22 Whole-Grain Snacks You Haven’t Tried in 2022

Whole-grain snacks pretty much have it all: fiber, essential nutrients (including protein and iron), and rich flavors.

We can all tell whole grains do the body well, filling us up while helping us maintain steady energy levels, but whole grains may offer specific health benefits as well.

In the Journal of Nutrition’s Summary of American Society for Nutrition 2010 Satellite Symposium, authors write:

“Current scientific evidence indicates that whole grains play an important role in lowering the risk of chronic diseases, such as coronary heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, and also contribute to body weight management and gastrointestinal health.”

There’s really only one downside to the grain game: There are so many different grains to try, and you have so little time!

To help you figure out what grains to eat right now, we rounded up the most interesting whole-grain snacks we could find. These snacks help you quickly and easily get a fix of grains. You might even find some grains you’ve never heard of before!

Please note that we’ve included some snacks made from seed or pseudo-cereal grains, such as quinoa. Many experts say these seeds can safely be considered grains.

 

Whole-Grain Truth or Lie

 

Whole grains have three main components: bran, endosperm, and germ.

Truth. Read more about the anatomy of grain on the Oldways Whole Grains Council website.

Refining grains means “making them better.”

Lie! The International Food Information Council Foundation notes that the grain refining process may rob grains of some of their fiber and nutrients.

Getting more specific, the Oldways Whole Grains Council says, “Without the bran and germ, about 25% of a grain’s protein is lost, and are greatly reduced in at least seventeen key nutrients.”

Not all grains contain gluten.

True! Corn, millet, rice, sorghum. amaranth, buckwheat, and quinoa are gluten-free grains.

The grain isn’t whole if it has been milled or ground.

Lie! Whole grains may be ground, stone-ground, or otherwise “broken up.” As long as all the essential pieces (bran, endosperm, and germ) make it into the final product, then you’re still getting “whole” grains.

This little tidbit from the Oldways Whole Grains Council should put you at ease:

“If a food label states that the package contains whole grain, the “whole grain” part of the food inside the package is required to have the same proportions of bran, germ, and endosperm as the harvested kernel does before it is processed.

You need to get 2 servings of whole grains per day.

Lie! The United States Dietary Guidelines recommend getting 6 servings of grains per day, with at least 3 servings coming from whole (as opposed to refined) grains.

 

How to Get More Whole Grains

We already established that anyone can benefit from eating more healthy whole grains, but unfortunately, some people don’t eat enough. According to the National Women’s Health Resource Center, Inc., you may not be eating enough grains if you experience:

• Persistent hunger, even after eating
• Bloating
• Lethargy after eating
• High cholesterol

So are you ready to eat more whole grains? Here are some tips!

Tip 1: Read labels.

The Oldways Whole Grains Council advises consumers to check for these terms on labels to be sure they’re getting legitimately whole grains.

• Whole grain [name of grain]
• Whole wheat
• Whole [other grain]
• Stone-ground whole [grain]
• Brown rice
• Oats, oatmeal (including old-fashioned oatmeal, instant oatmeal)
• Wheatberries

Tip 2: Take advantage of these ingredients:

We pulled this list from some amazing round-ups created by the National Women’s Health Resource Center, Inc. and the Oldways Whole Grains Council.

• Amaranth
• Barley
• Bulgur
• Buckwheat
• Corn
• Einkorn
• Farro
• Freekeh
• Khorasan wheat (Kamut)
• Kaniwa
• Millet
• Oats
• Quinoa
• Rice
• Rye
• Sorghum
• Spelt
• Teff
• Triticale
• Wild Rice
• Wheat

Tip 3: Snack on whole grains.

This strategy, recommended by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, dovetails conveniently with this post. We have enough whole-grain snacks below to keep you rolling in the grains.

Grab-and-Go Whole-Grain Snacks

With whole-grain snacks at your fingertips, you can grab exactly what you need to fill up and stay energized for hours.

1. The Perfect Granola Coconut Cranberry Granola Bar

• Grain profile: Whole-grain oats, brown rice, and flax meal (considered whole grain by some)
• Fiber content: 3 grams
• Vitamins and nutrients: Calcium, iron, and protein

Smooth coconut, tart cranberry, and hearty grains make one perfect granola bar.

