Everyone loves munching on snacks – whether it be during their free time or after a meal. A few pieces of potato chips or few bars of chocolate wouldn’t hurt, right? (Or so you thought!) There comes your calories that you just burned off by running 5 km this week, you’ve gained them back by just “simply snacking” a few potato chips and a few bars of chocolate.
But what if I tell you that: it is okay to snack – as long as you’re snacking the right food? Here is the list of top 10 Best Healthy Snacks in Malaysia.
1. Healthy Mix Fruits and Nuts
Fruits and nuts are one of the most delicious snacks that you could un-guiltily snack on to your heart’s content. Fruit gives us vitamin C along with other vitamins and minerals – while nuts are packed with antioxidants, lower one’s cholesterol level and may aid weight loss.
Ingredients: (Raw ingredients) Raw Walnut, Raw Almond, Organic Black Raisin, Golden Iran Raisin, Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds, Melon seeds, Cranberry
Country of origin: Malaysia
Size available: 160g, 250g and 800g
Price: RM 17 (160g pack) | RM 20 (250g pack) | RM 44 (800g pack)
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
2. Meiji Plain Crackers
Though the name is called “plain” crackers – there is nothing plain about Meiji Plain Cracker since it is produced using a traditional long fermentation process which takes up to 24 hours to attain the strong aroma and rich flavour within every bite; while maintaining to be a healthy snack.
Ingredients: Wheat Flour, Vegetable Oils (Palm, Hydrogenated Rapeseed), Butter, Salt. Leavening Agent (Sodium Bicarbonate), Malt Extract (Barley), Malt Flour (Barley), Yeast, Miso Powder (Soybeans, Salt), Dough Conditioner [Corn starch, Yeast foods Ammonium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate)
Country of Origin: Japan
Flavours: Original Flavour, Oat Flavour , Sesame Flavour
Sizes Available: Each flavour comes in 32 or 4 packs in a box – with 26g each packet
Price: RM 31.38 (32 packets x 26g) | RM 5 (4 packets x 26g)
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
3. Amazin’ Graze Healthy Antioxidant Berry Trail Mix
A heavenly combination using all-natural ingredients such as oven baked almonds, pepitas, pecans along with cranberries, blueberries and goji berries – finished with a touch of cocoa nibs. This healthy snack is high in both protein and fibre – the more you snack, the better!
Ingredients: Almond, Pecans, Pumpkin Seeds, Dried Cranberries, Dried Blueberries, Goji berries, Cacao nibs
Country of Origin: Malaysia
Size Available: 130g
Price: RM14.22
*Price may vary at the time of purchase
4. Signature Market Macadamia Trail Mix
If you happen to be a nut lover – you’re in for a treat! This Trail mix is packed with delicious and healthy nuts that has a wide range of flavour ranging from sweetened to bitter and acentric.
Ingredients: Cashew Nut, Walnut, Macadamia Nut, Almond, Pumpkin Seed, Sunflower Seed
Country of Origin: Malaysia
Size Available: 50g, 120g
Price: RM14 (120g) | RM 6.50 (50g)
*Price may vary at the time of purchase
5. YOGOOD Muesli Bar
This is no original cereal bar – it contains fruits and is coated with creamy yoghurt. The cereal bar also contains Oligofructose – which helps improve intestinal bifidobacteria which aids in maintaining a good intestinal environment. Each bar is packed with high fibre and protein, while being only less than 100 calories each.
Ingredients: Cereals, Fruits, Gluten, Yoghurt, Milk
Country of Origin: Austria
Flavours: Strawberry Yoghourt, Chocolate and Nut, Blueberry and Cranberry, Cranberry and Mango, Wildberry
Size Available: 1 packet = 6 bars x 138g
Price: RM 11.40
*Price may vary at the time of purchase
6. Dates ajwa / Kurma
Ajwa dates; also known as the “holy date”, is a fruit that is full of various minerals and nutrients – making it highly nutritious. It also helps prevent blood vessels from constricting while strengthening the heart. It is also an excellent antioxidant source which helps boost the body immunity system.
