Five Weight-Loss Friendly Snacks You Will Love
The words “weight-loss” and “snacks” often appear in the same sentence. But that might also bring thoughts of "tasteless," "cardboard," and "completely unsatisfying."
Right?
Let me give you my best weight-loss friendly snacks that aren't just nutritious but also delicious!
What’s my criteria you ask? They have to be nutrient-dense whole foods where a little goes a long way as well as foods that contain protein and/or fiber.
Nuts
It’s true - nuts contain calories and fat, but they are NOT fattening! Well, I’m not talking about the “honey roasted” ones, of course. Those probably are fattening.
Studies show that people who eat nuts tend to be healthier and leaner. By the way, nuts also contain protein and fiber, which means a small amount can go pretty far in terms of filling you up. Not to mention the vitamins and minerals you can get from nuts.
Did you know that almonds have been shown to help with weight loss? At least 10% of the fat in them is not absorbed by the body, and almonds can also help to boost your metabolism!
Put a handful of unsalted/unsweetened nuts into a small container and throw it in your purse or bag.
Fresh Fruit
As with nuts, studies show that people who tend to eat more fruit, tend to be healthier. I’m sure you’re not too surprised!
Yes, fresh fruit contains sugar, but whole fruits (I'm not talking juice or sweetened dried fruit) also contain a fair bit of water and fiber; not to mention their nutritional value with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. And fresh fruit is low in calories. Frozen food fan? Frozen fruit is an excellent and economical option.
Fiber is something that not only helps to fill you up (known as the "satiety factor") but also helps to slow the release of the fruit sugar into your bloodstream and reduce the notorious blood sugar spike. Win-win!
Try a variety of fruit (apples, pears, berries, etc.) and pair that with a handful of nuts.
Chia seeds
Chia is not only high in fiber (I mean HIGH in fiber), but it also contains protein and omega-3 fatty acids (yes THOSE omega-3s!) ass well as antioxidants, calcium, and magnesium.
Can you see how awesome these tiny guys are?
They also absorb a lot of liquid, so by soaking them for a few minutes, they make a thick pudding (that is delicious and fills you up). It looks nasty, but trust me.
Put two tablespoons in a bowl with ½ cup of milk and wait a few minutes. Add in some berries, chopped fruit or nuts, and/or cinnamon and enjoy!
Eggs
Eggs are packed with nutrition and most of it is in the yolk. They contain a lot of high-quality protein and a good amount of vitamins and minerals.
And recent research shows that the cholesterol in the yolks is NOT associated with high elevated cholesterol or heart disease risk.
Boil a bunch of eggs and keep them in your fridge for a super-quick (and nutritious) snack!
Vegetables
I don’t need to tell you how great these are for you, but just maybe I need to sell you on the delicious snackability of these nutrition powerhouses.
Vegetables contain fiber and water to help fill you up, and you don't need me to tell you about their vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, right?
You can easily open a bag of baby carrots and/or cherry tomatoes and give them a quick rinse (they’re already bite-sized).
Use a bit of dip. Have you put almond butter on celery? How about hummus or Greek yogurt?
Go ahead and try one, or more, of these healthy snacks. Prepare them the night before if you need to. They will not be tasteless, like cardboard, or completely unsatisfying. Trust me.
