Five Tips for Using Low Calorie Snacks in Your Weight Loss Program

The reason snacks with soluble fiber are so great for those who want to lose weight is that they digest slowly, keeping blood sugar levels steadier and helping you feel satisfied for longer. Some examples of snacks high in soluble fiber include bean dip, edamame (soybean pods), oats, apples, peaches, plums, berries, broccoli, and carrots. Nobody expects you to only eat these snacks all the time. Forbidding certain foods is a sure way to make your weight loss plan backfire. Choose as many healthy snacks as you can, and you'll see results.

High Protein Snacks Are Great Choices for Weight Loss

High protein snacks help those who want to lose weight because they take longer to digest, and they help curb your appetite. Low fat cheeses, cottage cheese, and yogurt are great protein sources. Some weight loss food manufacturers now offer snack foods like high protein snack bars that are available in delicious flavors like chocolate-peanut butter, caramel, and even cheesecake. These products allow you to feel as if you're cheating on your diet while actually helping your weight loss plan. Many people trying to lose weight do not consume enough protein on an average day, so these snacks help address that deficit too.

Yogurt Is Terrific for Dieters and Non-Dieters Alike

Yogurt is especially versatile, because so many different flavors can be added in. You can add fruit to yogurt, or nuts, or granola and have a snack that tastes great and that won't sabotage your weight loss efforts. Yogurt helps you get your recommended daily allowance of calcium, helps you consume adequate protein, and, when mixed with fresh fruits makes an exceptionally good way to add fiber to your diet. Read labels on yogurt packages before buying, however. Some varieties of yogurt have surprisingly large amounts of sugars, and you should avoid these.

Remember: Snacks and Meals Are Different

Some people trick themselves into thinking that because they're consuming a "snack," it somehow counts less toward their daily caloric intake goals. It is quite possible to eat quantities of low calorie snacks that the calorie count rivals that of a meal. Snacks like granola and trail mix can be very high in calories. While these snacks generally are high in protein, they often have added sugars that can raise calorie counts significantly. Always read packaging labels to ascertain levels of sugars and calories in your snack foods.

How You Eat Your Snack is Important

If it's been awhile since you have eaten, and you're ravenous at snack time, try to resist the temptation to shovel your snack food down to relieve your hunger. Sometimes it's best to have a meal with slightly more calories to prevent serious mid-morning or mid-afternoon cravings. When you consume your healthy snack food slowly, your brain has time to adjust to your food intake and signal you when you are satisfied. If you gulp down snacks, however, your brain may not "know" you're satisfied until after you have eaten a substantial amount of calories.

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