Looking for not unhealthy, low calorie, fillings snacks

gt0163c · 01-21-2008, 10:34 AM

I'm looking for ideas for not unhealthy, low calorie, filling snacks.

In my continued quest for healthy eating, I find that sometimes my meal sizes don't quite keep up with my appetite. And, since my life can tend towards the insanely crazy busy side of things at times, I regularly end up looking for snacks. And, since I'm often dashing out the door, I need something that requires either no preparation or I can prepare before hand and can be fairly easily eaten on the go (while walking or driving preferably). I don't often have a lot of prep time, so if it's a prep ahead snack, it needs to be something that will keep for at least a few days in "ready to go configuration".

Right now I'm kinda stuck at a banana, apple or a cheese stick and some crackers. I've tried some different granola bars but they generally don't fill me up well. I've tried carrot sticks, but unless I pair something with them (generally some protein source), I'm hungry again in half an hour. I really, really dislike celery, so "bugs on a log" is out.

Anyone have any ideas of things I can try? What snacks work for you?

amandajane · 01-21-2008, 11:51 AM

Hi! I've been reading this book and I think you might find it useful. It's full of easy and low fat recipes that might inspire you.

Here's one for special sour cream that I used on my blog. You might enjoy it with your celery.

Megan · 01-21-2008, 01:15 PM

After many different tries, I've found that the one that works the best for me is an apple. Maybe an apple and peanut butter. PB is higher calorie, but it's also pretty good for you. You just shouldn't sit in front of the tv with a jar of PB and a spoon.

72Tiger · 01-21-2008, 01:20 PM

For snacks, I look for things that are high in fiber, and water content. Both are filling, and don't have calories. The great thing about them, is that if you are still hungry, eating more doesn't hurt. If you are looking for things that are low/no prep, these might work:

Whole fruits (better than dried fruit because the water content is more filling)
Edamame (soybeans)
Berries
Raw vegetables (broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, cherry tomatoes,, etc)

If calories aren't an issue, nuts are very nutritious. Also whole wheat crackers, and popcorn maybe.

Nonfat yogurt with berries is a good source of protein, and calcium.

Good luck.

lucille · 01-21-2008, 01:21 PM

I cut up orange or yellow peppers into strips to munch on instead of carrots or celery.
If your looking for cheap snacks on the go, I try to keep some sort of nuts in a container in the car since they are high in protein.

At home we eat alot of air popped popcorn it really is cheap. I make cheese dip out of low fat cream cheese mixed with a bit of olive oil, italian seasoning, garlic powder and kosher salt. When we have the time we make crackers. We use a pizza dough recipe but roll it super thin score it and put it on greased cookie sheets. We usually mix in some italian seasoning or other herbs so the crackers have some flavor. It works great.

RedZinnia · 01-21-2008, 01:31 PM

If you get hungry again quickly, maybe a bit of protein would help. I like nuts & sunflower seeds for quickie snacks. My very favorite is to keep a bit of chicken salad mixed up so I can grab it quick with crackers.

Lisa

Gootsy · 01-21-2008, 01:51 PM

Beef Jerky can be a great snack. High protein low fat, and can take a while to eat. Only downside is can be rather high in salt, and expensive if you can't get a good deal.

I like sweet and sour or hot n spicy ones personally. Though I haven't seen it on sale in a while, so haven't had any

.

MMMMMmmm It's good as well hehe.

[edit: Also yogurt with fresh fruit can be good snack, or cottage cheese.]

rolltimer · 01-21-2008, 02:05 PM

If you aren't salt sensitive, canned soup is a good choice. There's quite a bit of variety in the condensed soups like chicken noodle, tomato, vegetable with beef as well as the ones you don't need to add water to. Some come with the pull tops so you won't need a can opener. You will need a bowl, spoon and a heat source--microwave or stove burner. Check out a camping supplies store. Many years ago I bought a plug-in-to-the-wall travel container for heating water or soup. This was back before all the hotels/motels had in-room coffee makers. You may even find something to plug in your USB port on your computer. They have just about everything else to plug into your USB port.

Someone will no doubt mention ramen noodles. While they are cheap, they aren't necessarily nutritious. Check the label. You'd be surprised at how much fat they contain. A better, lowfat choice would be oatmeal. You can add raisins, some peanut butter and applesauce and have a great snack.

jdp · 01-22-2008, 07:41 AM

If you aren't eating low carb google "healthy, low calorie oat bar recipes". There's a lot. Pick one to your taste or alter one that looks simple to suit you.

khorrell · 01-22-2008, 10:02 AM

I have given in to purchasing packaged snacks for the car - individual bags of South Beach wheat crackers, little tuna/chicken salad packages, small bags of nuts. Apricots in a zip-top bag will last a while unless your temperatures are really extreme. Canned fruit with the pull-top needs only a place to drain and a fork, or you can buy the really small lunch box sized ones. I know that all of these involve unnecessary packaging, but I had to draw the line somewhere and decided that I would recycle what I could but that it was better than drive-thru snacks on the road. Good luck!

