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…MORE Healthy Snacks Part 4…

Tired of trying the same quick snacks that you have gotten accustomed to eating? Well no worries! There is a WIDE variety of snacks that you can try that are not expensive, quick to grab, and yummy that will satisfy your cravings until your next meal!

These are some good snacks that you can keep in your purse, desk, or lunchbox that you can snack on to help keep you on track with your healthy eating habits.

1. Watermelon (serving size is about 1 cup cut into cubes or balls that can be created by scooping out with an ice cream scoop)

2. Cubed Apples and Cubed Cheese (suggested serving size is 1 cup)

3. Craisins (suggested serving size 1 cup. Also great to have on a salad or in yogurt!)

4. Goldfish Crackers (suggested serving size about 55 pieces)

5. Roasted Asparagus (you can also try four spears spritzed with olive-oil spray and topped with 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, baked for 10 minutes at 400°)

6. Turkey Roll-Ups (Four slices smoked turkey rolled up and dipped in 2 teaspoons honey mustard you can also add low fat swiss cheese to add a little more taste)

7. Strawberry Salad (1 cup raw spinach with ½ cup sliced strawberries and 1 tablespoon balsamic dressing)

8. Oatmeal (try to stay away from the flavored oatmeal those add a lot of sugar. you can get plain oatmeal and add brown sugar or honey to add some flavor.  you can even add fruit or yogurt!)

9. Banana Smoothie (½ cup sliced banana, ¼ cup nonfat vanilla yogurt, and a handful of ice blended until smooth)

10. Lime Sherbet (1/2 cup suggested serving size ) with sliced kiwi or any other fruit

11. Apple Chips (dehydrated apples! My favorite are Fiji apples or honey crisp because those retain the best flavor and sweetness)

12. Black Beans (mix 1/4 cup black beans with 1 tablespoon salsa and 1 tablespoon Greek yogurt for an added twist! Can eat this plan or on ONE piece of whole wheat bread)

13. Lettuce wrap (try two slices honey-baked ham with 2 teaspoons honey mustard rolled in a lettuce leaf)

14. Pecans (try five pecans roasted with 2 teaspoons maple syrup and 1 teaspoon cinnamon this could also go great on a salad!)

15. Chocolate Covered Strawberries (dip 5 strawberries in 2 squares of dark chocolate)

16. Honeyed Yogurt (½ cup nonfat Greek yogurt with a dash of cinnamon and 1 teaspoon honey)

17. Tropical Juice Smoothie (¼ cup pineapple juice, orange juice, and apple juice, blended with ice)

18. Turkey and cheese wrap made with a whole wheat tortilla (Add mustard for flavor and don’t be afraid to add lettuce and other veggies)

19. Fruit and Cheese Kabobs ( You can alternate chunks of fresh fruit and cheese cubes and thread them on a bamboo skewer for a fun and healthy snack)

20. A couple of hard-boiled eggs with carrot, celery sticks, and hummus (roasted red pepper hummus of a low-fat cream cheese or peanut butter)

You can also check out past post for more snack options:

http://infinitelifefitness.com/2011/11/02/healthy-foods-that-are-unhealthy-part-1/

http://infinitelifefitness.com/2012/01/17/more-healthy-snack-ideas/

http://infinitelifefitness.com/2012/02/02/more-healthy-snacks-part-3/

So there should be No excuse as to why you can not snack on HEALTHY things during the day as opposed to a bag of chips of your favorite candy bar.  Those are good to have every once in a while BUT if you want to reach your health and fitness goals you have to dedicate yourself to eating things that are beneficial to your body.

Any day is a great day to start obtaining your own health and fitness goals!!

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…MORE Healthy Snacks Part 3…

Its about to be the start of a new month and some of you may have plans to do some grocery shopping. When you look at your grocery list do you ever wonder what are some healthier snack options that you can pick up at the store to help start to eat healthier? Well you are in luck because today’s post will have MORE healthy, QUICK, and AFFORDABLE options that you can pick up on your next trip to the store.

