A Tasty Snack Trio That's Big on Taste, Low on Calories

Made a New Year's resolution to cut down on snacking? You're not alone in getting snared by snack attacks: researchers from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill recently studied more than 30 years of eating habits. What they uncovered: snacks are the #1 reason for the increase in our nation's calorie intake. Oops.

The good news: you can have your snack and lose weight too - by following this handy guide:

Vegetables: Yes, we know, raw vegetables can be sooo boring. Or at least that's how you feel when you limit your veggie world to celery and carrots. It's not necessarily so! Spice up those veggies with variety and seasonings. My favorite: on the weekend, steam a large pot of assorted fresh vegetables, such as mushrooms, zucchini, green beans, yellow squash, and broccoli crowns. Cool, then sprinkle with fat-free Italian salad dressing and herbs such as oregano. Put in a see-through container in front of the fridge, and munch on it all week long.

Eggs: Studies have shown that eggs aren't the "bad guy" anymore: in fact, they can actually benefit your body with protein. Another prepare-it-on-the-weekend trick: hard boil a batch of eggs on the weekend. Cool and refrigerate. When you're hungry, peel a hard-boiled egg, cut in half and scoop out the yolks. Mash with 1 tablespoon of fat-free mayo and 1 tablespoon of nonfat plain Greek yogurt. Spoon the mixture back into the egg white halves, sprinkle with paprika and you've got high protein, low-calorie deviled eggs that will fill you up and delight your taste buds!

Yogurt: With Greek yogurt shown to be one of the most beneficial sources of protein (low in fat, high in protein and calcium), there's no reason not to take advantage of its value. Make the most of it by purchasing non-fat Greek yogurt for maximum protein and minimum calories. Then enjoy it in a variety of ways: try one-half cup of sugar-free applesauce, one-half cup of plain yogurt, and two packets of Equal or Spenda stirred together. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Another treat: mix one-half cup of non-fat plain Greek yogurt with one cup of sugar-free cocoa mix. Freeze until the consistency of soft ice cream. It's a taste treat that's ideal for a "midnight snack!"