Maintaining a healthy weight means eating a balanced diet that includes healthy food choices from all the major food groups. Many diets incorporate regular snacks to help you avoid getting too hungry and overeating at meal times. When choosing snack foods, it's important to look for foods that are filling as well as nutritious. The next time you find yourself reaching for a fattening sugary snack, consider the many healthy low-calorie snack alternatives that are available.
Fresh Fruit
Fresh fruit is a healthy snack that is low in calories and filled with fiber and vitamin C. You can eat fresh fruits alone or pair them with low-fat cream cheese, peanut butter or yogurt for added flavor and nutrition. The Mayo Clinic recommends snacking on 1 cup of sliced bananas and fresh raspberries, which contains less than 100 calories per serving. Small portions of raisins, apples, pears, nectarines, oranges and peaches are also low-calorie, according to the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center.
Frozen Yogurt
If you want a low-calorie alternative to ice cream without losing any of the flavor, try frozen yogurt. Low-calorie versions of frozen yogurt are high in calcium, and they can be eaten alone or paired with fresh fruit to make a creamy smoothie. The Good Housekeeping website recommends pairing frozen yogurt with a 1/4 cup of blackberries for a delicious snack that has less than 125 calories per serving.
Cheese
Cheese is an excellent source of protein and calcium, and in small servings, it can be relatively low calorie. According to the Mayo Clinic, two domino-sized slices of Colby or cheddar cheese has just 100 calories. Cheese can be eaten alone or paired with whole-grain bread, crackers or fresh fruit. You can also try low-fat cheese spreads on crackers or rice cakes or as a dip for raw vegetables, such as broccoli, peppers or cauliflower.
Chips
You can incorporate chips into your diet as a healthy snack by looking for baked versions or alternatives to traditional potato chips. Reader's Digest recommends making your own baked apple slices at home and sprinkling them with cinnamon for added sweetness. One apple is around 100 calories. The UCSF Medical Center also recommends choosing baked veggie, potato or tortilla chips and pairing them with low-calorie dips or salsa. Keep your snack size to a dozen chips or less, though, to keep your calorie intake at a minimum.
References
- Good Housekeeping: 50 Best Low Calorie Snacks
- Reader's Digest: 5 Healthy Snacks for 100 Calories or Less
- MayoClinic.com: Snacks: How they fit into your weight-loss plan
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: Low-Calorie, Lower Fat Alternative Foods
- University of California, San Francisco Medical Center: Healthy Snack Ideas
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