Okay so I poked around on here and couldn't really find a similar thread dedicated to this question, I am sorry if there is one and I just didn't see it.
Okay so over the many times I have started to count calories I have acquired a lot of good breakfast/lunch/dinner staples that I put together on a regular basis..but my issue right now is snacks. I have some things that I turn to most of the time but my stomach is practically still growling after I eat them. So what I'm looking for is all of your go-to snacks that satisfy you but don't break the calorie bank.
I like fresh fruit and a small peice of cheese. I find that usually gets me to my next meal. Make sure to include a protein source to keep you feeling full.
I also like greek yogurt, smoothies and occasionally a protein bar if I am on the run and feeling really hungry.
I like:
hard boiled eggs
10 raw almonds (soaked in water over a few hours)
celery with almond butter
cottage cheese singles from Knudsen
string cheese from weight watchers with apple slices
Full Bar
Fage 0% Greek Yogurt (sometimes with salsa stirred in or almost frozen fruit stirred in).
be sure you're drinking plenty of water because sometimes thirst can seem like hunger. If you know you've had enough calories, try chewing gum. I like 15 calorie popsicles to keep my mouth busy too.
Generally for snacks I try for a little protein, fat and carb.
I find cottage cheese is a great snack!
Peanut butter with an apple or banana.
A glass of milk.
Sometimes I'll do popcorn and set it some where else so I have to keep coming back to it.
For a larger snack I'll make a salad and then have some cottage cheese with it.
Greek yogurt, or any yogurt really. I try to get a mixture of fatfree and 2% or 4% dairy products to fill different needs throughout the week.
So I just realized I eat a lot of dairy LOL. But, I try to limit my meat intake as much as I can, so my main protein sources are beans and dairy products. Usually if I'm low on protein, I'm low on calcium too LOL.
Anyway... pretty much try to find ways to incorporate some protein with carbs and a little fat. Fat helps fill us up and satisfy us longer!
My favoriet is a smore made in the microwave with one graham cracker, one marshmallo, 1/4 hershey bar and 1/2 T peanut butter. Excellent and very filling.
sugar free jello with low fat or low sugar cool whip
low calorie pudding cups
There are many low calorie ice cream treats by weight watchers and skinny cow
string cheese wrapped in a very thin deli chicken.
grapes, banana apple
one little dove chocolate...dark seems most satisfying
fiber one yogurt mixed with 1 T cool whip and 1 T walnuts
It's best if you can have a protein with the snack like the person who mentioned the almonds. It helps you not feel hungry so fast.
i second the hydration suggestion. cherries and mini dark chocolate chunks. i also like frozen fruit chunks in greek yogurt but becareful the bag of frozen fruit says only fruit and not syrup or anything else added. 1/2 of bags at our store have sugar added and 1/2 don't. last night i had a snack of cherry tomatoes, feta & balsamic vinegar. as good as any pickle minus the salt.
Wow these are all really great ideas, I'm writing them all down! tdiprincess I love the idea of making popcorn but putting it somewhere else! I LOVE making a bowl of kettle corn for a big snack (250 calories per bag) but I eat it so quick because I just sit there and shove it in my face and its gone in minutes! I am definitely going to try that.
plain greek yogurt and spoon of homemade jam
ZONE protein bars
KIND nut or protein bars
1/4 c. mixed nuts
edamame
skinny mocha
Fiber One bars
small bowl of cereal and milk
cheestick, cut into 4 strips, and rolled into thin slices of turkey or ham
tomato and feta with olive oil drizzle
2 tbsp. hummus & pita chips
Besides "bars", I stay away from all "deit" snacked that areprepackaged. MOst are high in sugar/carbs and low in protein.
Something that's been helping me a lot has been to eat undistracted so that you can really notice each bite and how your body reacts to hunger. I also try to drink lots of water with it, like a whole bottle or large glass. I sort of pace myself in between bites. More technique than anything, but it's worth a try
I like pita and hummus. I have these small ones that are 80 calories each and 2 tbsp hummus is usually 60 - 70 calories. I personally don't use a ton of hummus so I'll do like 1 tbsp to 1 small pita and be good, for 110 calories only. I also like apple slices with peanut butter. 1 Medium apple with a tablespoon of peanut butter mixed with a few squeezes of honey will make a nice dip. I find peanut butter alone can be hard to work with unless you have something to spread it with onto the apples. That should be around 180 calories total.
A lot of people underestimate the power of veggies to fill you up and satisfy. They're an excellent snack! Snap peas are fun to eat, as well. I also love popcorn, because you can generally eat a whole bag (of the 98%ff stuff) for less than 200 calories.
When I do snacks, I do snacks I enjoy, don't feel deprived eating, are low calorie versions..All of these snack are under 150 calories per serving..I like baked Lays in plain and sour cream and onion..Baked Ruffles, or baked tortilla chips with salsa..Quaker mini rice cakes in ranch, cheddar, and caramel flavors..I enjoy cucumber slices or carrots with ranch or balsamic vinegar Wishbone salad dressing sprays..apple sauce..100 calorie bags of microwave popcorn..a cheese stick..Green beans, any veg, or low calorie crackers with various Laughing Cow spreadable cheese flavors..Sugar free jello..Tonight I bought 100 calorie packs of tiny Hostess cupcakes..They are delicious, and just enough to satisfy that chocolate craving
Last edited by TilttedHalo; 09-07-2011 at 10:55 PM.
Almonds
Cup of chai with about 1/4 cup of milk and a tsp of sugar (so filling!)
1 tbs of peanut butter (eat it *really" slowly off the spoon )
Latte with skim milk
I tend to avoid a lot of carbs for my snacks, including crackers, fruits, etc. They don't fill me up. Rather, protein, fiber and fat seem to do the trick without too much caloric damage
I am on a low number of calories (1200 or so) so I really can't "afford" to spend calories on snacks without any nutritional content. I try to find snacks with nutrients AND good taste.
Hmm... I don't really snack, but maybe these can help.
If you want carbs, maybe try 1 tbsp Peter Pan whipped peanut butter (delicious!) and a rice cake with a tiny drizzle of honey (75+35+15 = 125)
Or if you want protein, you can have a whole cup of plain fat free yogurt. I like it without anything in it, but if you don't, I recommend adding 2 tbsp of no sugar chocolate syrup. It makes a tasty chocolate yogurt! (110 + 15 = 125). And if you want more flavor, put in some raspberry Torani sugar free syrup (I do one cap full of the stuff for a cup of yogurt). Then it's chocolate raspberry. Yummy!
Or if you want more sweet, chop up a medium banana, freeze it, then blend the pieces with a tbsp or so of water, and maybe a bit of honey (105+15 = 120) It makes a great 'ice cream!' I also add a packet of splenda or something if I don't use honey. This works best with browner bananas (less starchy texture).
Last edited by LiannaKole; 09-08-2011 at 01:08 AM.
Reason: The thing about Torani
Need better snacks! Helppp.
