While you need some fat in your diet to support basic body functions, too much can cause weight gain and increase your risk of developing certain health conditions. Eating fat free at snack time does not mean you are stuck with celery sticks and bland rice cakes. Avoid processed snacks with the fat removed, as these usually include added sugars and carbohydrates to make up for the missing fat. Instead, craft your own healthy, fat-free snacks with fresh and flavorful ingredients.
Vegetables and Salsa
Tomato-based salsa is fat free and full of flavor. It provides you with the antioxidant lycopene, which fights disease-causing free radicals in the body. Serve the salsa with an assortment of vegetables, but venture beyond the basic carrot stick. Instead, use jicama, endive leaves and cauliflower florets to add variety to your vegetable intake and increase your fiber consumption.
Shrimp With Nonfat Greek Yogurt
Frozen, precooked shrimp thaws quickly and provides 18 g of protein and less than 1 g of fat per 3-oz. serving. Dip the shrimp into plain, nonfat Greek yogurt mixed with lemon juice, a dash of salt and cayenne pepper. The Greek yogurt provides an additional 10 g of protein per 4-oz. serving as well as 10 percent of the recommended dietary allowance for calcium, based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
Air-Popped Popcorn
Air-popped popcorn contains no fat, but offers 3 g of fiber per 3-cup serving. Popcorn counts toward the 3 oz. of whole grains the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends you consume daily. While plain popcorn can be rather bland, you can add pizazz by sprinkling it with spices, such as chili or curry powder, topping it with truffle-enhanced sea salt or mixing it with dried cranberries.
Fat-Free Cottage Cheese
Fat-free cottage cheese provides calcium and protein. Add texture and sweetness to the cottage cheese by stirring in 1/4 cup of raisins. The raisins are also a source of iron, potassium and fiber. Stir applesauce into fat-free cottage cheese for an alternative fat-free snack. If you prefer savory snacks, blend fat-free cottage cheese with dill, lemon juice and black pepper and eat with strips of bell pepper and scallions.
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