Contrary to what many people think, when done properly snacking can actually help you to lose weight. My friend Eric Hu has been harping on this for years with his clients who starve themselves to get thin, but that doesn’t work!
Here’s how it works: Dieticians have found that when dieting people often wait too long between meals, so that by the time you finally do eat, you have become so hungry that your portion sizes or choices are out of control.
To combat this, plan your meals at the beginning of the day and include your snacks in the total amount of calories that you would like to eat. This way you are not leaving yourself vulnerable to intense hunger pains or cravings that can sabotage your weight-loss goals.
Consider the following low-calorie snacks as an important addition to a healthy dieting lifestyle:
Lowfat Cheese and Apple Slices
For a mere 105 calories, you can enjoy a medium-sized apple along with a single wedge of Laughing Cow Light cheese. Crispy and succulent, apples are not only a delicious treat; they are also packed with water, fiber and antioxidants. As for the cheese, most dieticians agree that having a little extra fat is good in a snack because it sustains your urge to eat for a longer period of time.
Peanut Butter and Graham Crackers
Is it too good to be true? Not really. Spread one tablespoon of light peanut butter on two graham cracker squares for a delicious (and comforting) snack. Make this your alternative to cookies or snack cakes, which are much more fattening and, come on let’s face it—who ever stops at just one? This graham cracker snack weighs in at only 155 calories and will hold you down until your next meal.
Light Whipped Topping with Canned Mandarin Oranges
Sweet, delicately tangy and fragrant, this snack choice satisfies your cravings for an indulgent treat. Some even consider this to be an excellent replacement for ice cream! And best of all, one half cup of canned mandarin oranges and two tablespoons of light whipped topping will only run you 50 calories!
Egg Salad with Reduced Fat Mayonnaise
Protein coupled with fat provides real staying power, making egg salad an excellent snack choice for dieters. Use one whole hard boiled egg, plus one egg white and chop it up together. Next, mix it with a tablespoon of reduced fat mayonnaise. Your body will feel satisfied for hours and at just 145 calories it’s a snack that’s tough to beat!
Frozen Tamale Pie
Dare we? Reach for a calorie-controlled frozen snack? Yes! At a mere 150 calories, Amy’s Mexican Tamale Pie has a healthy balance of carbs and protein (beans and polenta). This low-fat, hearty snack will make you wonder if you are on a diet at all.
Stir Up Your Own Creative Juices!
At less than 200 calories here are some other simple ideas for healthy and delicious smart snacks:
Sweet
-1 cup mixed low-fat granola, low-fat yogurt and frozen fruit – 350 calories
-Roll ½ of a banana in 1 tbsp of frozen semisweet chocolate chips-123 calories
-Pair 2 tbsp of Peanut Butter with 4 celery stalks-124 calories
-Greek 2% fat yogurt mixed with 2 tsp of honey-173 calories
Salty
-2 bread-and-butter pickles wrapped in Applegate Honey and Maple Turkey Breast (2 oz)-80 calories
-3 carrot sticks with ¼ hummus dip-80 calories
-1/2 cup of cherry tomatoes with 1 oz of buffalo mozzarella-94 calories
-1 Turkey Breast Wrap with lettuce, tomato and light mayo-190 calories