 

2. Kuali Amaranth Bar with Cranberries

• Grain profile: Popped amaranth
• Fiber content: 3 grams
• Vitamins and nutrients: Iron, protein, and vitamin C

Sample professionally prepared amaranth before you make it yourself! Putting an ancient-grain spin on the classic granola bar, this handy snack features popped amaranth instead of toasted oats.

 

3. Pure Organic Vanilla Almond Bar

• Grain profile: Quinoa, brown rice, amaranth, and flax seeds
• Fiber content: 2 grams
• Vitamins and nutrients: Protein, iron, calcium, and potassium

Bursting with grains and rich vanilla undertones, this filling bar has flavor and fiber to keep you full until your next meal.

 

4. BuckWHAT! Noshes Simply Sunflower

• Grain profile: Buckwheat
• Fiber content: 5 grams
• Vitamins and nutrients: Protein, calcium, and iron

The BuckWHAT! brand turned buckwheat into a delectable grab-and-go snack. These energizing bits feature buckwheat, sunflower seed butter, and dates.

 

5. Tomato Basil Organic Sourdough Einkorn Crackers

• Grain profile: Einkorn flour
• Fiber content: 1 gram
• Vitamins and nutrients: Protein and iron

Einkorn, a type of wheat that still exists in its wild state, gives these sourdough crackers an unforgettable flavor and nutrient profile.

6. Kracklin Kamut Brand Sea Salt Wheat Snack

• Grain profile: Khorasan wheat (Kamut)
• Fiber content: 3 grams
• Vitamins and nutrients: Protein and iron

Kamut, a pure and simple ancient grain, tastes amazing when roasted to crispy perfection and packaged for your snacking pleasure.

 

7. Finn Crisp® Traditional Crisp Bread

• Grain profile: Whole-grain rye flour
• Fiber content: Unspecified
• Vitamins and nutrients: Unspecified

Robust rye flavor and a delightfully crispy texture make this crispbread perfect for eating on its own or smothered with the toppings of your choice.  

 

8. Mini Pops Sea Salt Air-Popped Sorghum

• Grain profile: Sorghum
• Fiber content: 3 grams
• Vitamins and nutrients: Protein and iron

Step aside, popcorn! (Just for now!) We love popcorn as much as anyone else (see below), but there’s nothing wrong with trying a different whole-grain popped snack every once in a while.

 

9. Bjorn Qorn Cloud Qorn Salty Popcorn

• Grain profile: Corn
• Fiber content: 4 grams
• Vitamins and nutrients: Vitamin B12 and vitamin B6

Freshly grown non-GMO (genetically modified organism) corn makes the best popcorn. This version is fluffy and crispy at the same time.

 

 

10. BellaFineFoods Gluten-Free Cookie Raisin Walnut Spice Mania Tefftations™

• Grain profile: Brown rice flour and teff flour
• Fiber content: 1 gram
• Vitamins and nutrients: Protein, iron, and potassium

Try the ancient grain teff in the form of a wholesome cookie with nuts, raisins, and delectable spices.

11. Izzio Artisan Bakery Ancient Grain Bread with Heirloom Spelt and Pumpkin Seeds

• Grain profile: Heirloom spelt and wheat
• Fiber content: 2 grams
• Vitamins and nutrients: Protein and iron

This fresh-baked bread can’t wait to be delivered straight to your door! Naturally fermented and speckled with rich pumpkin seeds, this bread has a bigger personality than the average loaf.

Self-Prepared Whole-Grain Snacks

There are so many grains in the world, and making your own whole-grain snacks is your ticket to trying them all. Learn which ones you love and perfect your cooking techniques. Eventually, whipping up a batch of your go-to grain will be as natural as brushing your teeth.

 

12. Vanille Verte Spring Kaniwa Salad

• Grain profile: Kaniwa
• Fiber content: About 6 grams
• Vitamins and nutrients: Calcium, iron, and protein

This light and simple salad recipe is the perfect way to try protein-rich kaniwa.

