1) Hard-boiled eggs with sriracha sauce To improve
thyroid function—the gland manages growth and metabolism—look no further
than a low-calorie, low-fat hard-boiled egg, suggests registered
dietitian
Amy Shapiro.
If you like spice, drizzle your snack with sriracha sauce. “It contains
capsaicin, a compound found in chile peppers that helps burn calories
and fat,” says Karen Ansel M.S., coauthor of The Calendar Diet.
2) Turkey jerky with mustard An ounce of turkey
jerky has 10 grams of protein but only about 60 calories, which makes
the fat-free snack a good thing to stash in your desk or to eat on the
go, says Ansel. Since protein is digested more slowly than fat or carbs,
it keeps you feeling full longer. Mustard’s a low-cal, high-flavor
topper.
3) Popcorn Whether you make it with an air popper or
in the microwave, popcorn is full of fiber and has few calories.
Registered dietitian
Laura Cipullo
suggests sprinkling it with nutritional yeast. The nutty, almost
cheese-like flavored flakes are a great source of vitamin B12, a
nutrient that helps boost metabolism and burns stored fat and calories.
4) Natural peanut butter on Ezekiel toast Peanut
butter is high in healthy fat and contains loads of filling protein,
which your body can put toward building muscle tissue. Cipullo
recommends toasting Ezekiel bread, which is made from sprouted grains
and legumes that, when combined, create a complete protein.
5) Melon drizzled with balsamic vinegar “Foods with a
high water content keep us feeling full so we eat less, and few natural
foods have more water than melon,” says Ansel. One cup is around 90
percent water and has only about 45 calories. The addition of balsamic
vinegar helps activate pepsin, a digestive enzyme that breaks down
proteins into amino acids.
6) Baked zucchini chips with paprika and sea salt Registered dietitian
Lauren Minchen
recommends using paprika not only to flavor this healthy snack, but
also to boost your metabolism, reduce your appetite, and lower your
blood pressure. Cut a zucchini into thin slices and toss in 1 Tbsp olive
oil, sea salt, and pepper. Sprinkle with paprika and bake at 450°F for
25 to 30 minutes.
7) Edamame with sea salt “Fiber is the magic
ingredient when you’re trying to lose weight—it slows digestion and
helps you feel full,” says Ansel. And edamame is chock-full of it.
Sprinkle a little sea salt on one cup of the soybeans for a sinless
snack with 8 grams of fiber and less than 200 calories.
8) Health Warrior Chia Bars Not only are chia seeds
rich in omega-3 fatty acids and iron, but they also help weight loss by
absorbing sugar and stabilizing blood sugar levels. Shapiro recommends
100-calorie Health Warrior Chia Bars, which contain 4 grams each of
protein and fiber, but only 5 grams of sugar.
9) Grain-free nutty cereal mix Though nuts are
caloric and easy to overeat, they’re also energy-dense and high in
protein and fiber, so munching on them can cause you to eat less later.
For a crunchy, low-sugar, low-carb snack, Minchen likes to mix together
1/8 cup almonds, 1/8 cup walnuts, 1/8 cup pumpkin seeds, and 1/8 cup
dried cranberries. You can eat it dry or over milk—Minchen recommends
plain almond or hemp milk.
10) Seaweed Shapiro swears by this sushi staple,
which will improve your thyroid function with its ample supply of
iodine—a 1/4-ounce serving has 4,500 micrograms, which is actually way
more than your body needs in an entire day. Seaweed also contains
alginate, a fiber found in sea kelp that can significantly help reduce
your body’s fat uptake.
11)Pineapple with lime juice and sea salt Like
watermelon, pineapple is low in calories and has a high water content,
so you can eat quite a lot of it. Shapiro likes to squeeze lime juice
and sprinkle sea salt on top for a combo that promotes healthy
digestion.
12) 1 Tbsp chocolate chips and 1/2 oz peanuts
Peanuts will keep you feeling full, while the small amount of chocolate
will satisfy your sweet tooth and prevent you from indulging again. But
since peanuts are high in fat and calorie-dense, moderation is key.
“Consider this smart snacking—studies suggest that consuming nuts may
result in you eating fewer calories over the rest of the day,” says
Ansel.
