Choose delicious healthy snacks for weight loss and you'll never feel hungry. Follow our great list of healthy snacks.
Is uncontrolled snacking your biggest downfall when you're trying to lose weight?
It’s always tempting to turn to chocolate or cake for an energy boost, but these kinds of foods are high in sugars and fats that quickly raise your daily calorie count.
To lose weight effectively, it’s important to eat healthily throughout the day. Replacing junk food with healthy snacks for weight loss will help to sustain your energy levels without any need to binge on fatty foods.
Foods with a low GI, like oats, wholewheat bread and raw carrots, are great for snacking on as they release energy slowly over a long period of time, which means you feel fuller for longer.
Eating foods with a high GI, like bagels, doughnuts and white rice, gives you a sudden rush of energy which is then followed by a dip, making you hungry again.
Healthy snacks for weight loss should be less than 100 calories and must be small in size. Snacks containing fibre or protein are also good as they help to fill you up and give you energy.
Pick a variety of different types of snack throughout the day to satisfy all your cravings. If you fancy something sweet have some apple slices or a handful of raisins; for savoury, chop up a hard boiled egg and for something crunchy try a few unsalted nuts.
Here's our list of healthy snacks for weight loss to give you some inspiration and to help you cut out fatty foods without compromising on taste.
Savoury Snacks for Weight Loss
Soup is one of our favourite healthy snacks for weight loss – make a big batch that can either be frozen or kept in the fridge. Have 1 cup (USA measure) or a small bowl heated up as a snack. Try this delicious black bean soup recipe.
Roast vegetable kebabs – thread pieces of vegetable like baby sweetcorn, mushroom, pepper or tomato on to skewers, spray lightly with oil, then roast in the oven for about 20 minutes. Have two as a snack, hot or cold.
Popcorn – making your own is easy and cheap. Put 1tbsp of popping corn in a paper bag and microwave for 2 minutes. Add 1-2 teaspoons of curry powder and shake well for spicy popcorn.
Guacamole with vegetable strips – make guacamole by mashing a ripe avocado and adding a squeeze of lemon juice and a pinch of chilli flakes. Have 1tbsp with some sticks of vegetables like cucumber or red pepper.
Tomato salad – salads don’t have to use lots of leaves. Try slicing up 1 medium tomato, half a red onion and adding 6 black olives. If you want a dressing, add a splash of balsamic vinegar.
Blinis – small, light pancakes that are delicious with a savoury topping. Try two topped with a few thin strips of smoked salmon or king prawns with a squeeze of lemon juice.
Beetroot – cook your own, or buy ready-cooked beetroot that haven’t been pickled. Slice one up and serve with a scattering of walnuts. Alternatively you could roast a raw beetroot – cut into quarters, drizzle over a little sunflower oil and roast for 40-45 minutes.
Raw beans – runner beans, green beans and mangetout are all good snack foods as they need little to no preparation. Cut the ends off and munch on a handful.
Tuna salad – canned fish is an easy way to include protein in your diet. Use tuna canned in water. Drain, flake and mix 1/2 cup with lemon juice, chopped cucumber and tomato.
Turkey strips – cut a turkey breast into thin strips then coat in a marinade of 1tbsp low-fat plain yoghurt with half a tsp of red Thai curry paste. Leave in the fridge for 30 minutes then bake in the oven for about 20 minutes until cooked through. Have 2 or 3 strips as a snack.
Frozen vegetables – eat a handful of frozen peas or sweetcorn as a different way to get 1 of your 5 a day.
Asparagus – take 5 spears of asparagus and microwave for 5-6 minutes with a little water until tender. Squeeze over lemon or lime juice for a fresh, juicy snack.
These healthy snacks for weight loss snacks are simple to prepare and easy to take with you to work. Include two or three a day in a healthy diet when you want to lose weight.
Sweet Healthy Snacks
Fruit smoothies – blend a handful of fruit like strawberries or raspberries, with 1tbsp of low-fat plain yoghurt and 100ml cranberry juice.
Corn on the cob – although it’s a vegetable, corn is very sweet. Cook one up in the microwave for 4-5 minutes and have half as a snack. Can also be eaten cold.
Pineapple and cheese, a good way of combining fruit and protein. Cheese is a high-fat food, so keep the portion small. You'll still get the flavour. Cut a 1-ounce (25g) piece of Cheddar into two small cubes, and eat with 3 cubes of pineapple.
Apple and peanut butter. Slice the apple and have with 1-2tsp peanut butter.
Baked banana – cooking a banana changes its texture and releases its sweet flavours. Wrap a banana in tin foil and bake in the oven for 15 minutes.
Healthy cookies – try making your own cookies rather than buying them. It’s quick, easy and much healthier. Try these healthy oatmeal cookies.
Frozen fruit – a healthier alternative to an ice lolly; try freezing grapes or cherries.
Sweet potato – one small baked sweet potato has about 60 calories. Sweet potatoes are a better snack than normal potatoes as they have a lower GI so keep you fuller for longer. Dress with low fat spread or yoghurt.
