Learn about five diet-friendly snack foods that provide your body’s nutrients to get through the day.
5 Best Pre-Packaged Snack Foods
Most pre-packaged snack foods on the grocers’ shelves today are loaded with preservatives, fat, and calories, making healthy snacking appear nearly impossible. Convinced that snacks are a dietary disaster, health-conscious folks may skip them altogether and be famished by dinner time. Unfortunately, this can lead to overeating.
To avoid binging, dieters should select nutritious, filling snacks that energize them throughout the day. Here are five great snacks to eat. They’re all preservative-free and contain fewer than 200 calories per serving. They’re also pre-packaged and convenient for times when you must eat on the go.
Blue Diamond Roasted Salted Almonds
When you’re craving a salty snack, Blue Diamond’s Roasted Salted Almonds, seasoned with sea salt, is a nutritious choice. Despite their salty taste, they contain only 85 milligrams of sodium per serving.
The almonds also boast 6 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber per serving, which keep you feeling full longer. In addition, though a serving contains 16 grams of fat, most of it is in healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, with only one gram coming from the artery-clogging saturated kind. Another benefit: the almonds are a good source of magnesium, which is a vital mineral, according to Registered Pharmacist Brad Long.
Reduced-Fat Triscuits
Reduced-Fat Triscuits are a diet-friendly, crunchy snack with only 120 calories and 2.5 grams of fat per serving. In addition, they’re a good source of fiber and iron and 100 percent whole grain, making them a healthier alternative to potato chips.
Great Value All Natural Dried Cranberries
Great Value brand dried cranberries are inherently cholesterol and fat-free. They’re also high in vitamin C, and because they’re naturally sweet and tangy, they can satisfy a craving for candy or desserts without wreaking havoc on your waistline.
In addition to keeping a sweet tooth under control, dried cranberries are an easy way to incorporate fruit into your diet. Just 1/3 of a cup counts as an entire serving of fruit and adds only 130 calories to your total for the day.
Dannon All Natural Yogurt
With a pre-portioned serving packing just 150 calories, Dannon’s All Natural yogurt allows you to enjoy a rich, creamy taste without ruining your diet. In addition, it is a good source of protein and calcium, and a serving contains just 2.5 grams of fat.
Though Dannon All Natural yogurt isn’t free of sugar, it does not contain aspartame or high-fructose corn syrup, sweeteners that may be detrimental to health. It also has only 1.5 grams of saturated fat per serving, which isn’t too much.
Sargento Natural Reduced-Fat Sharp Cheddar Snacks
Despite the bold flavor of Sargento’s Natural Reduced-Fat Sharp Cheddar Snacks, they contain only 60 calories per slice. Made with 2 percent milk, they have 50 percent less saturated fat than full-fat cheese, making them a heart-healthy option.
These cheese nibbles are high in protein, and they provide the calcium your body needs to maintain bone health. In addition, they can be paired with reduced-fat Triscuits for a snack at under 200 calories.
Whether you choose Sargento’s cheese snacks or Great Value’s dried cranberries, all the snacks listed here offer flavor and nutrition. They provide your body with the necessary nourishment to power through the day without an overload of calories that can inhibit weight-loss efforts. They also contain simple, natural ingredients instead of less-than-healthy food additives. Enjoy!