Having low calorie healthy snacks during your day will help you to lower the calorie intake you have for that day.  The ultimate goal is to manage how many calories you are eating so that you can balance that with a great workout.  The key to shedding those extra pounds is to eat things that will be beneficial to your body, fill you up until your next meal, and knowing the right portion sizes so that you are not overeating and consuming extra calories.  If you do these things plus incorporate a great calorie burning workout several times a week you should be bikini ready just in time for the summer!

Don’t forget, you would like to make your snacks about 300 calories.  You don’t want to use most of your calorie intake on your snacks! A snack is suppose to be a filler to help you in between meals when you feel that you are hungry.

Here are some more great healthy snack ideas that are easy, quick, and not expensive! Thanks to SixSistersStuff.com for sharing some of these amazing ideas of snacks that you can grab on the go!

1. 1 cup of Cherry Tomatoes (can mix these with one serving size of crackers to make a great filling afternoon snack!)

2.  Small Green Salad with light dressing (suggested serving size is about a handful of lettuce. Try a light vinaigrette dressing.  Try to stay away from the creamy thick dressings. Those carry the most calories)

3. Mango smoothie (frozen mango, mango Greek Yogurt or plain Greek yogurt, and a small amount of orange juice or any other juice that you like.  Try to use no more than one serving size of juice and make sure that it is 100% fruit juice)

4. Kabobs (thread low-fat meat, low-fat cheese, pineapple and cherry tomatoes onto a stick.  You can always substitute other fruit/veggie options)

5.one slice of WHOLE WHEAT bread topped with peanut butter and banana slices (make sure it is whole wheat bread. this is one of the best options when consuming bread products)

5. Grilled Pineapple (throw them on the grill or a skillet on med. heat for two minutes or until golden. The best option for these is the whole round cuts and not the chuncks)

6. Baked Apples (one tennis ball-sized apple, cored, filled with 1 teaspoon brown sugar and cinnamon, and baked until tender.  You can also cut the apple into desired sizes and sprinkle the toppings onto the slices. Makes for a less messy version)

7. Strawberries dipped in fat-free Cool Whip (suggested serving size is 1 to 2 cups of strawberries and 2 tablespoons of the Cool Whip)

8. Low-fat tortilla (or whole wheat tortilla) topped with egg salad, shredded carrots and cucumber slices (you can also top is with egg whites, feta cheese, cottage cheese, or any other type of low fat topping that you like)

9. Parfait (build your own with Greek yogurt or plain yogurt, fruit, and granola.  Make sure to not use to much granola! some granola can pack a lot of sugar)

10. Bowl of bran flakes with 1/2 cup skim milk and berries

11. Guacamole with you choice of veggies (suggested serving size is 1/4 cup of guacamole)

10. Triscuit’s Thin Crisps dipped in cottage cheese or hummus (this is MY personal favorite afternoon snack. i spread low fat laughing cow Swiss cheese on my crisps which is also just as good!)

11. Cashews (suggested serving size is 1 ounce. It is also good to mix this in with cottage cheese, low fat yogurt, or anything else)

12. Pretzels (suggested serving size is about 17 pretzels)

13. Sun Chips (don’t forget portion control! Read the serving amount on the side of the bag but it is usually about 1 ounce which is usually about a handful of chips)

14. Cheesy Breaded Tomatoes (Two roasted plum tomatoes sliced and topped with 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese)

15. Sugar Snap Peas (a great snack if you sprinkle your own spices on it.  If you dip it into a veggie dip make sure it is low in calories and stick to the portion size)

16. Steamed Veggies (steam non-starchy vegetables in a microwave safe bag and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of Parmesan cheese or 1/4 cup pasta sauce)

17. Laughing Cow Light Cheese Wedges ( you can spread this on crackers, veggies, or even fruit)

18. Snack/Granola bar (around 150 calories or less, like Kellogg’s All-Bran, Kashi TLC Trail Mix, or Fiber one Bar)

19. Baked chips (about 7-10) with salsa (you can make your OWN healthier version of baked chips by toasting whole wheat tortillas! Check out THIS post for the recipe)

20. Protein Bar (great snack after your workout.  Make sure to get a bar with low sugar.  Be careful to get a bar that is also tasty.  Some bars do not taste very well and can leave a bad taste in your mouth.)

