Thread: Super Snack Foods

Healthy snack ideas for your hungry stomach.

For many of us, snack time is when we lose control of our diets, either by overeating, or by indulging in high-fat, high-calorie foods. This often happens because we allow ourselves to get too hungry and then are unable to stop ourselves from overeating, says Dee Sandquist, spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association and manager of the Nutrition and Diabetes Center at Southwest Washington Medical Center in Vancouver, Washington.

To avoid getting too hungry, Sandquist says she recommends always carrying a healthy, portable snack with you when you know you'll be out on the run without easy access to healthy food choices. Try getting at least two food groups in each of those snacks so that you're getting a combination of carbohydrates and fat/protein, which will help keep you satiated longer, she adds. Here, some super snack food ideas:


Plain Yogurt with Blueberries - Pair plain yogurt with blueberries for a sweet treat that has a similar texture to ice cream. Yogurt is a great source of calcium and protein, and blueberries are packed with valuable antioxidants that help fight off heart disease. If fresh blueberries aren't in season, try frozen instead they work great in cool, creamy yogurt. Or if you get bored with blueberries, substitute any other frozen fruit like cranberries or cherries.

Recommended Serving Size:
Plain, low-fat yogurt, 1/2 cup, 56 calories
Blueberries, 2/3 cup, 30 calories



Banana with Almond Butter - This combination will keep you satiated for a longer time than either on their own because of the combination of fiber in the banana and protein and fat in the almond butter. Bananas are also an excellent source of potassium, which helps prevent muscle cramps and is essential for normal brain function. Of course, peanut butter would be a great substitute for almond butter.

Recommended Serving Size:
Medium banana, 95 calories
Almond butter, 1 tablespoon, 101 calories



Hummus with Pita Bread - Made from chickpeas, hummus provides protein, fiber, and carbohydrates. Spread hummus on pita bread for some added carbohydrates. Also try putting some veggies on your bread to make a great sandwich.

Recommended Serving Size:
Hummus, 2 tablespoons, 83 calories
Pita bread, 1 round, 195 calories



Apple with Brie Cheese - Stick to a small amount of cheese with this snack because of brie's high saturated fat content. However, brie does offer a good protein source. Apples have a low glycemic index, which means they keep hunger at bay longer than other fruits.

Recommended Serving Size:
Apple, 47 calories
Brie cheese, 2 ounces, 160 calories



Salsa w/ Baked Tortilla Chips - Ingredients in salsa vary greatly, but most tomato-based vegetable salsas are an excellent source of antioxidants, vitamin C, and lycopene, which helps prevent heart disease and some cancers. Avoid high-calorie fried chips by purchasing the baked varieties instead, and be sure to look for varieties that list zero trans fats on their nutrition labels.

Recommended Serving Size:
Salsa, 2 ounces, 20 calories
Baked tortilla chips, 1 ounce, 120



Light Microwave Popcorn - Although this is a single-food snack, Sandquist says she recommends it because of its high fiber and B vitamin content. Plus, who can resist the smell of popcorn?

Recommended Serving Size:
1 cup, 30 calories

wooow... blueberries. my favorite.

Sometimes, if I'm in a rush, I will grab a 100 calerie pack of whatever snack I'm in the mood for (salty or sweet). They make so many kinds now to choose from, you're sure to find something you like.

thanks for the info. You can check this site for more diet recipes foodgag.com

oh! popcorn! i love it.
although i would love it more if it had loads of butter! lol
seriously, i didnt think popcorn would be a healthy snack.

great stuff, i bookmarked this thread, gonna try one at a day, sounds delicious but helthy!

WOW, awesome!!! Thank you

Thanks for the info. I so love baked tortilla chips and salsa. Now I can munch on them guilt free

These are very tasty healthy snacks that are difficult to resist. I am a big fan of yogurt for a long time. Although I must say that when consuming yogurt, we have to eat what is the recommended amount per day otherwise you'll experience bloating.

I love yogurt too and mixing them with blueberries will be more tasty. I love these healthy snacks! I'm glad to know that we can enjoy these healhy snacks wothout having to worry the bad effects of it in our body.