15 Snacks That Slim You Down

Taken from Cosmopolitan Magazine/June 2009


1. Popsicles. If you want something desserty, these are perfect. Sugar-free pops still taste sweet and are mostly water, so they have fewer than 20 calories and no fat. In this case, the more you eat, the tighter you'll feel, since consuming more fluids tends to help flush out belly bloat.

2. Apple slices spread with Peanut Butter. This combo is loaded with protein and fiber; both fill you up quickly and keep you that way for a long time. Slices from half an apple eaten with 1 1/2 tablespoons of peanut butter run you about 200 calories.

3. String Cheese. Cheese has always been considered a weight-loss enemy, and most diets warn you away from it. But high-protein, part-skim string cheese is a terrific slim-down food. One package has about 6 grams of protein and fewer than 75 calories. And it doesn't need to be refrigerated constantly, so you can pop a few in your purse for when you find yourself facing a snack emergency.

4. Popcorn. A single microwavable serving without butter or flavoring has about 130 calories - that's 3 1/2 cups of popcorn for fewer calories than three Oreo cookies have. The serving is low in fat and surprisingly high in fiber. Give it a little punch by adding Cajun spice or drizzling it with hot sauce; the fiery kick also charges your metabolism.

5. Sweet-Potato Fries. You're desperate for fast-food fries, but there are 380 calories in a medium size at Mickey D's. So make these faux fries - the same amount has half the calories. Here's how easy it is: Cut thin slices of sweet potato, brush them with 1 teaspoon olive oil, sprinkle on some salt or cinnamon, and then bake them at 425 degrees for 30 minutes. The sweet potato contains satisfying fiber; which stabilizes blood sugar, keeping your from craving even more junk food later on in the day.

6. Tofu Pups. Made from soy rather than meat, these hot-dog substitutes are flavorful yet low in fat. With just 60 calories each, one or two can be eaten on a whole-wheat bun without your going over your snack calorie quota. Bonus: the soy cranks up your metabolism.

7. Oatmeal. When a craving for creamy comfort food hits, pop a package of instant flavored oatmeal into the microwave. Each has about 100 calories of belly-filling oat grains and fiber.

8. Frozen Chocolate Milk. The cold temperature of this shake-like mixture may help you burn a few extra calories during digestion, and its protein satiates you. It's a cinch to make too: Throw a handful of ice into a blender with 1/2 cup skim milk and 2 tablespoons light chocolate syrup.

9. Pita Chips and Salsa. Spicy salsa is loaded with capsaicin, a compound found in chili peppers that turbocharges your metabolism. Eat it with 10 whole-wheat pita chips instead of tortilla chips since they're less caloric and have more fiber. This snack will set you back only 150 calories.

10. English-Muffin Pizza. It's not a pizza parlor slice, but it's got the goods. The real thing has a white-flour crust, so it's digested quickly, leaving you hungry soon after. Plus, research links consumption of white-flour products to extra belly fat. But if you make your own pizza on a whole-wheat English muffin, you get B vitamins and filling whole grains. Toast it with 1/4 cup fat-free cheese and tomato sauce for about 200 degrees.

11. Greek Yogurt. This trendy, tangy and portable snack is high in protein and low in sugar, and some brands have fewer than 100 calories in a single-serving container. A recent study found that people who ate 3 servings a day had a healthier body weight than those who didn't eat yogurt.

12. Nuts. Don't let the fact that nuts are high in fat scare you; the monosaturated kind keeps your heart healthy and is filling. And your body burns calories just to digest all that protein. Keep your daily intake to 1/4 cup, which costs you just under 200 calories.

13. Strawberries with Tru Top. Dying for sugar? Try this whipped cream (only 15 calories in 1 tablespoon). Give it a little nutritional value by eating it with strawberries - 4 calories each. Their high water content helps flush excess water from your system to get rid of belly fat.

14. An Omelette. Whisk together 4 egg whites and a yolk with sliced peppers or tomatoes, and cook in a skillet over medium heat. The result; a healthy, flavorful snack under 150 calories. Most of the protein in eggs is found in the whites and protein boosts your metabolism.

15. Dried Fruit. Chewy, fiber-rich dried fruit (make sure there's no sugar added) appeases our sweet tooth and helps keep you feeling fuller longer than most vending-machine treats do. One-third cup or pears or apricots has fewer than 150 calories.


Fight off cravings! If you're close to diving spoon-first into a tub of ice cream, turn to these simple resist-a-binge strategies!

Chug Water. Feeling the urge to snack when you've eaten recently can be a sign that you're dehydrated, nutritionists say. Drink a glass of cold water and see if the cravings disappear.

Brush your Teeth. It's a psychological cue to your brain that you are finished eating for awhile. Plus, there's just something about having a minty, squeaky-clean mouth that makes you want to keep it that way.

Go For a Walk. Even if it's just a quick lap around your office or a stroll down the block, a few minutes of exercise in addition to a change of scenery can help take your mind off eating, say weight-loss experts.

Use Your Cell. Cravings tend to last only 5 minutes or so, according to nutritionists. So when yours kick in, make a phone call to someone chatty who can keep you occupied until the munchies pass.