A weight loss diet can be difficult even if you have lots of extra time to prepare healthy, low-calorie meals and snacks. But what if you rely on convenience foods to get you through the week? Luckily, there are many healthy convenience diet foods, such as ready-to-eat snacks, available to help you set yourself up for success. The more flavor and variety you have in your diet, the less likely you are to cheat out of boredom or frustration.
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are truly the best convenience diet foods around. Buy them fresh or frozen, without additives such as sugars and sauces. Fruits such as bananas, apples, oranges and pears are portable and convenient. For more variety, stock up on more exotic frozen fruits such as blackberries, mangoes and pineapple. Toss frozen fruit in a blender with milk and sugar-free yogurt for a filling smoothie. Low-calorie vegetable juices, such as V-8, are tasty, filling and, if you buy the small cans, portable. Although bags of baby carrots are convenient, they dry out fast. Cut up a fresh sweet bell pepper instead and seal in a plastic baggie.
Dairy
Dairy products go beyond milk; although a low-fat milk "chug" is certainly a diet-friendly convenience item. Convenience dairy products appropriate for your diet include string cheese; light, fruit-flavored or drinkable yogurt; kefir, a tasty protein-rich fermented milk drink; as well as small containers of low-fat cottage cheese. Another option is light spreadable miniature Swiss cheese wedges, such as the Laughing Cow brand; each wedge offers only 35 calories and 7 g of protein. Spread it on low-fat whole grain crackers or a slice of whole-wheat toast with low-sugar preserves.
Packaged Items
According to Shape magazine, packaged nuts such as roasted almonds are a convenient healthy snack as long as they come in small packets. Diet gelatin and puddings, and packets of whole-grain crackers, are tasty, low in calories and come in single-serving packages. If you love canned fruit, try lower calorie juice-pack pineapple or grapefruit "chunks" instead.
Cereal does not have to be for breakfast. Add a spoonful of your favorite calorie-free sweetener to a packet of reconstituted plain, instant oatmeal or grits. For a heartier snack, try a low-calorie frozen meal or can of reduced-sodium vegetable-bean soup.
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