21. Sweet Potato Fries (one light-bulb sized sweet potato sliced, tossed with 1 teaspoon olive oil, and baked at 400° for 10 minutes)

22. Snack Wrap (I like a slice of turkey, Swiss cheese, baby spinach leaves, and cranberry relish wrapped up in a tortilla)

23. Pumpkin Seeds (2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds, sprayed with oil (just a spritz!) and baked at for 400° for 15 minutes or until brown. Sprinkle a tiny amount of salt on top)

24. Bean Salad (a handful of lettuce, 1/2 cup of your fav beans, top with feta cheese or some other topping makes the perfect pre-lunch snack!)

25. Peaches and Cottage Cheese

26. Chopped Red, Green, or Yellow Peppers (dipped in fat free dipping sauce or sprinkle with spices for a lower calorie snack)

27. Tuna with Triscuit crackers (yes DRY tuna is a great option but i always like to add a little relish or mustard to give it more of a taste)

28. Cooked and Cubed Chicken Breast (you can season it or toss it into a salad for a great snack or healthy meal option!)

29. Homemade Popsicles (puree watermelon, strawberries, mango, banana, etc and freeze in popsicle molds or use your ice cube tray as an alternative.  You can also use small disposable cups and peel off the cup and enjoy the frozen treat!)

30. Quesadilla (whole wheat (or corn) tortillas w/cheese (or not) melted in microwave – adding on tomatoes, beans, corn, olives, avocado or guacamole or whatever sounds good. This can be a great snack or a great meal option depending on how much you add to the quesadilla!)

So keep these options in mind when making your grocery list and getting ready to make your next grocery purchase.  The key to reaching your health and fitness goals is sticking with a consistent healthy diet AND working out.  You will need to do both in order to see the results that you want!  If you fail to do one or the other it will hinder your progress (or you will not see any progress at all!!)  Work hard…and you will start to see the hard work pay off!

Stay tuned for even MORE healthy, quick, and affordable options!

 

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…MORE Healthy Snack Ideas…

Ever wonder down the grocery store isles wracking your brain on what kind of new and healthy snacks you can buy to add to your diet? Well I have decided to share a list of items that are sure to satisfy your appetite without packing on  to many calories, or without hurting your pocket-book!

You may be trying to get back in the groove of work and things may be busy and hectic.  But that should never be an excuse to NOT sneak in some healthy snacks during your every day routine.  Just think, if you substitute a few of these items for you usually snack of chips or a candy bar just image how many calories you will be cutting per week! And in the long run, it will help you shed those extra unwanted calories!

Don’t forget, you would like to make your snacks no more than around 300 calories.  You don’t want to use most of your calorie intake on your snacks! A snack is supposed to be a filler to help you in between meals when you feel that you are hungry.

Here are some more great healthy snack ideas that are easy, quick, and not expensive! Thanks to SixSistersStuff.com for sharing some of these amazing ideas for this list of snacks that you can grab on the go!

1. Frozen Grapes (or any type of your frozen fruit! Suggested serving size is 1 – 1.5 cups)

2. String Cheese (preferably the low-fat sting cheese)

3. Banana (Also try a  Frozen Banana.  Make sure to peel it first, stick in the freezer overnight it’s like a popsicle!)

4. Low-fat Yogurt (there are several options…Yoplait…Greek Yogurt…and Dannon even has some yummy options)

5. Sugar-free or fat-free pudding

6. Apple slices dipped in Peanut Butter (or spread peanut butter on top of apple slice and top with pecans or another favorite nut. Organic peanut butter is a little more expensive but it is usually the better option)

7. bag of popcorn (not the movie extra butter popcorn.  Try the popcorn with little to no salt and butter.  Try using spices to add the extra flavor to your popcorn for a healthier option)

8. Applesauce

9. Raw veggies with hummus or any other type of low-calorie veggie dip

10. Almonds (or any other type of nuts.  Suggested serving size is 1 cup)

11. Skinny S’more (two graham crackers with one roasted marshmallow and one small square dark chocolate)

12. Smoked Beef Jerky (about 1 oz- look for the  low-sodium! options)

13. Chocolate Milk (try to get the 2% option if available!)

14. Hard Boiled Egg (suggester to have one…maybe 2 if you are having a big craving between meals!)

15. Sunflower Seeds (suggested serving size about 1 cup)

16. Cottage Cheese (suggested serving size 1 cup…also try to add fruit on top or sprinkle some nuts on top for added flavor)

