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I'm a dietitian on the Mediterranean diet. Here are 8 of my favorite quick and easy snacks.

I'm a dietitian on the Mediterranean diet. Here are 8 of my favorite quick and easy snacks.

Lauren Manaker

Granola bars can be a great portable snack. Craig F Scott/Shutterstock

As a dietitian, I think the Mediterranean diet is one of the best ways to eat.
When I'm looking for quick snacks, I turn to my favorite granola bars and snack mixes.

Snack time is one of my favorite parts of the day.

I stick to the Mediterranean diet — which is regularly voted the healthiest way to eat — so my snacks aren't chock-full of sugar or processed ingredients. Instead, I try to pack them with antioxidants, healthy fats, and plant-based proteins.

And when I am snacking, I try to stay away from screens and truly savor my food without distraction — an often overlooked component of the Mediterranean lifestyle. It's a satisfying and welcome reprieve from my workday.

Since my days are usually super busy and I don't have much time to spare, my noshes are either prepackaged or simple to throw together.

Here are some of my go-to snacks as a dietitian on the Mediterranean diet.

I can eat a lot of pistachios.

I like that there are a lot of pistachios in one serving size. Andrii Pohranychnyi/Getty Images

A 1-ounce serving of pistachios is about 49 nuts and 160 calories, so you get a lot of bang for your buck. Plus, they're full of satiating healthy fats, fiber, and protein.

In fact, pistachios are a complete source of protein — meaning they provide all the body's essential amino acids — which can be harder to find in plant-based foods.

You can dip a number of things into guacamole.

I like dipping pita bread in guacamole. Sergio Mendoza Hochmann/Getty Images

Guacamole makes including healthy fats in my snack time a breeze.

To make things easier, I often stock up on preportioned packages from the grocery store — making sure they're made with real Haas avocados and no synthetic preservatives.

When hunger strikes, I dip whole-grain pita triangles, seeded crackers, or baby carrots.

Granola bars are a great on-the-go option if the ingredients are clean.

Junkless is my granola bar of choice. Lauren Manaker

Whole grains are a staple of the Mediterranean diet, and granola bars can be a great way to meet those goals.

I tend to reach for brands like Junkless that are made with 100% whole-grain oats and less sugar. My ideal bar is also free from artificial flavors or colors, preservatives, high-fructose corn syrup, and hydrogenated oils.

If you find a bar that ticks all the boxes and works for you, it's a great on-the-go option. I always have some in my purse, so I have something on hand when I'm not home.

I'm never one to shy away from a handful of pitted olives.

Preportioned packs of olives are a lifesaver when I'm on the go. fotolgahan/Getty Images

Olives tend to be a little higher in sodium, but they're also a source of healthy fats — a key component of the Mediterranean diet.

I like to buy preportioned packs of pitted olives at the store to keep myself from eating an entire jar in one sitting. Olives are delicious, so it can be easy to overindulge.

If I'm craving something salty and sweet, I stuff dates with blue cheese.

You can stuff dates with a number of fillings, but I like salty blue cheese. lanych/Shutterstock

I have a sweet tooth, but I've found ways to tame it with healthy (but satisfying) snacks instead of ignoring it throughout the day.

The Mediterranean diet allows for small amounts of dairy, and I'm happy to spend part of my daily quota on blue-cheese-stuffed dates.

Dates are full of antioxidants and fiber, and the salty cheese is a great flavor contrast.

Snack mixes come in handy when I don't have the energy to be creative.

There are some prepackaged snacks that I really like. Lauren Manaker

A snack mix packed with nuts is a staple in my rotation.

I tend to gravitate toward packs with no added sugar that also have real dried fruit and dark chocolate to round out the flavors and antioxidants.

Unlike many other mixes, Second Nature's Super Omega Smart Mix is relatively lower in sodium and ticks all my boxes.

I sometimes prefer frozen berries over fresh ones.

Frozen berries last longer in my house. Thomas Demarczyk/Getty Images

Frozen berries can be just as nutritious as fresh. Plus, they have a relatively long shelf-life — unlike fresh pints that can spoil quickly in the fridge.

Since the berries are cold, I have to eat them slowly to avoid a brain freeze, which also helps me eat more mindfully.

Roasted chickpeas are a satisfying crunchy snack.

I regularly make and/or buy crispy chickpeas. Megan Wells/Shutterstock

When a crunchy snack is needed, roasted chickpeas fit the bill. The beans are a nice source of plant-based protein, fiber, and antioxidants, and they're incredibly filling and satisfying.

If I have time over the weekend, I make a big homemade batch to enjoy throughout the week. But there are also many store-bought options if you need a prepackaged snack.

As a bonus, roasted chickpeas are a perfect vessel for various spice combinations that can help tackle any craving.