11 Snacks That Are Secretly Junk Food

It's easy to fall for snacks that look or sound healthy, but many of them are just junk food in disguise. The packaging may promise "natural" or "low-fat," but hidden ingredients often tell a different story. It's always good to double-check labels and keep an eye out for hidden sugars and unhealthy additives. The following snacks seem wholesome but could be sneaking unnecessary calories, sugar, and unhealthy fats into your diet.

Protein Bars

Like granola bars, protein bars can be sneaky sources of sugar and unhealthy fats. Many contain highly processed ingredients, making them less of a health snack and more of a glorified candy bar.

Veggie Chips

Don't be fooled by the word "veggie." These chips often have as much fat and sodium as regular potato chips, with only a tiny fraction of real vegetable content. They might as well be regular chips in disguise, minus the guilt-free label.

Rice Cakes

Rice cakes may be low in calories, but they're also low in nutrients. When flavored with caramel or cheese, they become a high-sodium, sugary treat that spikes your blood sugar without keeping you full for long.

Fruit Snacks

These colorful treats might remind you of eating fruit, but they're little more than chewy candy with added vitamins. They're packed with sugar and artificial flavors, making them far from a true serving of fruit.

Trail Mix

Trail mix can be a healthy choice if it's full of raw nuts and seeds. But many versions are packed with sugary dried fruit, chocolate, and yogurt-covered ingredients, turning what should be a nutritious snack into a high-calorie indulgence.

Flavored Yogurt

Flavored yogurt is often loaded with added sugars and artificial ingredients, making it more of a dessert than a healthy snack. While it may seem nutritious due to the yogurt base, the high sugar content can outweigh its benefits. Opt for plain yogurt with fresh fruit instead.

Smoothies

Store-bought smoothies can seem like a healthy option, but many are filled with fruit juice, ice cream, and added sugars. Some can pack more sugar than a soda, making them more of a dessert than a healthy snack. Try making your own green smoothie instead.

Yogurt-Covered Pretzels

While yogurt is often associated with being healthy, the yogurt coating on these pretzels is mostly sugar, oil, and artificial flavors. The result? A crunchy, sugary snack that's more dessert than nutritious.

Granola Bars

Granola bars are often marketed as a quick, healthy snack, but many are loaded with sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, and artificial ingredients. They can contain more sugar than a candy bar, turning a "nutritious" snack into a sugar bomb.

Reduced-Fat Crackers

Low-fat doesn't always mean healthy. Reduced-fat crackers are often packed with refined carbs and added sugars to make up for the lost flavor. They can leave you feeling unsatisfied, leading to overeating.

Dried Fruit

Dried fruit might seem like a great way to get your daily dose of vitamins, but it's high in sugar and some varieties add sugar and preservatives. This transforms a healthy fruit into something closer to a fruit-flavored candy.