01-21-2008, 10:34 AM	#1
gt0163c Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 344 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Reputation: (60)	Looking for not unhealthy, low calorie, fillings snacks I'm looking for ideas for not unhealthy, low calorie, filling snacks. In my continued quest for healthy eating, I find that sometimes my meal sizes don't quite keep up with my appetite. And, since my life can tend towards the insanely crazy busy side of things at times, I regularly end up looking for snacks. And, since I'm often dashing out the door, I need something that requires either no preparation or I can prepare before hand and can be fairly easily eaten on the go (while walking or driving preferably). I don't often have a lot of prep time, so if it's a prep ahead snack, it needs to be something that will keep for at least a few days in "ready to go configuration". Right now I'm kinda stuck at a banana, apple or a cheese stick and some crackers. I've tried some different granola bars but they generally don't fill me up well. I've tried carrot sticks, but unless I pair something with them (generally some protein source), I'm hungry again in half an hour. I really, really dislike celery, so "bugs on a log" is out. Anyone have any ideas of things I can try? What snacks work for you?

01-21-2008, 01:15 PM	#3
Megan Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 319 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Reputation: (64)	After many different tries, I've found that the one that works the best for me is an apple. Maybe an apple and peanut butter. PB is higher calorie, but it's also pretty good for you. You just shouldn't sit in front of the tv with a jar of PB and a spoon. __________________ Counting My Pennies

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01-21-2008, 11:51 AM	#2
amandajane Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 490 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (287)	Hi! I've been reading this book and I think you might find it useful. It's full of easy and low fat recipes that might inspire you. Here's one for special sour cream that I used on my blog. You might enjoy it with your celery.

01-21-2008, 01:20 PM	#4
72Tiger Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 301 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (38)	For snacks, I look for things that are high in fiber, and water content. Both are filling, and don't have calories. The great thing about them, is that if you are still hungry, eating more doesn't hurt. If you are looking for things that are low/no prep, these might work: Whole fruits (better than dried fruit because the water content is more filling) Edamame (soybeans) Berries Raw vegetables (broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, cherry tomatoes,, etc) If calories aren't an issue, nuts are very nutritious. Also whole wheat crackers, and popcorn maybe. Nonfat yogurt with berries is a good source of protein, and calcium. Good luck.

01-21-2008, 01:21 PM	#5
lucille Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 676 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Reputation: (38)	I cut up orange or yellow peppers into strips to munch on instead of carrots or celery. If your looking for cheap snacks on the go, I try to keep some sort of nuts in a container in the car since they are high in protein. At home we eat alot of air popped popcorn it really is cheap. I make cheese dip out of low fat cream cheese mixed with a bit of olive oil, italian seasoning, garlic powder and kosher salt. When we have the time we make crackers. We use a pizza dough recipe but roll it super thin score it and put it on greased cookie sheets. We usually mix in some italian seasoning or other herbs so the crackers have some flavor. It works great.

01-21-2008, 01:31 PM	#6
RedZinnia Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: north central indiana Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	If you get hungry again quickly, maybe a bit of protein would help. I like nuts & sunflower seeds for quickie snacks. My very favorite is to keep a bit of chicken salad mixed up so I can grab it quick with crackers. Lisa

01-21-2008, 01:51 PM	#7
Gootsy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 292 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Reputation: (25)	Beef Jerky can be a great snack. High protein low fat, and can take a while to eat. Only downside is can be rather high in salt, and expensive if you can't get a good deal. I like sweet and sour or hot n spicy ones personally. Though I haven't seen it on sale in a while, so haven't had any . MMMMMmmm It's good as well hehe. [edit: Also yogurt with fresh fruit can be good snack, or cottage cheese.]

01-21-2008, 02:05 PM	#8
rolltimer Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Alabama Posts: 136 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (24)	If you aren't salt sensitive, canned soup is a good choice. There's quite a bit of variety in the condensed soups like chicken noodle, tomato, vegetable with beef as well as the ones you don't need to add water to. Some come with the pull tops so you won't need a can opener. You will need a bowl, spoon and a heat source--microwave or stove burner. Check out a camping supplies store. Many years ago I bought a plug-in-to-the-wall travel container for heating water or soup. This was back before all the hotels/motels had in-room coffee makers. You may even find something to plug in your USB port on your computer. They have just about everything else to plug into your USB port. Someone will no doubt mention ramen noodles. While they are cheap, they aren't necessarily nutritious. Check the label. You'd be surprised at how much fat they contain. A better, lowfat choice would be oatmeal. You can add raisins, some peanut butter and applesauce and have a great snack.

01-22-2008, 07:41 AM	#9
jdp Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 226 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (29)	If you aren't eating low carb google "healthy, low calorie oat bar recipes". There's a lot. Pick one to your taste or alter one that looks simple to suit you.

01-22-2008, 10:02 AM	#10
khorrell Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: near Washington DC Posts: 610 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Reputation: (86)	I have given in to purchasing packaged snacks for the car - individual bags of South Beach wheat crackers, little tuna/chicken salad packages, small bags of nuts. Apricots in a zip-top bag will last a while unless your temperatures are really extreme. Canned fruit with the pull-top needs only a place to drain and a fork, or you can buy the really small lunch box sized ones. I know that all of these involve unnecessary packaging, but I had to draw the line somewhere and decided that I would recycle what I could but that it was better than drive-thru snacks on the road. Good luck!