I know that for some of you eating healthy all the time can seem like a drag at first. Sometimes you feel fed up with eating only what you’re “supposed to” and what you really want to do is sit back and relax with one of your favorite treats like a bag of potato chips, pretzels, cookies, candy and more. But that can lead to a slippery slope and make it hard for you to get back on track to the path of health (and keep that weight off).
So instead of moping about what tasty treats you can’t snack on, why not be open to trying some new ones? And best of all these are all natural, easy to get and low in calories so even munching on a few to curb your cravings isn’t going to cause you any harm.
Let’s check out some delicious alternatives for those who crave crunchy or sweet snacks after dinner or any time of day.
1. Sugar Snap Peas are a great choice because they are naturally sweet and often come pre washed in a bag. Simply open the bag and snack. A handful of these will only run you about 20 calories! (I also like to add sugar snap peas to salads and stir fries for an extra crunch!)
2. Carrot Sticks aren’t just for kids you know! You can enjoy freshly sliced carrots as is because they’re naturally sweet and crunchy. Of course there’s also baby carrots, but I’m not really a fan of how they are processed and created (ugly carrots whittled down into small pieces and bathed in chlorine). The choice is yours and it’s even better if you can enjoy them without any dip at all. A handful of carrot sticks will run you only 26 calories.
3. Celery Sticks are often popular in veggie trays but are usually served with high fat dips such as ranch dressing, Caesar dressing, peanut butter or Cheeze Whiz. Try to wean yourself off of those calorie laden dips and enjoy the crunch and natural flavor of celery sticks just as they are. If you’re craving potato chips they are a nice substitute for that crunch you desire and are just 10 calories a handful.
4. Fat Free Potato Chips So what do you do when you feel like you will actually go crazy if you don’t have a potato chip? Well I suggest you make your own in that case. Fat free potato chips are not quite as addicting (because they contain no oil) and at only 30 calories a handful they are truly a guilt free alternative to the store bought kind.
5. Cucumber Slices are a refreshing snack or addition to a salad especially in the warmer months when you’re looking for something light and juicy. Half an English cucumber or a few mini seedless cucumbers sliced up are a great choice over high calorie packaged snacks at just 8 calories a handful.
6. Cherry Tomatoes are naturally a little sweeter and more flavorful than large tomatoes and can make the perfect finger food for both children and adults. You can eat them as is or sprinkle a little pepper on them for flavor. At just 13 calories a handful you might be glad you switched!
7. Bell pepper slices are not just for stir fries and fajitas! They are naturally sweet and zesty and don’t need any seasoning or dip to be enjoyed. Bell pepper slices come in at just 19 calories a handful.
8. Strawberries and berries are nature’s candy and good all on their own. Once you start removing excess sugar from your diet you will find they can taste just as sweet or even better than candy with their fresh juicy flavor. A favorite after dinner treat of mine is just a bowl full of berries. At just 24 calories a handful (raspberries 32 a handful) it’s probably the best dessert choice you could make!
9. Fresh sliced apples are often easier to eat and more enjoyable once you cut up. A favorite for children and a great snack before or after a meal, apple slices are only 29 calories a handful.
10. Grapes are a great choice for a sweet snack when you’re cravings kick in because they’re filled with not only vitamins and water, but fibre that will leave you more satisfied than candies will. In summer I like to wash, dry and de stem grapes and freeze them for a natural frozen dessert. The sugars in the grapes will naturally crystallize and are great as a frozen treat or as ice cubes for filtered water. A handful of grapes is just 52 calories.
So how can you best utilize these healthier snacks to ensure you stick to your new found healthy eating plan?
- Plan ahead and purchase some of these each week
- Wash, dry, peel or chop and place in sealed containers in the fridge
- Take your favorites along with you to work or while doing errands (so you’re less likely to buy something on the run)
- Next time you go to the fridge for a snack, choose one of these instead
- Mix it up, try different fruits and veggies each week!
I happen to crave chips and salsa, so carrot sticks and zucchini slices with salsa work for me. Others crave sweets, so what about dates?
Medjool dates are 66 calories each. So although a “healthier” choice than candy because it has fiber and vitamins, eating a handful of dates is probably more calories than eating a bag of candy. So if you’re going to have dates or dried fruit I would make sure it’s occasional and no more than 1 handful as it’s so much higher in calories than fresh fruit which fills you up on water as well. I like to use dates as a natural sweetener in a recipe sometimes or dried fruit on salads as opposed to snacks.
Health magazines/sites should take note: THESE are healthy, natural snacks! No protein bars, trail mixes or animal products necessary 🙂 you have a great site! Would love to see more 801010 recipes/salads!
I live in a hot and humid climate year round so I snack on frozen peas, frozen friut slices and frozen grapes all year round. So refreshing!
Another great article Veronica. My favorite healthy snack is radishes. I eat a bag every day. They have great crunch and are a little spicy which makes them a great snack. Very low in calories also.
Hi,Veronica,
The post would be called Top 10 LOW calories Healthy Snack Time Alternatives then,not?!
Where are the natural nuts and seeds (without salt and anothers things,of course!)?
I saw about keep the weight gain off but…Could be another topic…Top 12 (or more!) Healthy Snacks! 🙂
Hi Jose, did you read my part at the end on why I don’t recommend nuts and seeds as snacks, but use them only in recipes? They are way too small in size and high in calories. A handful of nuts can be 200-300 calories and not fill you up at all. Most people don’t stop at 1 handful.
Also none of the vegan doctors like Dr. McDougall, Dr. Fuhrman, Dr. Campbell, Dr. Esselstyn, Dr. Ornish, Dr. Barnard recommend nuts as snacks. Many of them don’t use ANY nuts at all, and the ones that do only use small amounts in recipes as part of the meal, never as a snack.
Switching from potato chips to nuts isn’t going to do anyone any favors, they are too high in calories and too high in omega 6’s, and can throw your omega 3:6 balance out of whack too. So I recommend people using nuts very sparingly, and the good ones like walnuts, flax seeds and chia seeds be used in small quantities in recipes instead for omega 3’s.
Thanks Veronica,
As it’s heading into winter where I live, I’m more conscious of snacks that warm the body up. My current favourites are:
– Ears of corn, can live on the shelf or in the fridge. When hungry, I throw the whole ear in the microwave for a couple of minutes and let it steam itself for a few minutes more. Then, peel it and a hot snack appears…
– I keep steamed baby potatoes in the fridge. Mash them, warm them up, spice up with a little tomato salsa…
Yes , I ‘ ve just a Comment to FB ,
dear V eronica !
Its a Great Idea !
I used to … but then , anymore .
I ‘ m gonna come back .
Lots of Light ,
Teresa
Great article! Thanks!
Lovely ideas thank you