included snacks made from chickpeas, water lily seeds, sprouted almonds, cauliflowerand fruit-based options that behave like the snack
versions of “I’m not like other foods.” The theme wasn’t “plants only,” but rather “plants doing more than just being a side dish.”

Trend #2: Less sugar, more strategy

Many winning products kept added sugar in check while still delivering dessert vibes. You’ll see this in yogurts that cut back on sweetness, snacks that
rely on fruit or spice for flavor, and treats that use smart portion sizes to keep things reasonable.

Trend #3: Gut health became mainstream snacking

Probiotics and fermented foods showed up in approachable waysthink yogurts with less sugar and kombucha that doesn’t taste like a science project.
“Functional” was no longer code for “punishment.”

Trend #4: Crunch was still kingjust upgraded

Chips, crackers and puffs made the cut when they delivered better ingredients, sensible sodium, and some actual nutritional value.
Because sometimes you want crunch, and carrots just aren’t in the mood to be that for you.

The 2020 Good Housekeeping Healthy Snack Awards winners

Below is the full set of winners highlighted in the 2020 awards, grouped into easy “how you’ll actually snack” categories, with quick notes on what made
each one stand out.

Fresh & fruit-forward picks

• Zespri SunGold Kiwis A sweet, tropical-tasting kiwi that’s snackable like an apple (yes, the skin is edible), and noted for being rich in vitamins like vitamin C.
• SOLELY Organic Fruit Jerky Fruit-only jerky-style strips designed to be portable and simple, with “one-ingredient” appeal.
• Cosmic Crisp Apples A crisp, juicy apple variety that was praised as a grab-and-go snack that doesn’t need a nutrition label to behave.
• bare Baked Pineapple Chips Crunchy dried pineapple chips that bring big flavor without turning into a sugar bomb by default.
• Gold Emblem Abound Dried Organic Chili Lime Mango Sweet mango with a spicy-tangy kick, a “grown-up candy” vibe with a shorter ingredient story.

Nuts, seeds & next-level crunch

• Karma Wrapped Cashews, Sea Salt Cashews packaged for convenience, with a simple salty finish and portion-friendly design.
• Wonderful Pistachios Honey Roasted Pistachios Sweet-and-savory pistachios that were highlighted for balancing flavor with reasonable sodium and added sugar.
• Daily Crunch Snacks Sprouted Almonds Almonds taken up a notch with sprouting for a distinctive crunch and “not your standard nut” feel.
• AshaPops Chili Lime Popped Water Lily Seeds A crunchy snack made from popped water lily seeds, bringing a different base ingredient (and texture) to the party.
• Hampton Farms Unsalted Roasted In-Shell Peanuts Old-school in-shell peanuts with a minimalist approach (and no sodium sneaking in).

Chips, crackers & savory snacks that earned their spot

• Hippeas Organic Vegan White Cheddar Chickpea Puffs A vegan puff that leans on chickpeas for a more filling crunch than the classic airy cheese puff.
• Siete Lime Grain-Free Tortilla Chips A limey tortilla chip option designed for people avoiding grains, without sacrificing that “chip-and-salsa readiness.”
• liveGfree Rosemary & Olive Oil Multiseed Snack Crackers (ALDI) A gluten-free cracker with savory flavor and seeds, aimed at “snack board” duty.
• Back to Nature Harvest Whole Wheat Crackers A hearty, classic-style whole wheat cracker for dipping, topping or munching straight out of the box.

Bars & breakfast-style snacks (because mornings are chaotic)

• ALOHA Organic Plant Based Protein Bars Plant-based protein bars recognized for keeping ingredients and nutrition more balanced than the typical candy-bar-in-disguise.
• RXBAR Layers Protein Bar A layered bar that leans into texture and flavor while still delivering proteindessert vibes, but with a purpose.
• KIND Breakfast Probiotics Bar, Orange Cranberry A breakfast bar that adds probiotics to the equation, for people who want “grab-and-go” with a little gut support.
• Purely Elizabeth Collagen Protein Oats, Blueberry Walnut A single-serve oat option built for convenience, with added protein and a “real breakfast in a cup” feel.

Yogurt, probiotics & creamy protein

• Oikos 0% Fat Plain Greek Yogurt Sweetened Only With Real Honey A protein-forward Greek yogurt that keeps sweetness more restrained by using a light touch of honey.
• Activia Less Sugar & More Good Yogurt A probiotic yogurt line praised for cutting back on sugar while keeping flavor (and protein) in a solid range.

Dips, spreads & “build-a-snack” helpers

• Wholly Avocado Nothing Added Smashed Avocado An avocado spread that keeps it simple (no extra “mystery ingredients”), ideal for toast, crackers or veggie dipping.

Veggie-forward swaps (for when you want the snack to do more)

• Outer Aisle Plantpower Cauliflower Sandwich Thins Cauliflower-based thins made to replace bread, tortillas or mini pizza crustsflexible, low-carb and veggie-forward.
• Angelic Bakehouse Flatzza® Buddy Flatbread Pizza Crust A sprouted-grain flatbread crust sized for personal pizzasportion-friendly and built with nutrient-dense grains.

