100 Calorie Snacks You can Make at Home

We have all seen them on TV ads and in the store, "100 calorie snack packs" from cookies to crackers. Small imitations of the real thing and in only small amounts (maybe five or six at the most for cookies and slightly more for crackers) - not really a satisfying snack and can left you wanting more. With a little pre-planning and preparing, you can have snacks that are one hundred calories or less and leave you feeling satisfied. According to Good Health, fresh fruit and vegetables that are the size of your closed fist is a good portion size and the length of your forefinger is good for protein such as cheese. The people at Good Housekeeping and WebMD agree with Good Health, further, preparing snacks beforehand will save you money and time as it will keep you from running to the vending machines as well as keep you from over eating which can lead to weight gain. They also suggest eating slow and savor the snack as it will help give the feeling of fullness. Further, you can add a teaspoon of jam, peanut butter, light mayonnaise or lite ranch as a dip.

For items that do not need to be refrigerated, keep them near so when hunger strikes you can quickly satisfy same without passing a vending machine or the doughnuts that were brought in my co-workers even as tempting as they are. For items that need to be kept cold, either keep in refrigerator or use a small cooler packed with blue ice that can fit easily under your desk or in a drawer. If you have to use the office refrigerator, make sure that your name is clearly written so no one else mistakes your good snacks for their lunch.

Here is but a brief list of snacks that are 100 calories or less. It should be noted, that these snacks play double duty in that they also count as a serving of the recommended daily allowance of such things as fruit, vegetables, protein and fats:

1. 29 shelled pistachios
2. 60 baby Goldfish crackers
3. 2 cups of raspberries
4. 28 grapes
5. 15 strawberries dipped in ¼ cup of lite whipped cream (such as Cool Whip)
6. 1 cup raspberries with a dipping sauce of 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt sweetened with one teaspoon honey
7. 1 cup applesauce (any flavor)
8. 1 medium peach
9. 1 sliced medium tomato sprinkled with 2 ounces of feta cheese and sprinkled with olive oil
10. 1 small banana or ½ large banana
11. ½ cup shelled steamed edamame
12. 2 packages of light string cheese snacks
13. 1 cup baby carrots with 2 tablespoons of hummus or lite ranch dressing
14. 1 ¼ ounces of turkey jerky
15. ½ medium cantaloupe
16. 1 tablespoon peanuts combined with 2 tablespoons dried cranberries
17. 1 small orange
18. 1 small apple
19. 1 hard boiled egg
20. 2 ounces of lean chicken, turkey or roast beef
21. 40 pretzel sticks
22. 1/3 cup whole grain granola

Although the amounts to not appear to be very large - consider the size of a medium cantaloupe or how much a cup can really hold. These snacks are much more satisfying and filling. They do not contain empty calories and can help you feel better about yourself. Happy snacking.