Top 10 Healthy Snacks For Weight Loss
The best snacks are ones that include healthy nutrient dense foods. Unprocessed whole foods make incredible snacks to fuel your body throughout the day and provide the energy you need to perform at optimal levels. There are so many quick and healthy snacks to choose from. You just need to make the decision to make smart snack choices.
You should never need to grab another bag of potato chips, box of cookies or candy bars every again. These types of foods are all empty calories and lead to fat gain and out of control insulin levels which make you feel tired and sluggish. Your body needs clean fuel, so give it nutrient dense foods all day long.
You might have tried everything possible to lose weight but at the same time are having trouble keeping the urge and food cravings under control when the stomach churns due to hunger. Stop worrying, as there is possibility of having the best of both worlds healthy snacks and weight loss working together for you. To top it all, you don’t even have to spend any extra money for it.
However, there are people who get so used to their unhealthy eating habits that they find it impossible to give up on binging oily snacks and three large meals a day. If you too yearn to lose weight without compromising on the food, here’s good news. This article provides a list of few recommended low calorie snacks that will help you to lose weight, without getting used to the strict diet chart.
Healthy Low Calorie Snacks
Tuna:
Tuna is a quick and easy snack that you can have at any time of the day. Simply pop open a can and you instantly have a healthy snack that is packed with protein. Just remember to buy tuna that is low in sodium.
Tuna is also an excellent source of tryptophan, selenium, protein, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B1, phorphorus, potassium, magnesium, and omega 3 fatty acids.
These excellent nutrients provide you with cardiovascular health, muscle growth, and protection against stroke and heart attack.
Turkey:
Turkey is a very lean meat that builds muscle and improves the immune system. It’s also packed with protein, iron, creatine, zinc, Vitamin B6 and B12, phosphorus, and potassium. Turkey is an excellent snack choice because it takes more energy for your body to digest protein than it does to digest carbohydrates or fats. That means, the more protein you eat, the more calories you burn. Other sources of lean protein include veal steak, tuna, salmon, chicken, and fish.
Popcorn:
Popcorn is one of the best snacks that you can stock up, while trying to lose some extra pounds. However, make sure that the popcorn you pile up should be devoid of any butter, sugar or salt, unlike the ones which you get in multiplexes, supermarkets and in quick and easy microwave sachets. Popcorn is light and rich in fiber. A cup of popcorn contains only 31 calories and comprises of only half a gram of fat. Air popping method is the best way to prepare popcorn and keep away all the fat at bay. Make sure you stay away from cheese flavored, sweet, buttery or salty popcorn.
Crisp Breads:
Crisp bread is another snack that can save fast food lovers from putting on more weight. It is mostly made out of rye and is available in many flavors and textures. It is a nutritious snack to have when you are on a weight loss diet. Each slice of crisp bread contains 32 calories, 0.2g of fat and is rich in wholegrain and fiber, which is good for the body and even helps in reducing weight.
Oatmeal:
Oatmeal is often considered a breakfast food. However, this highly nutritious grain is good at any time of the day. Oatmeal is low in calories and high in dietary fiber, which make you feel full over a longer period of time. These factors make oatmeal an excellent choice for anyone trying to lose weight.
These water soluble fibers also help lower your blood cholesterol levels. If you are looking for an excellent snack that doesn’t sacrifice taste, oatmeal is an excellent choice. In fact, you can even spice up your oatmeal a bit by adding some bananas and a bit of honey.
Olives:
Olives are tasty and piquant supplement to all the other snacks full of calories. Rich in vitamins and antioxidants, olives have the capability to fight back different diseases and infections such as osteoporosis, cancer and arthritis. Olives can be consumed ducked in lime juice, seasoned with herbs and spices or in their natural form. An oz of green olives contains 41 calories and has less than 5g of fat, whereas an oz of black olives contain 3.8g fat and 47 calories.
Almonds and Other Nuts:
You’ve heard the old phrase An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Well now people are saying the same thing about a handful of nuts.
The biggest weapon contained in nuts is the monosaturated fat. This kind of fat is actually good for you and can even help clear your arteries.
Nuts help fill you up and are also high in Vitamin E, fiber and magnesium. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps fight diseases such as cancer, asthma, osteoporosis and a host of other inflammations.
Yogurt:
Consuming no-fat or low fat yogurt is healthy, filling and a nutritious way to deal with your hunger pangs. Yogurt contains other nutritional benefits as well. It is a good source of calcium, protein and potassium, which helps to combat the digestive problems by promoting ‘good’ bacteria. You can also consume yogurt along with berries or granola to have a filling bite.
Peanut Butter:
Peanut butter is a delicious member of the legume family. It has a lot of the same good qualities as regular nuts, and is great because it will fill you up quickly. If you ever want to hold yourself over to the next meal just eat a couple of teaspoons of peanut butter. That’s 190 calories right there and you get a load of protein.
You can also add it to your fruit, crackers, or even a smoothie. It makes a great healthy snack. Watch your consumption of it, however. Despite the protein, peanut butter is considered a high-calorie food. So be sure you don’t overdo it.
Fruits:
Nothing can be a more refreshing way to lose weight than eating a plate full of fruits. You will be surprised to learn how effective a handful of grapes or few strawberries can prove to be in fighting off hunger pangs, until it is the right time for the meal. Apart from grapes and strawberries, other fruits such as watermelon, apples, berries, oranges and figs can also help you achieve the desired weight loss.