Sweet treats that kept it (somewhat) together

• Barnana Organic Crunchy Banana Brittle Crunchy banana-based brittle for when you want candy energy, but not a full candy situation.
• Lesser Evil Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Mini Cookies Mini cookies designed to satisfy a sweet craving with a more controlled calorie-and-sugar footprint.
• Sweet Nothings Organic Frozen Spoonable Smoothies A frozen, spoonable smoothie snack that lands between “treat” and “fruit-and-veggie convenience.”
• SkinnyDipped Dark Chocolate Cocoa Cashews Cashews with a thinner chocolate coating and cocoa dustingsweet, but intentionally not over-the-top.
• Undercover Dark Chocolate and Sea Salt Crispy Quinoa Crispy quinoa pieces covered in dark chocolate with sea salt for a crunchy, sweet-salty hit.
• Rip Van Dutch Caramel & Vanilla Mini Stroopwafels Mini stroopwafels positioned as a portion-controlled treat that fits a “snack, not a dessert buffet” mindset.

Sips & drinkable snacks

• Mooala Organic Bananamilk, Original Plant-based banana milk designed to taste like banana bread in beverage form, without added sugar.
• Spindrift Pineapple Sparkling Water Sparkling water flavored with real fruit juice rather than “mystery natural flavors,” keeping it refreshing and low sugar.
• GT’s Sacred Life Kombucha A naturally sweetened kombucha option with a bold color and a probiotic angle, positioned as a soda swap.

How to shop like a snack-awards judge (without becoming the “label-reading person”)

You don’t need a lab coat to make smarter snack choices. You just need a repeatable shortcut. Here’s a practical “snack scorecard” inspired by the
awards criteria and common nutrition guidance:

Step 1: Start with the reason you’re snacking

• Quick energy? Pair carbs + protein (example: fruit + nuts, crackers + yogurt).
• Stay full? Look for fiber + protein + healthy fats (example: nuts, higher-protein yogurt, seeded crackers + avocado).
• Sweet craving? Choose portioned treats or fruit-forward options so you get satisfaction without a sugar spiral.

Step 2: Check added sugar and sodium like they’re speed bumps

Added sugar and sodium aren’t automatically villainsbut they add up fast in packaged snacks. A simple move is to compare similar products and pick the
one with lower added sugar and lower sodium most of the time. The award criteria (10g added sugar or less; 300mg sodium or less) gives you an easy
benchmark for many snack categories.

Step 3: Aim for “ingredients you’d keep in your kitchen”

No food is perfect, and convenience matters. But when your snack looks like a real food (or a short list of real foods), it’s usually easier to build a
balanced day of eating around it.

Bottom line

The 2020 Good Housekeeping Healthy Snack Awards highlighted a simple truth: “healthy snacking” isn’t one foodit’s a pattern. The winners leaned into
better ingredients, smarter sugar and sodium levels, and snacks that actually taste good. Use the list as inspiration, but keep the bigger lesson:
choose snacks that help you feel good after you eat them, not just while you’re tearing open the bag.

Extra: of snack-awards “experience” (real-life style, minus the lab coat)

Picture this: you decide to build a week of snacking around the spirit of the 2020 awards. Not in a strict, “I’ve taped my pantry shut” way, but in a
realistic, “I’d like my 3 p.m. choices to support my goals” way.

Day one starts with optimism and a sparkling water. You crack open something like a pineapple seltzer, and for a brief moment you feel like the kind of
person who owns matching food storage containers. The bubbles do what they always do: they make your brain think, “Ah yes, hydrationmy personality is
thriving.” Then the sweet tooth taps you on the shoulder. Instead of chasing it with candy, you reach for a fruit-forward snackmaybe dried mango with
chili-lime bite. The flavor is loud enough that you actually slow down, which is secretly half the battle.

Midweek is where the strategy shows up. You’re busy, maybe a little under-slept, and suddenly everything in your kitchen looks snackableincluding
condiments. This is when protein and fiber become the heroes of your storyline. A plant-based protein bar or a Greek yogurt can keep you steady long
enough to make it to dinner without turning into a snack tornado. And if you’ve ever experienced the “I ate chips and now I’m hungrier” phenomenon,
you start appreciating snacks that bring more than crunchlike chickpea puffs or multiseed crackers that actually have staying power.

By Thursday, you get boredbecause humans are nothing if not predictably snacky. That’s where variety wins. Sprouted almonds have a different crunch
than regular nuts. Water lily seeds are a fun curveball. Cauliflower sandwich thins let you build mini pizzas or wraps, which feels less like “snacking”
and more like “I have my life together.” (Even if you eat it standing at the counter. No judgment. Standing meals are a modern art form.)

The weekend is the true test: social plans, errands, and the sweet siren song of “treat yourself.” Here’s the sneaky thing you learn from the awards
approach: you don’t need to ban treats; you need to choose treats that are proportionate. Mini cookies, dark-chocolate-dusted nuts, crispy quinoa
chocolate bites, or small stroopwafels can scratch the itch without becoming a full dessert detour. And when you keep a few “good defaults” around
fruit, nuts, yogurt, sparkling wateryou stop relying on willpower and start relying on availability.

The final “experience” takeaway is surprisingly simple: the best healthy snack is the one that fits your day. The awards weren’t about perfection; they
were about making it easier to pick something nourishing in the moment. And if your pantry ends up with a few more smart options than last month,
that’s a winno gold medal required.