2020 Good Housekeeping Healthy Snack Awards: The Best Healthy Snacks for Every Taste
Products picked for real ingredients, balanced nutrition, and standout flavor.

Every year, Good Housekeeping magazine selects the most outstanding snacks available, carefully evaluating thousands of products for nutrition, ingredient quality, taste, convenience, and innovation. The 2020 Healthy Snack Awards crowned winners across categories like bars, bites, granola, jerky, tinned fish, and kids’ snacks, helping consumers find the best nutritious and delicious options on the market. The comprehensive evaluation process relies on both registered dietitians and real-life testers to ensure every winner meets a gold standard in snacking.
How the Winners Are Chosen
The evaluation process for the Healthy Snack Awards is rigorous. Snacks are assessed based on:
- Flavor and taste profiles
- Nutrition facts and ingredient quality
- Real, recognizable ingredients
- No trans fats, artificial flavors, or food dyes
- Lower added sugars and sodium
- Calorie-conscious serving sizes
- Packaging and convenience
- Innovation in formulation and flavor
The panel consists of Good Housekeeping Institute registered dietitians, culinary professionals, and over 1,000 at-home testers, working together to evaluate taste, healthiness, and ease of use for every snack entry.
Categories and Criteria
Category | Key Criteria |
---|---|
Bars & Bites | Protein, fiber, ingredient transparency, flavor variety |
Granola & Cereal | Whole grains, natural sweetness, protein and fiber boosts |
Jerky & Tinned Fish | Lean proteins, minimal additives, global flavors |
Kids & Baby Snacks | Gentle ingredients, developmental appropriateness, fun shapes and flavors |
Each winning snack contains no more than 300 calories per serving, less than 10g added sugar, and 400mg sodium or less. Artificial flavors and partially hydrogenated oils are strictly prohibited.
Bests in Bars and Bites
The bars and bites category honors snacks that deliver protein, fiber, and real ingredients, all while providing big flavor and convenience for on-the-go eating. Top winners include:
- Best Crunchy Bar: Tosi Cashew Coconut Crunchy Snack Bar – Combining cashews and coconut for crunch and natural sweetness.
- Best Protein Bar: Aloha Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Protein Bar – A plant-based bar with oatmeal and chocolate chips, perfect for fueling workouts.
- Best Date Bar: Realsy Almond Butter Dates – Whole dates blended with almond butter for nutrient-rich sweetness.
- Best Low-Carb Bar: Blueprint White Cocoa Butter Macadamia Protein Bar – Low in carbs, rich in plant-based fats and protein.
- Best Granola Bars: Junkless Chewy Granola Bars – Homemade taste, simple ingredients, perfect for lunch boxes.
- Best Superfood Bite: Defi Dark Chocolate Pink Himalayan Sea Salt Crispy Superfood Bite – A superfood-packed crispy snack for chocolate lovers.
- Best Refrigerated Bar: Mush Double Chocolate Chip Protein Bar – Fresh taste and superior texture from refrigerated ingredients.
Brilliant Granola & Cereal Snacks
Granola and cereals offer energy, whole grain nutrition, and portability. The best picks for 2020:
- Best Peanut Butter Granola: Purely Elizabeth Peanut Butter Cookie Granola – Guilt-free cookie flavor in whole grain granola.
- Best Overnight Oat Blend: Brekki Vanilla Cinnamon RTE Oats – No-cook oats blend for morning nutrition.
- Best Granola Bites: Breakin Snacks Dark Chocolate Peanut Granola Bars – Bite-sized options for sweet snacking.
- Best High-Protein Overnight Oats: Mush Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Overnight Oats – Extra protein for muscle repair.
- Best Gourmet Granola: Forts Ferry Farm Sesame Coconut Granola – Rich, nutty flavor with coconut highlights.
- Best Snacking Granola: Go Raw Sweet & Salty Organic Snacking Granola – Balanced savory-sweet profile with clean, organic sourcing.
- Best Oatmeal Cup: Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cup – Gluten-free convenience for breakfast on the move.
Protein-Rich Jerky & Tinned Fish
This category delivers lean protein snacks with bold, satisfying flavors, honoring both traditional and globally inspired options. Standouts include:
- Best Beef Jerky: Lorissa’s Kitchen Heat Seeker Jalapeño Beef Stick – Spicy, portable protein on the go.
- Best Turkey Jerky: Prevail Original Turkey Jerky – Lean, smoky turkey strips with minimal additives.
- Best Grass-Fed Jerky: Archer Grass-Fed Beef & Cheese Mini Sticks – Grass-fed beef paired with cheese in a perfect snack combo.
- Best Chicken Jerky: The New Primal Snack Mates Chicken & Maple Mini Sticks – Sweet meets savory in child-friendly chicken sticks.
Nutrient-Packed Snacks for Kids and Babies
Kid-friendly snacks focus on fun shapes and flavors, gentle ingredients, and developmental appropriateness for the youngest eaters. Noteworthy winners are:
- Best Early Introduction Puffs: Mission MightyMe Nutty Puffs – Introducing diverse flavors to kids’ palates.
- Best Dippers: Sunnie Sunflower Butter + Jam Snack – Dipper packs for hands-on eating.
