Many people choose not to have snacks because they fear derailing their healthy diets by consuming extra calories. However, building the calories from snacks into your daily diet can help you stay on track by preventing hunger and reduce the chances of a binge, reports MayoClinic.com. It is important to choose a healthy snack that contains around 100 calories, which will fit well into your daily eating plan, but fill you up enough to hold you until your next meal.
Popcorn
Popcorn is a good source of whole grains and is snack that is low in calories, but will satisfy your hunger until your next meal. For example, a serving of Smartfood Reduced-Fat Popcorn contains 120 calories, only 5 g of fat and 2 g of fiber, according to "Fitness" magazine. Many other manufacturers market low-fat microwavable popcorn, but you can also buy unpopped kernels and pop your own. This allows you to control how much butter and salt is on the popcorn, and adding other herbs and spices in your own kitchen mixes up the flavor of your snack.
String Cheese
According to "Women Fitness," a low-fat piece of string cheese provides up to 25 percent of your daily recommended totals of calcium. This nutrient is important because it supports healthy bones and teeth. In addition, cheese packs a good dose of protein, which satisfies hunger for around 100 calories, depending on what brand you buy. String cheese is a portable snack that you can toss in your lunchbox or gym bag for an easy and quick snack that will keep your energy up until your next meal.
Nuts And Seeds
Choosing nuts or seeds for a snack means getting enough protein to keep you feeling full enough to prevent overeating later in the day because you have gotten too hungry. MayoClinic.com recommends sticking to one serving of nuts because otherwise you will exceed a healthy calorie total for your snack. An added bonus regarding nuts is that they contain heart healthy fats, which reduce your chances of heart disease. "Fitness" magazine reports that a portion of Planters Honey Roasted Peanuts weighs in with 6 g of protein.
Bananas
A banana is an easy and portable snack that can help you power through the hours between meals. This is because bananas are a good source of carbohydrates, which are your body's main source of energy, reports "Women Fitness." Choosing a banana also packs in vitamin B6 and potassium, which help your body use the energy in your snack as well as regulating heart beat. A banana is also a good source of fiber, which not only regulates digestion, but can help reduce high cholesterol and heart disease risk. A medium banana contains only 110 calories.
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