I love planning and organizing. I like to know what is going on months in advance. I am really not the spontaneous type. If it is not in the “plan” I tend to freak out. I think this drives Josh nuts sometimes, but he still loves me:)
Planning is key when it comes to healthy eating. You need to have a plan to keep yourself on track when hunger hits. I always plan meals in advance and the same thing goes for snacks. Eating healthy snacks in between meals keeps your metabolism and energy up. A light snack will also help tide you over to the next meal-so you are not starving and eating everything in sight.
Select foods that satisfy your hunger and provide your body with energy and important nutrients. Opt for snacks between 100-200 calories, depending on your daily calorie needs. Choose snacks from these food groups:
- Fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables provide vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients. They are also low in calories and we all need to sneak in more fruits and veggies. So eat up!
- Whole grains. Whole-grain snacks are rich in fiber and complex carbohydrates, which give you energy with staying power.
- Nuts and seeds. Nuts and seeds provide protein, so you will feel fuller longer. They can be high in fat, but it’s mostly monounsaturated, a healthy fat. Nuts and seeds are high in calories, so watch your portion sizes.
- Low-fat dairy products. Cheese, yogurt and other dairy products are good sources of calcium and protein, plus many other vitamins and minerals. Make sure you choose fat free, low fat, and/or light versions.
Here are a few of my favorite snacks:
- Natural peanut butter or almond butter with apple slices, banana slices, or celery sticks.
- Fresh or frozen berries with yogurt. We make our own yogurt-it’s my favorite:) Top with sliced almonds or granola to make a fruit parfait.
- Whole grain crackers with fat free cottage cheese. I also like cottage cheese and fruit-pears and peaches are my favorite.
- I like to make my own trail mix-high fiber cereal, dried fruit (such as apricots, cranberries, and apples), and almonds.
- Vegetables with hummus. Try red, yellow, and orange bell peppers; broccoli; cauliflower; carrots and cherry tomatoes. I like different hummus flavors too-red pepper, cilantro lime, artichoke, etc.
- Fruit smoothies. I use yogurt, fresh fruit, and ice. My favorite combo-peach, raspberries, and a little agave nectar.
- Handful of nuts-almonds are my favorite. I usually add fruit too, I am hooked on clementines right now.
- String cheese with cut up veggies.
- Edamame with a little sea salt.
- Sandwich thin with light Laughing Cow cheese wedge and tomato slices.
- Frozen grapes-they take longer to eat and are a cool treat in the summer.
Just make sure you watch your portion sizes. Keep it a snack, not a meal! If you know you are going to be out all day, pack a snack to go. If you work at a desk-keep healthy snacks in your desk drawer. In my purse you will always find an apple and a snack bag with almonds. You never know when you will need a pick me up-so plan ahead!
What do you like to snack on? Please share your healthy ideas.
If you are participating in the 10 in 10 Challenge, how is it going? I am rocking my workouts and eating better so things are going well.
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{ 34 comments… read them below or add one }
These are some great suggestions. I especially like carrots with hummus.
Great ideas!
Cheers,
Rosa
I love to snack on:
Apples with Cashew Butter
Hummus with Carrots
Laughing Cow Cheese with Pretzels/Rice crackers
cherry tomatoes with cilantro and lime.
Great post!!
I love how you are taking this 10 in 10 thing to the max will all of these informative and helpful posts. When I was losing weight, planning and snacking were KEY. Which was shocking to me because I never really snacked before ever. (I would just binge on oreos once a week). I love your snack ideas. I totally go for the PB/AB and an apple. Or hummus. Or cottage cheese.
It’s so cool that you make your own yogurt!
I have frozen grapes for years! I used to put a baggie in the freezer, at night, in high school and then take it with me in the morning. It’s like candy!!!!
I love snacks! I eat all day long and my usually snacks include yogurt with chocolate chips and banana soft serve, big protein shake that taste like ice cream, wraps with peanut butter and chocolate chips, whole wheat bread (or brown rice/millet bread-soo good) broiled with cheese and apples…
Can you tell I love snacks??
I’ve been wanting to try almond butter. Costco sells it, but it’s a huge jar so I haven’t tried it yet. I really do need to get some jars and make some yogurt. On my list to do this year. Thanks for the great suggestions!
These are great and wonderful ideas. I am still craving for that edamame.
We are also snacking on clementines right now & I try to always have raw almonds around. The best thing I do is no have chips in the house so the hubs isn’t tempted
yes hummus, veggie hummus to be exact. I love pb & apples too. and you know I love those pre-wrapped dates–they aren’t that bad; I thought they’d be horrid.