- Best Fruit Roll: The Froot Thief Strawberry Real Fruit Whips – Whole fruit ingredients with natural sweetness.
- Best Babies’ Melts: Yumi Organic Strawberry & Kale Smoothie Melts – A gentle melt-in-the-mouth treat with veggies and fruit.
- Best Graham Cracker Sandwiches: Once Again Organic Peanut Butter Graham Cracker Sandwiches – Classic flavor with organic ingredients.
- Best Teething Sticks: Little Bellies Organic Strawberry Pick-Me-Sticks – Safe for teething toddlers.
- Best Bar for Kids: Happy Wolf Chocolate Chip Snack Bar – Home-baked taste with better nutrition.
- Best Toddler Bar: Yumi Organic Strawberry Super Bar – Carefully crafted for toddler nutrition.
- Best Bite-Sized Snack: Earth’s Best Organic Melty Hoops Spring Veggies – Tiny shapes combine fun and veggie nutrition.
- Best Freeze-Dried Fruit Snack: Ohme Freeze-Dried Strawberry Yogurt Crunch – Perfect crunch and tartness in a portable snack.
Fabulously Fruity Category Winner: Cosmic Crisp
The “Fabulously Fruity” section celebrated standout fruit snacks. Cosmic Crisp® apples earned an award for their bright flavor and unique texture, showing that sometimes fresh produce is the ultimate snack.
Spotlight: Wonderful Pistachios No Shells Honey Roasted
Among the winners, Wonderful Pistachios No Shells Honey Roasted stands out for its unique sweet-and-savory flavor profile. With 6 grams of plant protein and a good source of fiber, they were celebrated as a no-mess, easy, healthy snack choice. These pistachios are kissed with honey and a pinch of salt, delighting snackers and nutritionists alike.
According to Stefani Sassos, MS, RDN of the Good Housekeeping Institute: “Pistachios offer six grams of plant protein per serving and help fuel your body with essential amino acids. Wonderful Pistachios No Shells Honey Roasted delivers on both flavor and nutrition for a tasty and healthy snack.”
Innovation in Healthy Snacking
Beyond taste and nutrition, the 2020 awards recognized innovation and new approaches to healthy snacking. Criteria such as plant protein education, sustainable sourcing, and rising trends like regenerative agriculture figured into the selection of winners, underscoring Good Housekeeping’s commitment to evolving food values. For example, Nature’s Path Regenerative Organic Certified Berries & Cream Flavored Oatmeal was noted for its environmental impact as well as its flavor.
What Makes a Snack Award-Worthy?
- Made with real, recognizable ingredients – Snackers should be able to pronounce every ingredient on the label.
- Rich in fiber, protein, or beneficial nutrients – Winners offer a satisfying macro-nutrient profile.
- Low in added sugars and sodium – Snacks are crafted with families and health-conscious consumers in mind.
- No artificial flavors, colors, or partially hydrogenated oils – Purity is paramount in selection.
- Calorie control – Under 300 calories per typical serving.
- Innovative flavors or functional benefits – Whether in texture, taste, or health claims, uniqueness is highly valued.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Are all winning snacks suitable for special diets (e.g. vegetarian, gluten-free)?
A: Many winners are vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free; look for labels and certifications on individual products for confirmation. Several standouts cater to plant-based and gluten-free needs.
Q: How were snack entries for kids evaluated?
A: Snacks for kids and babies were evaluated not just for taste and nutrition, but also for safety, developmental appropriateness, and fun. The focus was on nurturing healthy eating habits in early life.
Q: What is the role of fiber and protein in chosen snacks?
A: Snacks high in fiber and protein help support satiety and steady energy levels, attributes particularly prized by Good Housekeeping’s nutrition team.
Q: Where can you find these award-winning snacks?
A: Many are available nationwide at major retailers and online, with some specialty brands offering direct ordering. Wonderful Pistachios, for example, can be found nationwide and online.
Q: Are the awarded snacks suitable for meal replacements?
A: While many bars and bites offer robust nutrition, most are designed for snacking between meals rather than as full meal replacements. Always check their macro-nutrient balance before substituting them for a meal.
Conclusion: A Guide to Better Snacking
The 2020 Good Housekeeping Healthy Snack Awards set a new standard for snack excellence, steering consumers towards options that taste great and fuel the body. Whether you crave something crunchy, fruity, protein-rich, or child-friendly, this curated list helps you make informed choices that accommodate modern dietary needs, ingredient transparency, and a passion for flavor.
In a world of endless snack choices, the awarded products remind us that convenience, taste, and nutrition can coexist for every family, lifestyle, and craving.
References
- https://www.wonderful.com/media/imported/WP-Good-Housekeeping-2020-Healthy-Snack-Award-Press-Release-092220_v5-FINAL.pdf?v=1
- https://cosmiccrisp.com/the-2020-good-housekeeping-healthy-snack-awards/
- https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/113919-good-housekeeping-reveals-best-snack-awards-winners
- https://provarmanagement.com/good-housekeeping-healthy-snack-awards-2020/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YO-iyVSby3w
- https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/diet-nutrition/a33821787/healthy-snack-awards-2020/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZazKUq_psk
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