Salty Snacks - Cooking Light

Photo: Randy Mayor

Worth Their Salt

We all crave those wonderfully salty snacks from time to time, but traditional choices can spike your caloric intake. So the next time those salty urges hit, try one of these tasty choices.

Because we know you don't want to give up chips entirely, try this delicious and lighter alternative: Potato Chips with Blue Cheese Dip.

Use a mandoline to cut the potato for the best results; hand-cutting is less likely to produce sufficiently thin and uniform slices. If you have any leftover chips, store them in an airtight container for up to a week. You'll need to bake them for 2 minutes at 450° to recrisp before eating.

View Recipe: Potato Chips with Blue Cheese Dip

Photo: Oxmoor House

Trail Mix

The trick to getting kids to eat trail mix: Add just a little bit of the sweet stuff to the nutritious stuff so it tastes like a treat. Pumpkin seeds are loaded with magnesium and zinc, and the cranberries are chock-full of vitamin C and fiber.

View Recipe: Trail Mix

Photo: Oxmoor House

Chocolate-Almond Pretzels

This recipe calls for gluten-free pretzels and chocolate, but any type will work if gluten is not an issue.

View Recipe: Chocolate-Almond Pretzels

Photo: Randy Mayor

Zucchini Oven Chips

Breaded, oven-fried zucchini chips taste like they’re fried, yet they are baked and amazingly crispy. These chips make a healthy substitute for French fries or potato chips.

View Recipe: Zucchini Oven Chips

Photo: Johnny Autry

Spicy Maple-Cashew Popcorn

For a more kid-friendly version, omit the ground red pepper. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

View Recipe: Spicy Maple-Cashew Popcorn

Photo: Oxmoor House

Kale Chips

These chips are crispy, crunchy, salty, and so easy to make. For a different flavor, try sprinkling the kale with grated Parmesan, red pepper flakes, or sweet paprika before baking.

View Recipe: Kale Chips

Photo: Oxmoor House

Baked Pita Chips

These lightly-salted chips are a great choice for after-school tummy satisfaction.

View Recipe: Baked Pita Chips

Photo: Randy Mayor

Peanut-Almond Snack Bars

Featuring pretzels, marshmallows, peanut butter, almonds, and even a little hint of chocolate, is there any snack attack this bar can't beat?

View Recipe: Peanut-Almond Snack Bars

Photo: Johnny Autry

Sweet and Spicy Nut and Pretzel Mix

Don't forget to set a timer to remind you of the nuts toasting in the oven.

View Recipe: Sweet and Spicy Nut and Pretzel Mix

Photo: Mary Britton Senseney/Wonderful Machine

Popcorn Balls

This kid-friendly snack only costs $0.32 per serving. Kids will love these as an after-school treat.

View Recipe: Popcorn Balls

Healthy Salty Snacks

Worth Their Salt

Trail Mix

Chocolate-Almond Pretzels

Zucchini Oven Chips

Spicy Maple-Cashew Popcorn

Kale Chips

Baked Pita Chips

Peanut-Almond Snack Bars

Sweet and Spicy Nut and Pretzel Mix

Popcorn Balls