17. Sliced Cantaloupe

18. Raisins (suggested serving size about 1 cup)

19. Pita Bread and Hummus (suggested a few slices of pita bread with about 1/4 cup of hummus to equal about 275 calories)

20. Rice Cakes (try also having these with a banana and about 1-2 table spoons of peanut butter for added flavor to equal about 220  calories

21. Jello (try not to add the whip cream and other high sugar extras on top of it. Try it with nuts or fresh fruit for a healthier option)

22. Dried Fruits

23. Frozen Yoplait Whips Yogurt (these seriously taste like ice cream when they are frozen!)

 24. Pistachios (suggested serving size is about 1 oz which is about 149 calories)

25. Clementines (the “Cuties” you may find at the grocery store)

26. Fruit Smoothie (make sure to make the smoothie with low-calorie options…not ice cream or whip cream…or any type of cream. Stick to 100% fruit juices and real/frozen fruit. Try adding in yogurt into the smoothie to add flavor and thickness)

27. Handful of olives

28. Pickles

29. Handful of blueberries with 2 tablespoons fat-free Cool-Whip

30. Ants on a Log (celery with peanut butter and raisins)

31. 1 cup mixed berry salad (raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, and/or blackberries) tossed with one tablespoon fresh-squeezed orange juice.

32. Peanut Butter and 1 whole  Banana on whole wheat bread

33. Trail Mix (make your own! Throw in dried fruit, sunflower seeds, nuts, low-sugar cereals, and even the occasional piece of candy for something sweet.)

34. Plain Yogurt with fresh berries (with 8 oz of regular plain yogurt and 1/2 cup of fresh fruit or veggies to make a 180 calorie snack)

35. Tuna on 1 slice of whole wheat bread ( you can have 4 oz of plain tuna on 1 slice of break to equal about 250 calories. Add condiments sparingly to help keep the calorie intake down!)

The Key to reaching your health and fitness goals is having the right diet! YES what you eat really matters!  If you are not eating the right things it will be hard for you to get the maximum results and it may take you longer to reach your goals.  The key is to stay consistent with your physical activity and healthy eating and with time you will start to see progress!

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…100 Calorie Snacks…

Those new “100 calorie” snacks are becoming so popular where days! But, today I would like to share a tip with you that might help you save money and some calories…

 

 

MAKE YOUR OWN 100 CALORIE SNACKS!

What does it take? Measuring cups, sandwich bags (or reusable bags/Tupperware that you may want to use), and some snack options!

Most of these companies that sale the 100 calorie snack packs are charging you extra for putting the correct portion size in sealed packages for you.  You can save money by measuring out your own portions of your favorite snack.  Buy a box (or two or three if they are on sale) and portion them out when you get home.  Put the bags in your fridge, cabinet, or whatever storage space you want to use and grab them when you are on the go.

This will allow you to have low-calorie snacks available to you when you are in a hurry!

This trick is something I learned when I was a kid.  My mom was a professional at not letting us over indulge on snack foods or sweets.  She would portion them out in small sandwich bags and only allow us to grab just one! So this is also something you can do with your children to help them to learn portion control.  A great thing to learn young so it will help them to realize what is not enough or what is too much when it comes to eating snacks or preparing meals.

Here are some great options for you to consider to make your own “Grab and Go” snacks for you and your family!

Here are some great HEALTHY and cost friendly 100 calorie snacks you can make on your own! Thanks to Greatist.com for these great suggestions!

Everyday Snacks: 

Oats n’ Berries:  ⅓ cup rolled oats (cooked with water), topped with cinnamon and ¼ cup fresh berries.

