8 Best (and 8 Worst) Vending Machine Foods

Okay, so the next time you need to grab a snack from a vending machine (and you don’t think your personal trainer will find out) — check this list to make sure you know what snacks to avoid, and which snacks are better for you. You might just be shocked to find out the stats on some of the most popular snacks  . . .

Here is a list of the top 8 unhealthy snacks:

1. Hostess Fruit Pies
Most fruit pies are extremely unhealthy, just check these stats:
440 calories, 27g fat, 7g sat fat, 8g trans fat

2. Cheese Crackers with Cheddar Cheese
Okay, so you might think cheese and crackers are better than a 3 Musketeers’ bar, but you’re wrong. This snack is filled with saturated fats and trans fats.
210 calories, 10g fat, 2g sat fat, 4g trans fat

3. Frosted Pop-Tarts – Strawberry
Yes, they taste very good, but these are a diabetic nightmare and filled with fat.
420 calories, 10g fat, 2.5g sat fat, 40g sugar

4. Doritos
If you need to have some chips, go with Sun Chips. Doritos are filled with fat.
250 calories, 13g fat, 2.5g sat fat, 2g fiber

5. Skittles
You wouldn’t think Skittles have the same saturated fat as Doritos, but they do.
250 calories, 2.5g fat, 2.5g sat fat

6. Cheeze-It Baked Snack Crackers
This fat-filled snack has no fiber or protein.
160 calories, 8g fat, 2g sat fat

7. Ruffles Original
Salt and fat in a bag.
160 calories, 10g fat, 3g sat fat

8. Twix
More saturated fat than Cheetos and Ruffles combined. And more fat.
280 calories, 14g fat, 11g sat fat

Here are the top 8 healthiest snacks:

1. Planters Sunflower Kernels
Sunflower kernels are filled with healthy fats.
160 calories, 14g fat, 1.5g sat fat, 4g fiber

2. Baked! Lays Original
One of the best chips behind the glass because of the low fat and fiber content.
210 calories, 3g fat, 0g sat fat, 4g fiber

3. Mini Prezels (20 Count)
Another great snack with no fat.
110 calories, 0g fat, 0g sat fat

4. Reduced-Fat Popcorn
Popcorn with butter has fat, but it doesn’t have many calories and will fill you up.
120 calories, 5g fat, 1g sat fat, 2g fiber

5. Fig Newtons
It’s really hard to find a snack like this with no fat (and includes fiber).
190 calories, 0g fat, 0g sat fat, 2g fiber

6. Quaker Chewy Low-Fat Granola Bar, Chocolate Chunk
A low-calorie snack that tastes really good.
110 calories, 2g fat, 0.5g sat fat, 1g fiber

7. Nature Valley Granola Bar, Oats and Honey
This is a tasty snack that will fill you up, and has fiber.
180 calories, 6g fat, 0.5g sat fat, 2g fiber

8. Planters Honey Roasted Peanuts
This bag is packed with protein and healthy fats.
160 calories, 13g fat, 1.5g sat fat, 6g protein

Of course, if you can avoid the vending machine altogether – that’s the best approach.

Here are some great articles for healthy snack options:

• Healthy Snack Tips – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Great Snacks Under 200 Calories – Self Magazine
• Health Snacks – University of Illinois