 

13. Cooking with Hena Quinoa Bars with Kaniwa

• Grain profile: Quinoa and kaniwa
• Fiber content: About 3 grams
• Vitamins and nutrients: Calcium, iron, protein, magnesium, and manganese

A double-dose of whole grains makes these bars extra filling and extra delicious.

 

14. Joy of Kosher Popped Wild Rice

• Grain profile: Wild rice
• Fiber content: About 4 grams
• Vitamins and nutrients: Potassium, protein, and iron

Try popping wild rice to make a simple, original snack with a pleasing nutty flavor.

 

15. Nash’s Organic Produce Summer Grain Salad with Triticale Berries

• Grain profile: Triticale
• Fiber content: About 3 grams
• Vitamins and nutrients: Iron, calcium, and protein

A hybrid of wheat and rye, triticale creates a perfect fiber-packed foundation for a summer salad you can make ahead and snack on throughout your week.

16. Power Hungry 3-Ingredient Teff Crackers

• Grain profile: Teff
• Fiber content: 0.7 grams
• Vitamins and nutrients: Protein

These thick crackers take a while to bake, but the hands-on prep time requires only 10 minutes, and the whole-grain goodness they provide will be worth your wait.

 

17. Elephantastic Vegan Healthy Vegan Spelt Chia Crackers

• Grain profile: Spelt flour
• Fiber content: About 5.5 grams
• Vitamins and nutrients: Vitamin A, potassium, and iron

Spelt and chia seeds create decidedly grown-up crackers you’ll want to make again and again.

 

18. My Quiet Kitchen Popped Sorghum Balls

• Grain profile: Sorghum and oats
• Fiber content: 2 grams
• Vitamins and nutrients: Iron, calcium, and protein

Mildly nutty popped sorghum takes on deep new flavors when it’s paired with tahini and maple syrup.

 

19. Nordic Food Living Danish Rye Bread Chips

• Grain profile: Rye
• Fiber content: 2 grams
• Vitamins and nutrients: Iron, protein, and potassium

Turn your favorite whole-grain rye into crispy chips you can dip in (or top with) anything.

 

20. Muriella Banackissa Vegan Chocolate Kamut Snack Bars

• Grain profile: Kamut
• Fiber content: About 2 grams
• Vitamins and nutrients: Iron, calcium, protein

Rich chocolate brings a decidedly decadent flare to wholesome Kamut. You could eat this treat for breakfast, dessert, or an anytime snack.

 

21. Peas and Crayons Healthy Greek Freekeh Salad

• Grain profile: Freekeh
• Fiber content: About 4 grams
• Vitamins and nutrients: Manganese and phosphorus

Freekeh, a kind of toasted wheat, brings a pleasing flavor to salads you may have once made using couscous.

 

22. The Wimpy Vegetarian Cheddar Einkorn Crackers with Garlic

• Grain profile: Einkorn
• Fiber content: Less than 1 gram
• Vitamins and nutrients: Thiamine

Classic puffy, cheesy crackers get new depth with the addition of einkorn.

 

Additional Resources

• 32 Tasty & Healthy Vegan Snacks to Fight Off Cravings
• 50 Healthy Travel Snacks for Your Next Adventure
• 31 Guilt-Free Healthy Sweet Snacks That Will Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
• 23 Incredibly Tasty & Healthy Snacks to Buy Right Now
• 25 Healthy Snacks That Are Perfect For When You’re On The Go
• 35 Healthy Protein Snacks to Keep You Feeling Full & Satisfied
• 30 Field-Tested Healthy Snacks for Kids
• 31 Healthy Low-Carb Snacks to Keep You Full and Energized
• 50 Healthy Gluten-Free Snacks That Taste Amazing
• 28 Guilt-Free Healthy Snacks For Diabetics
• 45 Super Easy & Healthy Low-Calorie Snacks
• 33 Healthy Snacks for Adults Who Need to Refuel
• Sweet, Salty, Sour, or Spicy: These 30 Healthy Snack Bars Cover It All
• 37 Healthy Salty Snacks for When You’re Craving Something Savory
• 30 Healthy Packaged Snacks You Can Feel Good About Eating