The Best Weight Loss Snacks

The Best Weight Loss Snacks
Photo Credit Fruit snacks image by Stokholm from Fotolia.com

What To Look For

You want to pick foods that make you feel full for a long time. Foods that are pumped full of air such as organic potato chips are a good choice. Another idea is to pick solids because it takes your body a longer time to process them than to digest liquids. Also, pick out a mix of proteins and complex carbohydrates. Your muscles need protein, while complex carbohydrates give you energy. Apples, blackberries, and cucumbers have under 100 calories and are high in fiber, while a grilled chicken leg with no bone has under 200 calories. Chicken nuggets are a strong choice for people trying to lose weight because one nugget has only 0.7 grams of saturated fat and only 3 total grams of fat.

Common Pitfalls

Be aware of the different terms that describe health food. For example, "all-natural" means that food has minimal processing. The term "organic" has to do with the way meat and produce was raised and nothing to do with the nutritious value of the food. Watch out for the phrase "no additives or preservatives." It doesn't mean that the food has a healthy balance of nutrients. Also, choose whole grain instead of wheat because it is typically healthier than wheat.

Where To Buy

Stores that specialize in organic health food such as Whole Foods have a wide variety of foods that can help you lose weight. The benefit of shopping at an organic health food store is that most snacks you buy there are in the store because they have nutrients that your body needs. You can also purchase healthy snacks at your local discount grocery store. Many grocery stores have a health food section, and they might even have a generic brand that has the same ingredients for a low price.

Cost

The cost of weight loss snacks varies because it depends on the type of food of you want. Diet bars are around a dollar or two each. You can also try recipes, although you have to buy several ingredients in that case. The cost of many snacks depends on whether you purchase organic food. You might spend around an extra dollar or two for a product that is marketed as organic or all-natural.

References

Article reviewed by Steve Wozniak Last updated on: Dec 8, 2010

Must see: Photo Galleries

Member Comments