Weight loss snacks can help you stay on a diet while satisfying your urge to munch. These weight loss snacks are based in sound nutritional science, so they’ll fill you up without filling up your calorie quota. They’ll make you smile, quiet your grumbling tummy, and help you avoid high calorie mistakes between meals. When you need a quick bite between meals, or to get through a mid-morning or mid-afternoon energy slump, try one of these weight loss snacks. Read on to learn some general tips for picking smart weight loss snacks, and get to know a few specific food combinations that will keep you satisfied, and keep those numbers on the scale dropping.
General Tips For Weight Loss Snacks
When you’re picking weight loss snacks, don’t just go for the lowest calorie item that you can find. Choose foods and food combinations that will help you maintain a steady level of blood sugar. When your blood sugar is steady, your metabolism keeps churning at a high rate all day long. If your weight loss snacks are too low in calories, your metabolism can slow down, and that means you’ll actually have to work much harder to lose weight. It’s a smart idea to eat about every three hours, so plan healthy snacks in between your meals. When you head for the kitchen cupboards in search of weight loss snacks, go for foods that include protein, like beans, lean meats, or cheeses and yogurts. It’s also smart to opt for foods rich in fiber and complex carbohydrates, like whole wheat toast and brown rice. Although it’s not a good idea to load up on foods packed with saturated fat, like butter, it’s a great idea to include some sources of unsaturated fat in your weight loss snacks; try drizzling a little bit of olive oil onto a sandwich. The most important thing when choosing weight loss snacks is to avoid simple carbohydrates, like white bread and sugar, which will make your blood sugar spike quickly and fall fast, leaving you hungry again in a matter of an hour or less.
Specific Choices For Weight Loss Snacks
Pair whole wheat bread with lean proteins for an energy boost that will keep your metabolism buzzing for hours. Wheat toast with peanut butter, lean meat, or a small amount of cheese is a smart choice. Nuts and seeds also make great weight loss snacks; a handful of almonds, walnuts, or sunflower seeds will give your body a protein boost and a small kick of heart-healthy fats. Soy products are also good weight loss snacks, provided that you avoid pre-prepared soy foods that are high in sodium. Many commercial meat alternatives fall into this category. However, soy yogurt, soy milk, and most soy cheeses are high in protein and low in sodium, so those are good choices for weight loss snacks, especially when paired with a complex carbohydrate like whole wheat toast or crackers, or brown rice. Steamed soybeans in the husk, often sold under their traditional Japanese name as “edamame,” also make a satisfying and healthy snack for anyone on a diet. With all of these options to choose from, you’ll have no trouble picking smart weight loss snacks! To ensure success, try to stock your pantry with plenty of ingredients that lend themselves to healthy snacks. You’ll be less tempted to reach for a cookie when you’ve got plenty of soy products and a selection of nut butters to choose from.
