In this article, we curated a list of healthy snacks that you will enjoy and you don’t have to make a long face when counting calories.
Here is a list that you will keep on going back to:
A. Easy to Find Yummy Standalones
Here are some go and grab fitness snacks:
Fresh Fruits
Not all fruits come with low calories and low sugar. So, we also have to handpick a couple of the best fruits to snack on.
First, you can go for an apple. You obviously have heard of the saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
Well, the expression is not unfounded. A medium-sized apple comes with 100 calories and a whole lot of nutrients.
It comes with anti-inflammatory properties and can even boost metabolism. Faster metabolism contributes to more rapid weight loss.
Then, there is the avocado. Avocadoes are not only delicious, but they also come with eight grams of protein for every cup. You also get seven grams of fiber. So, te 185 calories are all worth it.
Popcorn
Yes, popcorn – the same one you enjoy while watching a movie – can be a low-calorie but nutritious snack. It comes with a lot of fiber and protein in just 110 calories. That is what you would expect from a serving of 4 grams.
However, make sure that you prepare your popcorn naturally, instead of buying instant popcorn packs. Instant variations come with additives and preservatives. They also pack in the sodium and saturated fats, and thus the calories.
If you are not too afraid of a little more calories, a half tablespoon of melted butter can add 68 calories and a tablespoon of dark chocolate chips add 50 calories. You can change things up to make your snack more interesting.
Raw Nuts
Snacking on nuts can fill you without you ingesting a lot of calories. For example, 30 pieces of honey-roasted peanuts are only worth about 180 calories.
Meanwhile, 13 pieces of raw almonds can only add 75 calories to your daily intake. As a whole, raw nuts add fiber and good fats to your body that will help you reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Snacking on them can also contribute to weight loss.
Hard-Boiled Eggs
While you may need to brush your teeth right after, hard-boiled eggs are fun snacks. A medium-sized, hard-boiled egg can set you back 75 calories.
If you were starving, it could quickly get you back to prime form while adding vitamin B, protein, and all kinds of great nutrients into your body. Eggs can also reduce your risk of developing heart diseases.
B. Easy to Prepare Taste-bud Bursting Combos
Here are some fitness snacks you can prepare in no time at all:
Protein Smoothies
Protein smoothies – the ones that gym buffs buy all the time – can cost a lot of money. However, you don’t have to do that!
All you need to do is to buy some powdered peanut butter and dunk some raspberries in. Add half a small banana and some almond milk. Then blend until you get a smoothie.
Guess what? That is all of 160 calories in that delicious mix.
Yogurt Parfait
You can also take the simple non-fat Greek yogurt. Then, add half a cup of berries and some bran cereal.
You get a healthy amount of fiber (from the berries and the cereal) from this concoction.
Cottage Cheese with Pineapple
You don’t need any kitchen appliances to prepare this.
Perhaps you need a simple kitchen knife to slice the pieces.
A half-cup of low-fat cottage cheese, combined with a quarter cup of pineapple pieces (natural or canned), should provide you with a fat-busting and muscle-building combination.
Cottage cheese also has probiotics to help with your digestion.
On the other hand, pineapple promotes the digestion of the protein you can find in cottage cheese. They are a perfect fit!
Peanut Butter and Celery
Take a long celery stalk and add a tablespoon of peanut butter. What you get is 100 calories of nutrient-packed, no-preparation snack.
Lately, celery has been making the rounds as the ultimate superfood. Some even make smoothies out of this veggie to ensure weight loss and boost their athletic performance.
It helps that celery also lowers blood pressure. With that extra dash of peanut butter, however, you get a delicious snack packed with protein.
You have to admit that it is easier to chew on celery with that added flavor.
For a little variation, you may also add peanut butter to your apple slices.
Hummus with Raw Veggies
Just like peanut butter, this snack is a combination of veggies and something savory. You can get a cup of your choice of raw vegetables.
Dip them into two tablespoons of hummus. You can buy ready-made hummus, or you can mix your own.
What is hummus, anyway?
It is a blend of chickpeas, herbs, spices, and some oil. Ensure you have chosen oil with omega-3 fatty acids that can help you manage your weight and lose some body fat.
The combination is excellent for the heart.
Fried Egg (with balsamic, spinach, and tomato)
Not everyone can be satisfied with sweet stuff.
The hummus and cottage cheese can provide savory goodness for some.
For others, they need something low calorie and flavorful at the same time.
So, we added a fried egg with balsamic, spinach, and tomatoes to this list.
You get antioxidants from the spinach and proteins from the egg. It does not take long to prepare this quick and filling snack, either.
You may even feel as if you are cheating a little, but you are not!
Hopefully, our list will remind you that while getting fit is not exactly easy and that you have to put in the effort, some snacks make it less dreary. Fitness snacks can also be tasty, fun, and easy to prepare.
