1. Organic Whole Grain Brown Rice
credit: pinterest These fill me up, and my stomach feels great. Just one ingredient in the cakes; organic whole grain brown rice. Try different toppings of your choice and enjoy (you really can't go wrong).
2. Sliced Cucumbers Dipped in Yogurt Dressing
credit: pinterest Try some fresh cucumbers in some Fage yogurt, 2% milk fat and creamier than most yogurts. Seasonings are optional: dill and salt.
3. Roasted Chickpeas
credit: pinterest This is super easy. Eat it as is or add to a salad or a rice dish. Heat oven to 400º and add a can of rinsed chickpeas. Bake until they get to a nice color which likely means they are crispy and crunchy enough to enjoy. You can even add some garlic salt, chili powder, sea salt, or cumin.
4. Baked Kale Chips
credit: pinterest No excuses to not take part in this delicious snack. Toss some chopped kale with some olive oil, and bake on low for 15 mins until they are crispy. Its simple and they retain all their nutritional value. Low in calories, this snack tastes great and extremely beneficial.
Kale is rich in beta-carotene. The National Eye Institute found that beta-carotene reduced macular degeneration.
source: healthyeating.sfgate.com
5. Celery with Almond Butter
credit: thinkstock Packed rich with vitamins and minerals, this healthy combination is packed with healthy unsaturated fats to lower your risk of diabetes.
6. Sweet and Spicy Cashews
credit: oneingredientshef.com Thanks to Oneingredientchef.com, this simple recipe is a hit with my household.
Andrew Olsen lays it down like this, "raw cashews with spices, soy sauce/tamari, and maple syrup. Bake at 300º until crispy." Thats it. The more spicy you make it the more calories you'll burn. According to Whfoods.com, "cashews have a lower fat content than most other nuts, approximately 82% of their fat is unsaturated fatty acids, plus about 66% of this unsaturated fatty acid content are heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, similar to those found in olive oil."
7. Wholly Guacamole
credit: pinterest You can get these in 100 calorie packets! Avocados aid in digestion, improves circulation, and lowers cholesterol. Check out a detailed article on the benefits of avocado here.
Ingredients: Hass Avocado, Vinegar, Jalapeno Pepper, Dehydrated Onion, Salt, Granulated Garlic.
8. Skinny Pop Popcorn
This is a staple go to snack since its free of additives and low in sodium. The best benefit of popcorn is they take up a lot of room in your belly, but very low in calories.
Nutrition info one serving: 150 calories, 10 g fat (1 g sat fat), 75 mg sodium, 3 g fiber, 0 g sugar, 2 g protein
9. Horizon Organic Mozzarella String Cheese
credit: pinterest This on the run meal solution is has a fifth of your daily calcium for the day in just one cheese stick. The dairy calcium actually burns more calories when digesting.
Nutrition info one serving: 80 calories, 6 g fat (3.5 g sat fat), 200 mg sodium, 0 g fiber, 0 g sugar, 8 g protein
10. Eden Organic Pumpkin Seeds
credit: pinterest Get your well needed magnesium boost thanks to the power of pumpkin seeds. Magnesium helps strengthen bones and improve circulation. Plus they are loaded with protein and fiber. Did you know one tiny seed has 75% of your daily magnesium which avoids excess water retention and will help you feel less bloated.
11. Quinoa
credit: motherwouldknow.com High in protein, this snack is also a grain which will help with cholesterol and to regulate your digestive system through its fiber content. Not to mention fiber helps you feel good with fewer calories. Rich in nutrients and minerals this will aid with your metabolism and weight loss.
12. Raw Spinach: Microwaved- Eat the whole bag. Taste is awesome when cooked.
Credit: Gettyimages 20 calories per serving, rich in vitamins A and C.
13. Sardines
credit: thinkstock Carry this easy to open snack anywhere. Inexpensive and packed with protein, good unsaturated fats with concentrated omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, which lower triglycerides and cholesterol levels. They are rich in vitamins that promote healthy bones and all the nutrients needed for a healthy heart.
14. Siggi's Plain Yogurt
credit: siggisdairy.com Virtually all protein at 17 grams per serving, zero fat!
15. Whey Protein Powder Shake
credit: thinkstock Go for the no fat, no carb type. Whey protein is a superior kind of protein, meant to help boost your health, fitness and strength levels. It contains special amino acids to help protect against muscle breakdown.
16. Tuna Or Salmon In A Pouch
photo source: Bumblebee.com Keep some stacks of these pouches at your office. They are also packed with protein, iron, potassium, and good unsaturated fats. Some pouches come pre-seasoned, if not just add pepper and salt to taste. The Bumble Bee Premium Pink Salmon Skinless & Boneless Pouches are gluten free, kosher and packed with omega-3's.
