Snacks are mostly eaten in between meals to help curb hunger so when you finally want to have a proper meal, you won’t eat like you haven’t in days. They’re quite important and that’s why we see them everywhere. On the flip side, there are some that are not in any way healthy to eat. They might look all nice and yummy, and even taste great but they’re detrimental to one’s health which is why you have to be careful with your decision when you’re tasked with making any regarding your intake.
Many do not believe in the possibility of snacks’ role in helping curb weight loss and that’s because most have tried but didn’t work them; instead, it makes them gain more weight. When choosing your snacks, you have to choose the ones that are high in protein and nutrients but these nutrients take longer to digest, thereby filling you up.
Healthy snacks can play a great role in your weight loss mission and the fact that they can keep you full will limit your cravings for unhealthy foods.
If you’ve been in search of some healthy snacks that can seriously help you lose weight, we’ve got you. Below is our top 10 list of best healthy snacks for weight loss.
1. Apple with Peanut Butter
One of the best fruits for weight loss is apple and that’s because of its richness in fiber content. When you now add now it to the peanut butter which is very rich in protein and healthy fats, you’ll be amazed by the wonders this wonderful combination will do to your health. Before you use the peanut butter, it is wise to carefully read the ingredients and look out for added sugar and unhealthy oils.
2. Chickpeas
¾ cup of chickpeas can make you lose up to one pound in six weeks without having to change your diet according to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Taking the chickpeas alone can be boring so you might try roasting them with olive-oil, sea salt, and a sprinkle of cumin to give it an additional flavor.
3. Almonds
Generally, nuts are considered a great healthy snack despite their richness in fat which means you don’t need to avoid them even if you’re trying to lose weight. A study proved that people who chewed almonds thoroughly felt full longer than those who chewed the same amount of nuts fewer times. One ounce of almond has 164 calories, 4 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein, all making it a healthy snack for weight loss.
4. Popcorn
Air-popped popcorn has 4 grams of fiber, about 4 grams of protein and has a total of 110 calories and the fact that it’s crunchy makes it an ideal snack for every age. Popcorn is high in fiber and delivers little protein so when you get yourself a bagged one and enjoy it with water; you’re surely getting yourself a great weight loss diet.
5. Yogurt
Snacks are usually used to fill nutritional gaps and you get lots of nutrients when you choose calcium and fiber which is exactly what the yogurt offers. When you now decide to take yogurt with fruits, you’ll be getting calcium and fiber coupled with protein and healthy probiotics. The healthiest type of yogurt is the plain yogurt because it doesn’t contain extra fat or added and calories.
6. Green Smoothie
For the vegetarians, smoothie is a great way to use some extra veggies to make an amazing weight loss snack. Baby spinach, frozen mango with ¾ cup of low-fat milk and one tablespoon of ground flaxseeds are the things you need to make your smoothie; you can al so decide to add frozen berries with ¾ cup of unsweetened almond milk.
7. Oatmeal and Blueberries
We’re all familiar with oatmeal and we consider it to be very ideal for breakfast but do we know it can be outstandingly healthy too? Oatmeal is full of fiber and it helps regular one’s blood sugar levels to keep on. Stay clear of sugar by adding blueberries to give it some natural sweet taste, which also gives you an additional nutrient in vitamin C.
8. Cucumber and Hummus
A combination of cucumber and hummus is always a great one as the cucumber contains cucurbitacin E which is a compound that has anticancer effects. Hummus on the other hand is made from chickpeas, garlic and olive oil and it helps reduces inflammation. 52 grams of sliced cucumber mixed with 100 grams of hummus produces up to 180 calories.
9. Peanut Butter with Banana
A study in the British Journal of Nutrition discovered that having peanut butter in the morning can help regular one’s appetite for the rest of the day. Peanut butter with banana means lots of proteins which will help keep your energy level high for long hours.
10. Low-Fat Cheese
Many people believe that cheese is a great source of fat and one should always stay away from it when one is trying to cut down some weight. However, low-fat cheese offers many nutrients and low fat counts than the regular cheese. The low-fat cheese contains protein, calcium and other vitamins and minerals, coupled with fewer calories compared to the full-fat cheese.