Some Healthy Low Calorie Snacks

My favorite On-The-Go Healthy Snacks:

Wheat Thins and String Cheese

A single-serve bag of crackers and a string cheese are easy to find at a mini-mart or 7-11. What's more, they're a great combo to help curb your hunger and add some nutrients to your day. The Wheat Thins offer fiber and good, whole-grain carbs, while the string cheese adds hunger-zapping protein.

Recommended serving size: 1 single-serve bag of Wheat Thins and 1 string cheese

Calories: 240

Yogurt Smoothie and a Banana

"Fresh fruit is always a great choice," says McLachlan. And when you combine it with dairy, you have a filling mini-meal. Look for a bottled yogurt smoothie with about 100 calories. "Check the label and avoid smoothies with fructose or high fructose corn syrup listed as one of the first ingredients," says McLachlan. This type of refined sugar will cause your blood sugar to peak, then crash -- making you hungry again before too long.

Recommended serving size: 1 bottled low-fat smoothie and one banana

Calories: about 170

My favorite Home Made Healthy Snacks:

Homemade Nachos

Ingredients

4 oz. light vanilla soymilk
3 oz. fat-free cheddar cheese
2 wedges The Laughing Cow cheese, Light Original Swiss
2 tbsp. fat-free cream cheese

Directions

Place all ingredients in a saucepan and heat stovetop at low-medium heat. Stirring frequently, heat until cheeses have melted and sauce is well mixed and hot.

Serving Size: 1/5th recipe (approx. 2 tbsp.)
Calories: 50
Fat: 1g
Sodium: 300mg
Carbs: 2g
Fiber: 0g
Sugars: 2g
Protein: 7.5g

* 1 Point

Chunky Peach Popsicles

INGREDIENTS

1 1/4 pounds  ripe peaches, (3-4 medium), halved and pitted

  Juice of 1 lemon

1/4 cup  freshly squeezed orange juice

1/4 cup  sugar, or to taste

1/4 teaspoon  vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

1. Coarsely chop peaches in a food processor. Transfer 1 cup of the chunky peaches to a medium bowl. Add lemon juice, orange juice and sugar to taste (depending on the sweetness of the peaches) to the food processor. Puree until smooth. Add to the bowl with the chunky peaches and stir in vanilla.

2. Divide the mixture among twelve 2-ounce or eight 3-ounce freezer-pop molds (or small paper cups). Freeze until beginning to set, about 1 hour. Insert frozen-treat sticks and freeze until completely firm, about 1 hour more.

Tip:
MAKE AHEAD TIP: Store in the freezer for up to 3 weeks. | Equipment: Twelve 2-ounce or eight 3-ounce freezer-pop molds, or small paper cups with frozen-treat sticks

NUTRITION FACTS

Calories 33, Carbohydrate 9 g, Fiber 1 g, Potassium 90 mg. Exchanges: Fruit 0.5.
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

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

MY #1 Favorite Snack!!!!

Apple and Peanut Butter

1 medium apple, sliced, with 1 tablespoon peanut butter

Fruit and Yogurt Parfait

It's a familiar story: You're out for what seems like hours,running errands, shopping at the mall, or driving all day, when suddenly you feel that growl in your belly. You're hungry, and you didn't pack a snack. You could succumb to the Cinnabon stand or grab some fries at the drive-through, but there are better options! "A nutrient-dense snack will give you that quick fix you need until you get home to prepare a real meal," says Linda McLachlan, RD, CDN, a New Jersey dietitian with Nutrition Matters, LLC. Here, six emergency snacks that are healthy and filling.

When fast food restaurants are all you have access to -- say, when you're on a daylong driving trip -- it's best to know your healthy choices. A McDonald's Fruit 'n Yogurt Parfait will fill you up thanks to the fruit's fiber, and sustain your hunger, thanks to the yogurt's protein. Whatever you do, avoid the fries. "They're nothing but junk!" says McLachlan.

Recommended serving size: 1 small McDonald's Fruit 'n Yogurt Parfait (hold the granola)

Calories: 130