Citrus-Berry Salad: 1 cup mixed berry salad (raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, and/or blackberries) tossed with one tablespoon fresh-squeezed orange juice

Frozen grapes (any color): 1 cup (about 28 grapes), stuck in the freezer for 2+ hours

Honeyed Yogurt: ½ cup nonfat Greek yogurt with a dash of cinnamon and 1 teaspoon honey

Spiced Orange: One orange— about the size of a tennis ball— sprinkled with cinnamon

Maple-Pumpkin Yogurt: ½ cup non-fat regular yogurt with 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree and 1 teaspoon maple syrup

Make Your Own: Banana Chips: One sliced banana dipped in lemon juice and baked (CLICK HERE FOR INSTRUCTIONS).

Cereal and Milk: ½ cup rice krispies with ½ cup skim milk

Cheese n’ Crackers: Five Kashi 7-grain crackers with 1 stick reduced-fat string cheese

Grilled Spinach and Feta Polenta: 3 oz polenta (about the size of a deck of cards) cooked with 1 ½ cups water and topped with 1 teaspoon feta cheese and a handful spinach

Crunchy Curried Tuna Salad: ½ cup canned tuna with 1 teaspoon curry powder, 1 tablespoon chopped red onion, and two ribs celery (chopped)

Shrimp Cocktail: Eight medium-sized shrimp boiled and served with 2 tablespoons classic cocktail sauce

Cheddar and Tomato Soup: ½ cup tomato soup with 1 tablespoon shredded low-fat cheddar cheese

Sweet Potato Fries: One light-bulb sized sweet potato sliced, tossed with 1 teaspoon olive oil, and baked at 400° for 10 minutes

Cucumber Sandwich: ½ English muffin with 2 tablespoons cottage cheese and three slices of cucumber

Turkey Roll-Ups: Four slices smoked turkey rolled up and dipped in 2 teaspoons honey mustard

Spinach and Feta Egg-White Scramble: Three egg whites scrambled and mixed with ½ cup raw spinach and 1 tbsp feta cheese. Cook in frying pan or zap in microwave until egg whites are no longer runny (about 1-2 minutes)

Pretzels & Cream Cheese: 15 mini pretzel sticks with 2 tablespoons fat-free cream cheese

Rosemary Potatoes:  ⅓ cup thinly sliced potato tossed with 1 teaspoons olive oil and a teaspoon of chopped rosemary

Spicy Black Beans: ¼ cup black beans with 1 tablespoon salsa and 1 tablespoon non-fat Greek yogurt

Goldfish: About 40 fishies

Apples and Cheese: 1 non-fat mozzarella cheese stick with half of a baseball-sized apple (any variety), sliced

PB & Celery: 1 medium celery stalk with 1 tablespoon peanut butter

Strawberry Salad: 1 cup raw spinach with ½ cup sliced strawberries and 1 tablespoon balsamic

Sugary Treats: 

Chocolate Covered Strawberries: Five strawberries dipped in two squares melted dark chocolate

Grilled Pineapple: 2 ¼-inch thick pineapple rounds (about 1 cup), grilled (or sautéed) for two minutes or until golden

Berries n’ Cream: 1 cup blueberries with 2 tablespoons whipped topping

Chocolate Pudding: One 4oz package. Try a fat/sugar-free version or a homemade one

Skinny S’more: Two graham crackers with one roasted marshmallow and one small square dark chocolate

Cinnamon Graham Crackers & Peanut butter: Two graham cracker squares with 1 teaspoon peanut butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon

Citrus Sherbet: ½ cup lime sherbet (about one standard-sized ice-cream scoop) with ½ sliced kiwi

Make Your Own: Popsicle: 8 ounces lemonade frozen in an mold, or use a small paper cup as a mold.

Smoothies/Drinks:

Tropical Juice Smoothie: ¼ cup pineapple juice, orange juice, and apple juice, blended with ice

Chocolate Milk: 6 ounces skim milk mixed with 2 teaspoons chocolate syrup

Vanilla and Banana Smoothie: ½ cup sliced banana, ¼ cup nonfat vanilla yogurt, and a handful of ice blended until smooth

 

So the next time you are at the store, try to notice the price difference between the “100 calorie” packs and the regular packages of your favorite treats.  It seems like they make “grab and go” packs for almost all snacks (nuts, chips, even yogurt!)  With a little time, planning, and preparation you can create your own that will hopefully save you some money!