17. Beef & Ostrich Jerky
This compact snack is a great source of protein and ideal for any diet. Try the Ostrim brand, it has a great taste and available in pepper, teriyaki, BBQ and natural flavors. Gluten free, low in sodium, low in calories and low in fat make this a go to snack for any health enthusiast. Main ingredients are beef and ostrich.
18. Tofu Packaged In A Pouch
photo source: presidentschoice.ca Tofu is rich in vegetable protein, low in calories, and low in sodium, just make sure your get low fat version. Now also comes in an easy to eat pouch.
Presidents choice makes a low fat tofu pouch option with and astonishing 16 grams of protein per 88 gram serving! It is also low fat with 3 grams per serving, low in calories, and low in sodium with 50 g.
19. EAS AdvantEdge Carb Control Protein Drink
photo source: Eas.com Packed with 17 grams of plant-based protein this snack will keep you in a state of high energy. At 100 calories and less than 1 gram of sugar per serving this is a no brainer. As far as carbs, it contains 1.5 - 3.5 grams of net carbs (net carbs = total carbs minus dietary fiber). And we can't leave out the fact it contains all essential vitamins and minerals. Choose from a variety of flavors such as strawberry cream, french vanilla, chocolate fudge, rich dark chocolate and cafe caramel.
20. Fat Free Cottage Cheese
Photo Source: Trader Joes No fat, very little carbs, almost all protein!
21. Hard Boiled Egg Whites Or Egg White Patties
If you are too busy to cook some eggs up, buy yourself time and try the egg white patties as a substitute. Ideal for work, just toss them in the microwave.
Getting rid of the yolk reduces a bulk of the calorie count and eliminates fat and cholesterol content. According to Livestrong,”one large, omega-3 enriched egg…has 71 calories, while a hard-boiled egg without the yolk contains a mere 17 calories…also contains an impressive 3.6 g of protein. Protein is essential for good health, regulating all of your body’s activities including muscle contractions, nutrient transportation and electrolyte balance…According to the University of Michigan Health System, the entire cholesterol content of an egg is in the yolk…210 milligrams...the egg white contains no saturated fat…With the yolk, the hard-boiled egg contains .85 gram of carbohydrates. Without the yolk, the carbohydrate count drops to .24 grams.”
Photo Source: Good Food Made Simple
22. Canned Vegetables: Any vegetable- Eat the whole can! Canned in water & salt- delicious!
credit: thinkstock Affordable, easy and according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics just as healthy as fresh vegetables. Tip: Drain and rinse to reduce sodium.
23. Potato: Microwaved until soft- Eat it like an apple.
credit: thinkstock This underrated starch has great benefits. Medicalnewstoday give us a breakdown, "medium potato contains 164 calories, 0.2 grams of fat, 0 grams of cholesterol, 37 grams of carbohydrate, 4.7 grams of dietary fiber and 4.3 grams of protein. The same serving also meets 2% of daily calcium needs, 51% vitamin C, 9% iron, 30% vitamin B-6, 12% magnesium and 25% of potassium needs. Potatoes also provide phosphorus, niacin, folate, choline and zinc."
24. Frozen Banana: You can even eat it with the frozen peel intact!
Credit: Gettyimages Great alternative to ice cream. It will retain all the potassium minerals intact.
25. Sauerkraut: Eat the whole can if you want.
Credit: Gettyimages Immune system booster packed with iron. Great source of vitamin C and K.
26. Pickle’s: Taste great, crunchy, extremely low-calorie.
Credit: Gettyimages Low in fat and calories, one dill pickle can make up 1/4 cup of the recommended daily vegetable intake.
27. Coleslaw: Make it with mustard, not mayo!
Credit: Gettyimages The main ingredient of coleslaw is cabbage, which is a cruciferous vegetable, known for it's cancer fighting properties.
28. Carrots: Eat them right out of the bag.
Credit: Gettyimages Rich in Vitamin A, fiber, vitamin K, potassium, folate, manganese, phosphorous, magnesium, vitamin E and zinc.
29. Grapefruit: High volume, low-calorie. Peel & eat.
Credit: Gettyimages High in antioxidants and rich in lycopene and beta-carotene. According to USDA National Nutrient Database, "half of a medium pink grapefruit, (3 ¾ in diameter) contains approximately 52 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 grams of sodium, 0 grams of cholesterol, 13 grams of carbohydrate (including 8.5 grams of sugar and 2 grams of dietary fiber), and 1 gram of protein...Eating half of a grapefruit per day will meet 64% of your vitamin C needs, 28% of vitamin A, 2% of calcium and 2% of magnesium."
30. 10-ounce bottle of Stonyfield Organic OP Vanilla Smoothie
