Staying on track with your weight-loss plan by having healthy snacks between meals. Choose snacks that are packed with protein, fibre and healthy fats; these will help you feel satiated and full.
Snacks can help satisfy hunger and stave off cravings. But it can be challenging to know which snacks are beneficial for you and which aren’t.
Table of Contents
1. Dried Fruit
Dried fruit is an ideal way to get the essential vitamins and nutrients without adding extra calories or carbs. Additionally, dried fruit can be beneficial if you aren’t getting enough fresh fruit in your diet.
Diced dried fruit is a healthy snack option that you can add to cereal or yogurt for an energizing breakfast or midday snack. Or blend dried apricots and cherries into a fruit smoothie to provide extra energy, vitamins, and minerals.
Dried fruit typically contains high amounts of fibre, which helps you feel full for longer. Fibre takes longer to digest than other macronutrients, so it may reduce the amount of calories, carbohydrates and fats absorbed into your bloodstream.
2. Nuts
Nuts make for a satisfying snack that can help you stay on track while losing weight. Their high protein and fibre content will keep you fuller for longer.
They’re also an excellent source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat. According to the American Heart Association, these fats help lower your cholesterol levels.
But you should limit yourself to a moderate intake of nuts. Eating too many could contribute to an increase in belly fat and be detrimental for your long-term health.
Instead, incorporate raw, unsalted nuts into your healthy eating plan as an effective way to cut back on sugar, salt, and other unhealthy additives in snacks.
3. Fruit with Nuts
Fruit is an ideal weight-loss food choice due to its high fibre content that helps control blood-sugar spikes. Plus, it contains essential nutrients like vitamins and minerals that support a healthy lifestyle.
Nuts are an ideal snack choice to help you reach your weight goals. Their healthy fats promote heart health and suppress hunger cravings.
They’re also an excellent source of protein, keeping you feeling full for longer. Furthermore, bananas contain high amounts of antioxidants that protect against heart disease and cancer.
Nutrient-rich avocados provide numerous health benefits that make them a beneficial addition to any diet. When combined with protein-rich foods like cottage cheese, you’ve created an appetite suppressant as well as weight loss aid.
4. Whole-Grain Crackers
Whole-grain crackers are an ideal weight loss snack due to their high fibre and nutritional content. Not only that, but they help you feel full longer between meals, helping reduce hunger cravings between meals.
Crackers can be a nutritious snack, but they must be low in added sugar and sodium. These components will increase your caloric intake, hindering weight loss efforts.
Choose a variety with less than 1 teaspoon added sugars and 200 mg sodium per 16 crackers. The ideal crackers are those made with whole grains and low in salt and refined carbohydrates.
5. Baked Beets
Beets are an incredibly nutritious snack with many health benefits. Not only do they improve blood pressure and lower inflammation levels, but they’re packed full of essential vitamins and minerals like folate, potassium, phosphorus and magnesium as well.
Fruit and vegetables are also packed full of fibre, helping you feel full for longer and preventing you from overeating.
Beets make for an incredibly nutritious and versatile side dish – whether baked, roasted or raw.
Eat them raw in a salad, thinly sliced and paired with goat cheese, or added to soups and smoothies.
Fruit smoothies are also an excellent way to increase antioxidants and calcium intake. When you’re feeling thirsty, a fruit smoothie can provide you with a tasty alternative that’ll help keep you motivated towards reaching your objectives.
6. Pineapple-Jalapeno Dip
Snacks are an integral part of weight loss, helping you satisfy cravings and stay on track. Unfortunately, finding healthy snacks that satisfy both hunger and taste good can be challenging.
Fruit smoothies are an ideal way to get in essential vitamins, calcium and antioxidants. And if you want a sweet treat without all the added sugar, consider making fruit roll-ups!
These healthy, low-calorie treats are easy to make ahead of time, making them the ideal snack when you want something nutritious but low in calories. Made with fruits and yogurt, they contain calcium, protein, and fibre for extra nutritional support.
7. Whole-Grain Tortillas with Black Beans
Combining whole-grain tortillas with black beans creates a nutritious snack that will keep you full and help you reach your weight goals. Tortillas have moderate calories as well as essential nutrients like fibre, protein, b-vitamins, and iron for an energy boost.
Furthermore, black beans contain resistant starch – an innovative dietary fibre which helps to reduce systemic inflammation.
Dietary fiber has also been known to improve gut health. Resistant starch enters the colon intact, where it’s fermented by our gut microbiota to produce short-chain fatty acids which aid digestion and reduce inflammatory responses, according to a 2020 review published in Nutrition.
Eating fiber-rich foods can also help to lower cholesterol levels. This is particularly important for people with high cholesterol since it increases the risk of heart disease and other serious health complications.
8. Chicken Roll-Ups with Greek Yogurt
When on-the-go or making a quick snack for yourself, it’s essential to make smart food choices. That means opting for nutrient-rich, portion controlled snacks that will help you reach your weight loss objectives.
Chicken roll-ups with Greek yogurt make a healthy snack that’s delicious and easy to make – they’re an ideal way to incorporate protein and veggies into your diet!
9. Carrots with Coconut Yogurt
Carrots are packed with vitamin A and antioxidants, making them a nutritious addition to weight loss snacks. Plus, their fibre content helps you feel full and satisfied after just one serving.
Yogurt is a nutritious protein-packed snack with beneficial fats that will keep you fuller for longer and help prevent overeating. Try pairing it with fruit for an irresistibly sweet and savoury combination that’s low in calories.
Nuts are an excellent way to increase your nutritional intake without adding too many calories. Try pistachios for extra B vitamins or almonds for healthy fats and protein.
10. Beet Chips
Beet chips make for a nutritious and healthier alternative to potato chips, offering plenty of nutrients like fibre and antioxidants. Not only that, but they’re also tasty!
For a more convenient option, dehydrated beet chips are an ideal choice. They can last months in the dehydrator and can be stored airtight in an airtight container.
To prepare the beet chips, slice them thinly with a mandolin or peeler. Alternatively, spread the slices out on dehydrator trays and dry at 52oC/125oF for 8-12 hours.