September 24, 2005

Weight Loss Snack Foods

snack food ImageYour on a diet, attempting to lose weight, attempting to change your lifestyle when all of a sudden you get overwhelmed by the munchies; what do you do?

If you are truly looking to change your lifestyle then you have already ensured that you are stocked with some healthy snacks ready to help you fight the current craving.

What? You say all you have around are the snacks you add to your kids lunches. Cracker Jacks, cheezits, honeybuns, doritos, chips but nothing healthy that will help you get past this craving.

The key to successfully getting past these cravings is to be prepared for them. Know what you can substitute and have those items on hand.

I personally love red radishes with salt or Vlasic Kosher Dill Pickles, both are high in sodium so obviously we need to be aware of many other items. Here is a list of some items that might come in handy. Remember that there are currently many low calorie condiments also available that can be used with these snacks, salad dressings, salsa, mustards, horseradish etc...


Almost No Calories
  • Celery sticks
  • Lettuce
  • Cucumbers
  • Green peppers
  • Mushrooms
  • Cauliflower
  • Broccoli
25-30 Calories
  • 1 small tangerine
  • 1/2 cup watermelon
  • 1/4 cantaloupe
  • 1 small tomato
  • 1 medium carrot
  • 1 cup popcorn
  • 12 pretzel sticks
35-40 Calories
  • 1 medium peach
  • 1 medium nectarine
  • 1/2 grapefruit
  • 1/2 cup skim milk
  • 1/4 cup plain yogurt
  • 3 saltine crackers
  • 1/2 small banana
50-75 Calories
  • 1 small apple
  • 1 small orange
  • 15 grapes
  • 12 cherries
  • 1 cup strawberries
  • 1/4 cup cottage cheese
  • 4 small shrimp
  • 1 Popsicle or fudgesicle1 piece of fresh fruit
  • 1 cup sugar free gelatin with 2 tablespoons whipped cream
  • 1 cup raw vegetables such as sliced peppers, mushrooms and tomatoes with 2 tablespoons humus or diet salad dressing
  • 2 saltine crackers with 2 teaspoons peanut butter
  • ½ cup dry cereal
snack food Image100-125 Calories
  • 2-3 cups of popcorn *
  • 1 large apple
  • 1 large orange
  • 1/2 ounce of nuts
  • 1 large banana
  • 1 8-oz. glass skim or 1% milk
  • 6 to 8 oz. fat free yogurt, artificially sweetened
  • 1 hard-cooked egg
  • Small bowl cereal with 1/4 to 1/2 cup skim or 1% milk *
  • 1 pear
  • 1 piece string cheese
  • 1 piece whole-wheat toast spread with 1 teaspoon spreadable fruit
  • 1/2 to 1 cup fruit canned in light or extra light syrup or its own juice *
  • 1 bunch grapes
  • 2 whole cups strawberries for 100 calories!
  • Small bowl of broth or tomato-based soup *
  • 1 ounce soy nuts *
  • 1 rice cake with 1 tablespoon jelly
  • 3 fig Newton squares
  • ½ cup cottage cheese with ¼ cup berries
  • 1 slice of toast with ¼ cup 1% cottage cheese, sprinkled with cinnamon
  • Fruit shake! Blend ¾ cup plain nonfat yogurt and ¼ cup fruit. Add nutmeg, ginger or sugar substitute as desired
  • ½ small pita with 1 tablespoon Neufchatel cheese and ½ cup cooked or fresh vegetables
  • 1 box Cracker Jacks®
150-200 Calories
  • 4 cups of light popcorn *
  • ¼ cup nut and raisin mix *
  • 1 small banana spread with ½ tablespoon peanut butter
  • 1 cup plain nonfat yogurt with ½ cup berries or chopped fruit
  • 1 baked apple sprinkled with cinnamon and 2 teaspoons brown sugar
  • 1 cereal bar or reduced fat granola bar
  • 1 slice bread with Dijon mustard, 2 slices turkey breast and a slice of tomato
*Check Label for portion size

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