One of my new favorites arerosemary olive oil triscuits with a slice of fresh mozzarella. I also love clementines, pistachios, and celery with almond butter.
Great advice! Sometimes, I prefer these sorts of snacks to meals.
Ha ha! I definitely have no problems turning frozen grapes into a meal, unfortunately…
I almost forgot! I love Lara Bars too. Coconut is my favorite flavor.
http://www.larabar.com/food/larabar/
I’m a snack kind of woman. Im right there with you on all of your yummy top 10’s!! Love them all!
haha….I am so the same way (plan, plan, plan;))- drives my Josh crazy too but…keeps me sane! We’re too similar! Great snack ideas. I love apples or celery and nut butter, rice cakes and nut butter, or veggies and hummus. Definitely need to keep an eye on portion control with the nut butter/hummus- its easy to get out of control!
What are you up to this weekend? I taught Pump yesterday and Step this am. Rest of the day should be pretty relaxing! Tomorrow, my parents are coming down to either go into Charleston or go to brunch at a restaurant pretty much on the beach. Hope you have a good one!!
I love cottage cheese and peaches. I always have some in my fridge, and it is very satisfying!
Thanks for your ideas Maria!
These are all great ideas. I’m hooked on clementines right now too and I love snacking on hummus with cherry tomatoes.
I am a huge fan of snacks too! Here are some of my favorites (kid friendly too!):
Mini whole grain muffins (2’s enough)
Goat cheese on Wasa bread
Sliced cucumbers with low fat cream cheese
Marinaded tofu cubes (I love making a curry mix with raisins)
French people don’t snack: they have 3 meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and then maybe a gouter (4pm snack) to keep going until dinner time. As a mother of two young children in the US (where everybody is snacking), I can tell you that managing the “snack issue” is a real challenge. Reading the label helps control the calories… I love your ideas!
Awesome ideas! I think it is really important to snack and really helps my energy levels throughout the day.
Peanut butter and apples are my all-time favorite snack! I also love almonds with dried fruit like raisins or cranberries.
excellent suggestions, maria. i have to throw all my support behind peanut butter and hummus–between the two of those items, i find satisfaction (and extra protein).
My favorite snacks are:
carrots with hummus
raisins
green apples with crunchy peanut butter
Does green tea count as a snack? Or chocolate milk?
Also, I’ve been making batches of shortbread – not a healthy snack but it satisfies my sweet tooth!
Thanks for the reminder of good snacks. Sometimes it is so hard when you are in the kitchen cooking for others not to . . . . eat.
It sounds like you and I stock our fridge/cupboard the same way! These are also some of my favorites.
Baby Carrots with natural peanut butter or almond better is delicious too! (Sounds odd, but trust me it’s great.)
As someone else mentioned, Lara bars are a great snack. I love the Cashew Cookie and Banana Bread flavors.
A mix of pretzels plus raisins or dried cranberries
And for an extra treat…Nutella (choc. hazelnut spread) on whole wheat toast or fresh strawberries.
Great snack ideas! I lost 25 pounds since June-finally back to my pre-baby weight!- and I truly and wholeheartedly agree that planning is the absolute key. I love knowing that if I plan meals and snacks most of the time, there is room for a splurge now and then. I will definitely be incorporating you snack ideas into my rotation!
Maria, very thorough post on healthy snacks! You cover a broad range of flavors and combos…something for everyone here.
I love planning ahead as well…perhaps to a fault! Drives my husband nuts as well, but he always benefits from my ambition.
You’re not alone. I plan absolutely everything. With my hectic school schedule and after school activities I even go as far as planning my showers and time to relax, (which more often that not is never, but I do count eating as relaxing). My favorite snack is an apple with yogurt. Simple, not messy, and quick.
PB and apples or bananas is one of my all time favorites. You gave some great suggestions!
Hi Maria,
It was good to hear from you. Cristie is a good friend and she has mentioned you (and your blog) to me. I lurk sometimes. Your photos are gorgeous. I look forward to meeting you sometime.
I too am ALL about the planning so I can definitely relate!
Great snack ideas!
Great suggestions – I LOVE frozen grapes. I love your blog – thanks for posting such great stuff!
Great suggestions! I am a planner, too, which makes my husband crazy. When we go on a trip, I will be packing days in advance, and he waits until 20 minutes before we have to leave for the airport/train station. Ugh! Anyway… This week of the challenge has gone much better because I did plan some healthy snacks and meals into my week!
One of my favorites is slicing apples (like Gala) and putting them in baggie. These apples don’t turn brown quickly. I also like it with peanut butter or a little cheese. I need to know what my snacks are too.