Snack Foods That Are Not Nutritional

Snacks can be a beneficial part of your diet by supplying various nutrients you need, as well as preventing hunger and overeating. Not all snacks are healthy and it is important to avoid snacks that provide no nutrition and are high in salt, sugar and fat. Knowing how to identify an unhealthy snack may help you improve your health and make more nutritious choices.

Sugary Snacks

If you crave something sweet for a snack, choose a piece of fruit or drizzle some honey into a carton of plain yogurt. These foods contain natural sugars, which can be part of a healthy diet. Snacks with added or refined sugars are less nutritious. Michael T. Murray and Michael R. Lyon report in their book, "Hunger Free Forever: The New Science of Appetite Control," that the average consumer eats and drinks about 63 lbs. of sugar each year. This can raise your risk of diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease. Soda, cookies, cake, candy bars and ice cream are not nutritious snacks because they contain added sugar and few vitamins or minerals.

Salty Snacks

You need 2,300 mg or less of sodium each day for fluid balance, nerve transmission and muscle function. The average diet contains far more than this, which can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease and kidney disease, MayoClinic.com reports. Many packaged snack foods are very high in sodium and can cause you to consume more than what is healthy. Pretzels, potato chips, crackers and frozen snacks are all high in sodium and offer little nutrition. Fruits, vegetables, low-fat yogurt and whole grain bread are healthier options that are lower in salt.

Fried Snacks

Frying food traps oils inside, which increases the content of saturated fat. Many packaged snack foods are convenient and taste good, but are high in saturated fat. A diet that includes too much saturated fat can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. A quick trip through the drive through for French fries, or a walk to the vending machine for a bag of potato chips, will add unhealthy saturated fat to your diet. Some crackers and dessert items, such as donuts, are also fried and contain far too much saturated fat to be considered healthy snacks.

Snacks with Trans Fats

Trans fats are the worst and most dangerous type of fat to include in your diet. MayoClinic.com reports that trans fats can contribute to high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease. The most common snacks that contain trans fats are packaged baked goods, crackers and other convenience snacks. A piece of bread and margarine also contains trans fats because margarine uses partially hydrogenated oils for consistency. Read the ingredient label on any snack you choose and pass on those that include partially hydrogenated oils, which are trans fats. These types of snacks are often low in vitamins and minerals as well.