Now That's Something to Snack On
One of the hardest parts of weight loss isn’t just changing your diet to be healthier, it’s trying to find snacks and healthy foods that will keep you feeling full while helping you to continue losing weight. That’s why I’ve created this list of fifteen healthy weight-loss snacks to help you lose weight while still enjoying your food.
Healthy Weight Loss Snacks
1. Almonds
Almonds are small nuts that pack a lot of punch when it comes to your health. They contain healthy fats and lots of fiber and can fill you up quickly. Almonds can also help curb your appetite, and they can help to burn fat in your body, according to this study published in the scientific journal Nutrients. You can eat your almonds raw or roasted but make sure they aren’t salted because they won’t be as effective in your healthy weight loss.
2. Raw Veggies and Dip
Raw veggies are a low-calorie snack that can help you lose weight and include lots of fiber in your diet. You can create a nice snack of carrots, celery, broccoli and cauliflower, all nutrient- and fiber-dense vegetables. A great dip to pair with these is hummus. Hummus is made from chickpeas which are also high in fiber and protein and very filling.
3. Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt is a thicker version of the fermented dairy product yogurt. It is very high in protein, calcium and probiotics, which help support your digestion. Eating foods high in protein earlier in the day has been shown to help people consume fewer calories throughout the day, which can help with weight loss.
4. Dark Chocolate
You read that right, dark chocolate is another healthy snack idea and one that may not have been on your radar. A few small studies showed that dark chocolate might help reduce food cravings, which will help with weight loss. Some other small studies have found evidence that dark chocolate may reduce insulin levels in the blood, which is associated with weight loss.
5. Avocado and Whole Wheat Crackers
The plant king of healthy fats has been avocado for a while. This is great news because it tastes great, it’s filled with healthy nutrients and it’s filling. Avocado is high in fiber, which increases your metabolic rate and weight loss. A great pairing with avocado is whole wheat crackers. This snack will fill you up between meals and keep you from craving unhealthy foods.
6. Cottage Cheese
This low-carb, low-fat and high-protein cheese is a great snack to help you boost your metabolism during your weight loss journey. It is a low-calorie snack paired with many different fruits, veggies or spices. Cottage cheese also contains the protein casein, which has been shown to make people feel full after eating it.
7. Steel-Cut Oatmeal
Whole grains like steel-cut oats are an important healthy snack idea that can be incorporated into your diet. Whole grains, while high in carbohydrates, are also very high in fiber, which helps with your body’s metabolism. Oats are also great for your heart health, and you can add any variety of spices and fruits to make them more exciting and less bland.
8. Popcorn
Popcorn is a surprisingly low-calorie snack that can make the perfect afternoon pick-me-up when you’re struggling with food cravings. It can fill you up fast and can be made in a jiffy if you need something to eat now. It’s also high in fiber to assist with your weight loss. Just be wary that you’re not loading it up with butter or unhealthy fats that will prohibit you from losing weight.
9. Grapes
For any fruit lover, grapes are a super easy snack because all you have to do is wash them! You can freeze them if you want to make something a bit cooler to eat in the summer too. Grapes have the chemical compound resveratrol in them, which helps your body metabolize fatty acids faster instead of storing them, which can help with healthy weight loss.
10. Blueberries
Another food that has been added to the superfood group is blueberries. Blueberries are filled with antioxidants that can support metabolic function and digestion in your body. They are low-calorie snacks containing flavonoids that can reduce the amount of fat surrounding organs and contribute to poor bodily function.
11. Bananas
Bananas are great for healthy weight loss because they contain a lot of fiber and are potassium-rich. As mentioned earlier, fiber helps your metabolism increase, so you burn calories faster. Potassium helps to support heart and kidney function while stopping your body from holding excess water weight and helping to build muscle. They are a super easy snack that can be eaten by themselves or added to your yogurt or even oatmeal.
12. Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Finally, another fiber-rich food is sweet potato, and in my opinion, they make the best snack when cut like French fries and baked in the oven. They make a great low-calorie snack that is also very filling and helps curb cravings for other foods. Just make sure that you bake these babies in the oven or use an air fryer over frying or deep frying, which are both known to contribute to weight gain.