Low Calorie, Low Fat Snacks That Pack a Nutritious Punch

With the holidays right around the corner, and the ensuing feasting that will undoubtedly take place, it’s a good idea to try and tame those urges to over-consume all season long. It can be easy with the shorter days and cooler nights to hunker down with a bowl full of treats and hot chocolate. However, come January your waistline may have a different opinion. Our recommendation? Be prepared with low calorie low fat snacks to munch on anytime. Finding great tasting, gluten free snacks that are actually good for you is not hard. In fact, here are a list of simple, delicious snacks that pack a nutritious punch.

Low Calorie Low Fat Snacks

Snackers

Our gluten free Snackers may look like their traditional counterparts, but they are about half the calories, much lower in sugars, salts and fat AND they taste great to boot! A great low calorie, low fat snack to toss into your bag for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up.

Popcorn

Everyone loves to enjoy a hot bag of this air-popped goodness in the cinema but why not enjoy it too from the comfort of your home or on the go? Eaten plain, this high fiber snack  is full of whole grains and plenty of antioxidants.

Carrots And Hummus

Hummus is traditionally a Middle Eastern delight and is the fitting dip for any fresh vegetable of choice. Containing a good amount of fiber, this snack will not leave you hungry.

Salsa And Corn Tortilla Chips

Surprisingly enough, in moderation this is actually a nutritious snack. Because salsa is low in calories and full of vitamin C and corn tortilla chips are rich in fiber, this dynamic duo aids in overall digestion.

Frozen Grapes

We’ve talked about frozen grapes before. Grapes are one of Natures most wonderful snacks. When frozen, they contain a type of creamy consistency that not only tingles the tastebuds but adds nutrients to the body in the form of  beneficial compounds called flavonoids.

Apples and Peanut Butter

Looking for something for any time of the day? Combining a natural peanut butter with apples which are low in calories, fat and sodium and have a high water content will fill you up and leave you feeling satisfied until the next meal.

You may enjoy this delicious Chocolate Peanut Butter Dip recipe.

Kale Chips

Toss them in olive oil, lightly salt and put them in the oven to bake until crispy, these nutritional chips are guilt-free. You can also use this technique for any variety of vegetables – consider broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels Sprouts, too.

Dried Fruit

After checking the ingredients for no additional sweetness, dehydrated fruit contains plenty of concentrated nutrients. Be careful with dried fruit though. The sugar content can be high. IT’s best to portion out serving sizes so as to not consume more than the recommended amount. For example a 1oz serving of dried cranberries has 16g of sugar, “according to the American Heart Association (AHA), the maximum amount of added sugars you should eat in a day are (7): Men: 150 calories per day (37.5 grams or 9 teaspoons). Women: 100 calories per day (25 grams or 6 teaspoons).” Source: AuthorityNutrition.com

Yogurt

Made using good bacteria, the probiotics, animal proteins, calcium, vitamins, potassium and magnesium combined together create a power-packed snack. Mix with gluten free granola and berries for a seriously yummy meal substitute. If you’re dairy free, you may consider Silk’s Dairy Free Milk Alternative (6 flavors to choose from).

Garbanzo Beans

Otherwise known as “chickpeas,” are valued because of their fiber content, carbohydrates and muscle-building proteins.

Sunflower Seeds

We know that dynamite comes in small packages and just a handful of these supplies a healthy amount of vitamin E, magnesium and selenium.

These low calorie low fat snacks require little to no effort, are kind to your belly and do not leave you feeling deprived in the least!