Ingredients: Dates ajwa / Kurma
Country of Origin: Saudi Arabia
Size Available: 1kg
Price: RM37.90
*Price may vary at the time of purchase
7. Signature Market Roasted Pistachio in Shell Salted
These Roasted Pistachios In Shell Salted contain many vitamins and minerals that improves blood sugar regulation and even aid in weight loss.
Ingredients: Pistachio in Shell, Salt (Himalayan Rock Salt)
Country of Origin: Malaysia
Size Available: 50g
Price: RM 6
*Price may vary at the time purchase
8. Freeze Dried Fruits and Vegetables
These sweet, crispy freeze-dried fruits and vegetables are rich in nutrients and fibres. They are also low in calories, making it the perfect snack for anyone with a sweet tooth to munch on.
Ingredients: Raw ingredients of fruit, Sugar
Country of Origin: Malaysia
Flavours available: Strawberry, Lady Finger, Mix Veggie, Mango, Mushroom, Sweet Potato, Banana, Pumpkin, Nangga Cucumber
Size available: 50g, 100g, 200g
Price: Ranging from RM10 – RM39
*Price may vary at the time of purchase
9. Munchy’s Oat Krunch Biscuit – Dark Chocolate
These tasty dark chocolate biscuits that are rich in chocolate aroma are packed with fibres, containing no trans fat and preservatives, making the biscuit to be an enjoyable snack
Ingredients: Wheat Flour, Oat Flakes, Chocolate Chips, Sugar, Vegetable Fat (Palm Oil), Glucose Syrup, Cocoa Powder, Calcium Carbonate, Raising Agents (Sodium Bicarbonate (E500Ii), Ammonium Bicarbonate (503Ii), Disodium Diphosphate (E450Ii), Emulsifier-Lecithin (E322), Salt, Hazelnut, Flavourings
Country of Origin: Malaysia
Size Available: 390g
Price: RM8.75
*Price may vary at the time of purchase
10. Raisins
Raisins are a good source of fibre – which helps constipation and prevents it. It can also lower your risks of heart disease and reduce blood pressure and blood sugar.
Ingredients: Raisins
Country of Origin: Iran
Size Available: 500g and 1kg
Price: RM5.90 (500g) | RM10.90 (1kg)
*Price may vary at the of purchase
There are also some benefits of snacking when you’re snacking the right, healthy food.
- Provides a boost of energy up to several hours.
- Helps suppress your appetite for the next meal and in turn prevents overeating.
- Provides extra nutrients
- Help in maintaining adequate nutrition – especially for those with poor appetite or have any underlying illnesses.
Power Snacking
Power snacking shares the same concept as meal planning during the day – only applied to snacks, it allows people to be mindful for when they snack; in turn allowing snacking time to better benefit your body rather than destroying it.
- When do I snack?
When snacking, ask yourself and reflect on when you feel hungry between meals and when you tend to snack.
- Why exactly do I snack?
If you find yourself snacking a little too often; ask yourself if you are eating because you are hungry or because it was invoked by certain emotion such as boredom, sadness, stress or angry. Ensure you are only snacking when you are hungry.
- What am I snacking on?
Decide which types of snacks you enjoy the most and choose alternative snacks whenever you can – such as swapping candies with raisins, chocolate with fried fruits, and potato chips with crackers. It’s the small changes that really make a difference.
- How much am I snacking?
When having a snack, always be mindful of how much you are taking. A proper snack portion should be enough to satisfy you – but not too much that interferes with your appetite for the upcoming meals. A simple tip for measuring the proper portion of snacking is to aim for 150-250 calories.
We hope this article helps you snack more healthily – benefiting not only your body, and your mind as well. Happy (mindful) Snacking!
Disclosure: This list was compiled by the team at My Weekend Plan after extensive research and shared opinions to suggest helpful recommendations for the public. The sequence of brands is in no particular order so if you have any other great suggestions too, please email us support@myweekendplan.com.my. For more information, kindly refer to our copyright, privacy & disclosure policy