13) Baked egg in an avocado “cup” With no sodium or
added ingredients, nosh on this high-protein snack to stay satisfied for
less than 200 calories. “The combination of choline in the egg yolk and
fiber from the avocado, both of which aid in weight loss, is ideal,”
says Shapiro.
14) Apple chunks, chopped walnuts, and cinnamon “In
addition to adding great flavor, cinnamon balances blood sugar levels,
which helps with weight loss,” says Shapiro. Just be sure to use only
one serving of walnuts (about 13 halves) when making this fiber-filled
snack.
15) Sunflower-lentil spread on celery stalks “This
combination of healthy fat and ample fiber will keep hunger at bay,”
says Shapiro. “Just don’t overload on the spread.” Celery is a
notoriously great diet food since your body uses more calories to digest
the veggie than it actually contains.
16) No-bake oatmeal bites Oatmeal is a low-fat,
high-protein superfood that your body digests slowly—meaning you’ll stay
satisfied longer—because of all of its bulky soluble fiber. Minchen
swears by this easy recipe: Combine 1 cup dry quick oats, 2/3 cup
coconut flakes, 1/2 cup almond butter, 1/2 cup whole chia seeds, 1/2 cup
dark chocolate chips, 1/3 cup raw honey, and 1 tsp vanilla. Let the
mixture cool in the refrigerator for 1 hour in an airtight container,
then roll into 1-inch balls, which you can eat throughout the week.
17) Cottage cheese with cinnamon Shapiro likes this
low-calorie and protein-rich snack, as the calcium can help metabolize
fat, leading to its eventual loss. Have a half-cup with cinnamon, which
will add a sweet kick of flavor and speed up the processing of glucose,
preventing your body from storing unnecessary fat.
18) Pomegranate seeds and pistachios Shapiro
recommends this high-fiber trail mix alternative as a tasty way to avoid
overeating. Fiber-filled pomegranate seeds will keep you satisfied—with
the added benefit of a major dose of vitamin C—while pistachios contain
an amino acid known to help improve blood flow during exercise.
19) Greek yogurt-dipped berries In addition to being
an excellent source of protein, Greek yogurt's combination of calcium
and amino acid can help retain lean muscle mass and burn fat. For an
antioxidant-rich afternoon treat, Minchen suggests dipping berries into
plain nonfat Greek yogurt and freezing them for 2 to 3 hours before
eating.
20) Avocado with lime juice and goji berries With
its healthy fat and fiber, half an avocado at snack time makes it less
likely that you’ll continue munching later. Shapiro recommends goji
berries to help control blood sugar and appetite. A squirt of lime juice
adds flavor and helps maintain healthy digestion.
21) Canned salmon with capers and lemon on a Wasa Cracker
“Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which increase the levels of
certain hormones that help burn fat, particularly stubborn belly fat,”
says Ansel. Add capers for a low-cal flavor boost and lemon juice to
promote digestion; the whole grains and fiber in a Wasa cracker will
ensure you’re not left wanting something more.
22) Black beans and salsa on a corn tortilla “This
snack provides a double-dose of slowly-digested fiber—a top ally when
trying to lose weight,” says Ansel. A half-cup of black beans contains 8
grams of fiber, plus 2 more from a 100-percent whole-grain 6-inch corn
tortilla. Spicy salsa has few calories and helps you eat more slowly,
increasing the likelihood that you’ll walk away when you’re full.
23) Turkey and avocado roll-ups For a no-carb,
protein-rich snack that slows digestion and prevents cravings later on,
Minchen likes to roll up a sliver of avocado in a slice of organic lean
turkey breast. If you like, add mustard for its metabolism-boosting
power.
24) Nonfat ricotta cheese with chopped pear and cinnamon
Ansel recommends this tasty combo mainly because of (surprise!) the
ricotta cheese. A top source of whey protein, ricotta contains an amino
acid that helps build muscle and burn calories. Have a half-cup with
pear and cinnamon—the spice helps balance blood sugar, thereby
preventing future cravings.
25) Nut butter apples “Core an apple and slice it
from top to bottom to create rings, then spread 1 Tbsp almond butter to
create a bread-free ‘sandwich,’” says Minchen. Apples are full of fiber
and contain enzymes that help your body digest food more efficiently.
Almond butter provides the protein that makes this snack filling, with
an additional bonus of vitamin E and magnesium.
Via Redbookmag.com
