Great Snack Choices While Dieting

Snacks when on a diet are usually not an option. These healthy snacks will end the hunger that comes between meals but not break that diet. During the holidays this is even harder than normal with all of the goodies around the office and home. These snacks are healthy and will keep any dieter happy. Low fat options are the best choices. Low calories is just as important as low fat. High carbohydrate snacks are even worse for dieters than healthier unsaturated fat snacks. These snacks are usually some of the snacks available at the office parties and the happy hour and some can be brought from home in a pocket to help stave off those high calorie and high fat snacks available at most events, holiday celebrations, and when out with the office crew after work.

Popcorn- Popcorn is a great snack day or night. Be sure that it is not a microwave popcorn that is high in fats and calories. Many of the more popular brands now have a single serving, low calorie size packages which are just wonderful for dieters. These are convenient as well as extremely low calorie snack options. Some of these lower calorie microwave popcorn now come in flavors such as garlic and herb, and garlic and cheese flavor as well as some other great options to curb that snack attack. A hot air popcorn popper can make this even more economical as well as an almost NO calorie snack. Since popcorn has almost no calories by itself, not having to add any oil or butter makes it even lower than the microwave versions. Using some garlic powder or Butter Buds or some other artificial no calorie flavoring can make this very low calorie snack even tastier than just plain air popped corn. Buying the popcorn in a bag or jar of just corn is much more economical than the microwave version. A zipper sandwich bag full of already popped corn with some garlic powder shaken in the bag can make a great snack while commuting to or from work.

Pretzels- Pretzels are a wonderful option at the local bar after work or most any party. Small zipper bags can make this snack quite convenient as well as economical. A large bag of pretzels can be purchased and kept in the cupboard at home, and fill some snack size or sandwich size bags with pretzels and keep in a pocket or a desk drawer at work. Pretzels can be purchased very inexpensively at any grocery store. Many times pretzels are available in vending machines along side the chips and candy bars, in an emergency. Snack size bags can also be purchased at grocery or department stores. Unsalted is the best choice as far as pretzels are concerned for any diet. Added salt can lead to retaining water. This can be frustrating for dieters because of the temporary water gain. Low salt pretzels are another option. If concerned about the amount of salt, dieters can rub the salt off of the pretzels onto a napkin if there is no other option available. Be sure to be polite and do it into a napkin, and then dispose of it, so no one has to clean up the mess.

Raw Vegetable Sticks- Raw vegetables are usually found at any celebration, usually along side of a dip or ranch dressing. Vegetable trays are becoming more common among hostesses since these can be purchased pre-made and are a healthy option for everyone. Raw vegetables are extremely healthy as long as the dip or dressing is by passed. These vegetable sticks can be eaten in large quantities and enable dieters to stay on their diets easily. These vegetable sticks are also good sources of fiber. If attending a pot luck, or a gathering where everyone brings a dish, volunteer to bring the vegetable tray and provide two options for dips. The first a traditional ranch or other normal calorie dip, the second a humus dip for the vegetables, which is low in calories and high in the b vitamins and high in fiber. Hummus is made from chickpeas or garbanzo beans which are the same vegetable. This is a very popular dip. By volunteering to bring the vegetable tray, it is assured to be on the menu. Raw vegetable sticks can also be made and kept in zipper bags in the refrigerator ready to take to work and keep in the office refrigerator. Raw vegetable sticks can be kept in a plastic container with a zipper bag with ice in it to keep it cool.

Fresh Fruit- Fresh fruit can be carried with very conveniently anywhere. Fruits are higher in sugars, but these are natural sugars and so the body can digest these natural sugars much more efficiently than processed sugars. Fresh fruits are still a very good snack choice. A large apple, an orange, a clementine, or satsuma, a pear, a peach, a banana, a plum, a container of cherries, or even a bunch of grapes need no refrigeration and can be tossed into a pocket or a brief case. The calories in fruit are still a consideration when it comes to those who are diabetic, but for those who are just dieting and do not have to worry about their blood sugar levels, fruits can be eaten in quite large quantities and not hurt a diet at all. Fruits and vegetables should be eaten as the largest quantity of foods in any healthy diet. Even more exotic fruits can be taken in a plastic container, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, kiwi fruit, pomegranates can be seeded ahead of time and stored in a large zipper bag or in individual serving size bags in the refrigerator or in a plastic container, with an ice container or ice in a zipper bag. Some of these tiny fruits such as blue berries can be frozen and taken in a zipper bag and eaten frozen or thawed.

Whole Wheat Crackers- Whole wheat crackers can be a great snack. Whole wheat is very high in protein and also a very good source of fiber. These must be kept to a serving because eating too many of these whole wheat crackers can cause weight gain because they are not a very low calorie snack, but they are a healthy low calorie snack. Eating too much of most foods is not a good idea, for anyone, not just those on a diet. Keeping portions in mind when eating can help to maintain any diet.

Brown Rice Pudding- When a dieter is craving something sweet, there is more than one way to satisfy that craving. Brown rice pudding can be a healthy answer to that craving. Eating naturally sweet foods can help this immensely. Brown rice is much healthier than white rice and when making this pudding, using rice milk will make it even sweeter. Adding splenda or another artificial sweetener can make it sweeter if need be. Most dieters find the Brown rice pudding made with rice milk sweet enough to satisfy a craving for sweets. Many health food stores sell this healthy sweet snack.

Unsalted Pumpkin Seeds- Pumpkin seeds are very good high protein, low calorie snack. Pumpkin seeds are high in zinc and are a good and healthy snack for dieters. Zinc is great for the reproductive system and hormonal balances and to keep colds away.

Unsalted Sunflower Seeds- Sunflower seeds are great high protein, and have good fats in them. Sunflower seeds are also great sources of zinc too.

Non-Fat or Low Fat Cottage Cheese- Non-fat cottage cheese is a great snack that is high in protein and also a great source of calcium. To change this to a sweet snack fresh berries or fresh fruit can be added to the cottage cheese. Cottage cheese is a very healthy choice for a snack for a dieter, it will stop hunger and keep energy levels up instead of leading to a quick crash experienced by foods which are high in carbohydrates.

Smoothies- Fresh fruit smoothies are a great snack. Fresh fruits and soy or rice milk mixed with banana and ice and berries or any other fresh fruits of the dieter's choice can be put into a blender to make a fresh fruit smoothie. This smoothie can stop a craving for sweets. This snack is very healthy and low in calories and a good source of fiber. In addition if fresh strawberries are used it can also be a great source of zinc as well.

Any of these snacks would be a great choice as would many other natural and fresh foods. Canned foods should never be substituted because these foods have sugars or salts added which can cause problems for dieters. During the holidays or other celebrations during the year are extremely hard on those who are trying to watch their weight. Hopefully, these ideas of some healthy snacks will spur a dieter's imagination to even come up with many more healthy ideas for healthy snacks to keep on track.