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…The Perfect Snack…

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Recently I was giving some advice to a friend about what snacks are good snacks to snack on during the day or between meals.  I will be the first to admit that I am a BIG snacker.  I would not make it through the day if I did not have my snacks.  But the key to maintaining a healthy eating habit is to find the right kind of snacks to consume throughout the day.

Of course you can snack on fresh raw veggies and fruit.  These are my favorite and some of the easy things to grab especially in a time crunch.  With some fruit and veggies, I have found some healthy dips to use on them to make them a little more enjoyable.  The key to allowing yourself to splurge on these type of dips is to make sure that you do not use too much and to find a dip that is not packed full of calories.

The key to snacking is not to eat something that will make you full.  The idea is to consumer something that has nutrients that will satisfy you until you have your next meal.  And since a snack is just a snack, you want something that is low in calories.

I will now give a few examples of some great snacks to have during the day! And the best part is that most of them are 150 calories or less!!

Hummus with Pita and Peas

3 tablespoons hummus; 1/2 whole-grain pita, cut into pieces; and 1/2 cup pea pods

 

Strawberries with Chocolate Sauce

1 cup strawberries drizzled with 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup

 

Apple and Peanut Butter

1 medium apple, sliced, with 1 tablespoon peanut butter

 

Pumpernickel with Swiss Cheese

3 slices mini pumpernickel with 1 slice Swiss cheese

 

Oatmeal and Berries

1 packet low-sugar oatmeal topped with a handful of berries

 

Spiced Maple Yogurt

Spiced maple yogurt: 6 ounces plain yogurt, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, and a dash of cinnamon

 

Green Tea with Cookie

Unsweetened green tea with 1 oatmeal dark-chocolate cookie (such as TLC by Kashi)

 

Granola Bar

1 trail-mix granola bar

 

Chocolate Pudding

1 chocolate pudding cup with 1 graham-cracker square crushed and sprinkled on top

 

Cafe Mocha

12-ounce nonfat cafe mocha (with no whipped cream)

 

Tomato Juice and Cheese

8-ounce V8 juice with 1 piece of string cheese

 

Chips and Dip

2 tablespoons low-fat spicy bean dip and 18 baked tortilla chips

 

Crackers with Honey Soy-Nut Butter

4 whole-grain crackers with 1 tablespoon honey soy-nut butter

 

Oranges with Walnuts

4-ounce mandarin-orange cup topped with 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts (or you can substitute your favorite nuts for the walnuts)

 

Apple and Cheese

1 small apple Apple and 1 ounce of Brie Cheese (or substitute in your favorite cheese for the Brie cheese)

 

Pudding with Cherries

4-ounces of low-fat vanilla Pudding with 1/2 cup of Cherries (fresh or thawed out frozen cherries)

 

Coffee and Cookies

2 whole grain fig cookies and 12 ounces of black coffee (with one teaspoon of sugar)

 

Red Grapes and Almonds

1 cup of red grapes and approximately 11 almonds

 

Cereal and Yogurt

6-ounces of light yogurt and 1/2 cup of whole grain cereal (Kashi cereal is a good choice for this snack)

 

Cheese and Crackers

1/4 cup low-fat cottage cheese, 1 teaspoon of fresh chopped chives, and 6 whole grain crackers

 

 

For that late night snack…

Lemon Sorbet with Raspberries

1/2 cup of lemon sorbet and 3/4 cup of fresh berries

 

Spiked Pomegranate Lemonade

1 1/2 lemon lime vodka, 1 1/2 ounces of light lemonade, 1 1/2 ounces of pomegranate juice, and 4 ounces club soda

 

Root Beer Float

12-ounces of light root beer and 1/2 cup of light vanilla ice cream

 

Beer and Nuts

12-ounce light beer (such as Bud Select 55, Michelob Ultra, Miller Light, Bud Select, or Coors Light) and 12 pistachios

 

Like I said there are 100’s of snacks out there for you to have, it is just about finding the right snack for you.  I hope some of the snacks suggested will cater to you and your snacking needs.

So go ahead and get your grocery lists ready so you can have some amazing snacks to have when you need them!!

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