A previous post on the BBO Prime Column took a closer look at bad snacks for the bridge game – and a list of different snacks that you might not want to delve into right before you’re going to need your focus.

Of course, I couldn’t write that piece without – at some point – getting to the opposite.

Here’s a closer look at what makes up some of the best snacks for your next bridge game instead.

Pizza

When it comes to foods that are almost universally available, pizza is one of the healthiest.

Even though it has a bad reputation amongst many, it’s all about what type of pizza you choose – independently, the ingredients that you’ll find on most pizzas are healthy ones, but it’s the oil-laden variations on it that bring it closer to an unhealthy food.

Choose a “healthier” and more basic type of pizza if you’re trying to stock up before a game. If you’re allergic to wheat, there are plenty of pizza base alternatives from most restaurants.

Cereal, Muesli and Snack Bars

Cereal, muesli and snack bars are great because they’re convenient and you can carry them around with you, but they’re also great because they’re generally a healthy, quick snack that provides you with an energy boost that usually isn’t too high in sugar, but high enough in energy.

How healthy it is will depend on your choice of brand and type of bar. Read the label carefully, and remember that just because it says “health” on the label doesn’t mean it’s a healthy option. Check the nutritional information and ingredients before deciding about that for yourself.

Dried Fruit

If there’s a mentionable fruit, it exists in a dried variety: From Tamarind through to peaches, apricots, apples, bananas, various berries and so forth, you can find most types of fruit dried (and sometimes spiced or sweetened) in your nearest health food aisle or online.

Again, they make for a convenient snack because it’s something you can carry on you – and it’s a quick boost when you feel the need, while being healthier than your average candy bar.

Salads

Simply, some people are just plainly put off by dried fruit, and I know a few people who swear they hate touching any type of fruit because of their deep hatred of anything sticky.

If this describes you, fruit salad might be a better option for you: Portion-sized fruit salad bowls that seal properly can mean that you are able to take some of this snack with you on-the-go.

Nutritional Drinks of Various Types

There are a thousand different types of nutritional drinks available on the market – including ones like Ensure. Even though these are mostly prescribed for people with special needs or a compromised immune system, many people can benefit from the addition of these nutritional drinks in their diet.

Soime of them are ready-made, while others are available as a powder that has to be mixed with water, milk or (rarely) juice.

Dried Meat and Jerky

Not everyone eats meat, but if you do, there’s no better snack for the bridge game than beef in all its various dried varieties. It ranks much healthier than crisps and other snack counterparts, and it can give you a needed sodium boost when your brain starts to nag at you to snack.

Some types of jerky are filled with artificial flavorants: In this case, find out how to make your own at home. It’s not as hard as you might imagine.