You ate a heavy lunch, you are back at your desk, and before you know it, the 4 PM hunger pangs hit! While you might be tempted to reach for a pack of chips or some delicious candy, the seemingly harmless bites of high-calorie snacks can quickly add up. If you are trying to eat a balanced, nutritious diet, opt for snacks that help you stay on track with your health and fitness goals. Here are 5 healthy low-calorie snacks to help you power through the rest of your day while still keeping your macros in check.
Apple slices with peanut butter
Apple helps you stay more alert and awake without any jitters or jolts.
If you love your midday cup of coffee but hate the dreaded crash that follows soon after, you need to give this healthy low-calorie snack a try! Even though apples do not contain caffeine, the natural sugars in the fruit are released slowly throughout the body, provoking a similar response to that of caffeine. This helps you stay more alert and awake without any jitters or jolts. Pair your apple slices with around 2 tablespoons of peanut butter to get in a healthy dose of protein. Avoid consuming processed peanut butter as they are high in added sugars, vegetable oils, and trans fat. Look for natural options with minimal ingredients. A single serving of one apple with 2 tbsp of peanut butter is around 275 calories.
Vegetables and hummus
Pair a few low-calorie vegetables with 2 tablespoons of hummus for midday cravings
Not in the mood for something sweet? Pair a few low-calorie vegetables like carrots, celery, bell peppers, cucumbers, etc. with 2 tablespoons of hummus for a protein and fibre-packed snack that will keep you full till dinner time. Hummus is a creamy chickpea spread that includes tahini, olive oil, salt, garlic, and lemon juice – a great mix of protein, healthy fats, and fibre – just what you need for those midday cravings. Depending on the vegetables you choose, a typical one-cup serving of this low-calorie food is between 100 and 150 calories.
Greek yoghurt with berries
Fruits are a great source of important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
When following a low-calorie diet, people often tend to avoid eating fruits because of their high sugar content. But when consumed in moderation, fruits are a great source of important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Keep hunger at bay and fuel your body with protein, calcium, magnesium, and antioxidants with this low-calorie snack of unsweetened Greek yoghurt and mixed berries. Take around 1 cup of Greek yoghurt and add to it half a cup of mixed berries of your choice, for a sweet and tart midday snack that is under 250 calories.
Homemade chaat
A single serving of this peanut chaat is under 250 calories, perfect for your evening cravings!
If you are craving a low-calorie Indian snack that is packed with zing and crunch, try this quick and easy peanut chaat recipe. All you need is half a red onion, one small tomato, fresh coriander leaves, roasted peanuts, lemon juice, chaat masala, and a pinch of salt. Finely chop the onion, tomato, and coriander leaves, toss them in a bowl with the peanuts, squeeze some fresh lemon juice on top, and add salt and chaat masala according to taste. Mix well and your healthy, protein-rich, low-calorie snack is ready! A single serving of this peanut chaat is under 250 calories, perfect for your evening cravings!
Dark chocolate and almonds
Dessert, but make it healthy! For all chocolate fans out there, this one’s for you. Occasionally indulging in small portions of dark chocolate will satisfy your midday cravings without making you go over your daily calorie limits. This low-calorie snack for weight loss is not just yummy but is also packed with powerful antioxidants, vitamin E, magnesium and potassium. 2 squares of dark chocolate along with 8-10 almonds have under 200 calories.
Time for a midday break? Try one of these low-calorie snacks and take a quick walk around your office or home for an instant pick-me-up. Track your walk with StepSetGo and earn exciting rewards for staying healthy and committing to fitness.
