Snack your way to a flatter stomach.
All the crunches in the world won’t give you a flat stomach if you’re not eating the right foods. Even if you’re conscientious at mealtime, those snacks in between meals can really trip you up. The ideal snacks to lose belly fat are high in protein and low in calories to fill your stomach, satisfy your appetite, and help keep you from making poor decisions when you’re starving for something to snack on.
Best Snacks to Lose Belly Fat
Try these 39 snacks for a flat belly, pair them with regular cardio and fat-burning exercise, and your six-pack will soon begin to show through.
1. Eggs
Great for breakfast or as a healthy snack, eggs are the perfect shot of protein. Eat them scrambled, hard-boiled, or whipped together with your favorite veggies into a healthy omelet. Enjoy eggs in these skinny recipes: Individual Egg and Spinach Bowls (featured above), Avocado and Egg Salad Sandwich, Pita Pocket Breakfast Sandwich, and Avocado Breakfast Pizzas.
2. Apples
Eating an apple a day won’t just keep the doctor away; it’ll keep weight gain at bay. Apples are filled with about five grams of fiber, and they’re nearly 85% water which helps you feel full. Snack on Baked Apple Chips for a healthy snack, and enjoy Clean Eating Apple Pie for dessert.
3. Fat-Free Greek Yogurt
Low in calories with a soaring protein content, Greek yogurt is an effective tool to cut your daily caloric intake. Reach for the plain kind and top it with your own freshly sliced fruits instead of buying the flavored kind, which often contains added sugar. Learn about these 8 Interesting Ways to Use Greek Yogurt and try making your own with this How to Make Your Own Greek Yogurt tutorial.
4. Quinoa Veggie Rolls
These yummy rolls are made with multiple flat-belly superfoods, including avocado, carrots, spinach, and the main ingredient, fiber and protein-rich quinoa.
5. Blueberries
Filled with antioxidants, Vitamin C, and fiber, blueberries help banish belly fat and may also lower your risk for heart disease and diabetes. These recipes for Vanilla Quinoa and Roasted Blueberry Breakfast Bowls and Skinny Mini Blueberry Cheesecakes are so good you’ll never know they’re also boosting your weight loss.
6. Raspberries
Not only are raspberries a good source of fiber, they also contain ketones, a substance that’s been shown in animal studies to prevent increases in body fat. Try Clean Eating Raspberry Oat Bars and this Raw Kale Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette.
7. Broccoli
Low-cal veggies, like broccoli, help blast belly fat by being rich in nutrients and filled with fiber. You’ll love: Broccoli Cheddar Cups (featured above), Slow Cooker Broccoli, Brown Rice, and Cheddar Casserole, and Chicken, Broccoli, and Asparagus Stir-Fry.
8. Beet Hummus with Carrots
Don’t let the unusual red color of this tasty hummus scare you off; it comes from beets, which help fight water retention and flush toxins from your system.
9. Almonds
These yummy, easy-to-grab snacks contain filling fiber, protein, and Vitamin E. Plus, research has shown their makeup may actually prevent our bodies from absorbing some of their fat. Favorites, like Skinny Almond Joy Quinoa Bars and Berry Almond Breakfast Quinoa, are delicious enough to please the whole family.
10. Avocados
This delicious snack is high in monounsaturated fatty acids, which research shows may target fat where it’s hardest to lose—in your belly. Try our Classic Guacamole to get your avocado fix, or enjoy this delicious No-Cook 5 Minute Chocolate Pudding made with creamy avocado.
11. Dark chocolate
Dark chocolate—the darker the better—can help stave off cravings for other sweets, keeping you steadfast on your flat belly path. Indulge, without guilt, in our delectable Dark Chocolate Nut Clusters.
12. Walnuts
These heart-healthy nuts are filled with the good kind of fat, the type that can help you lose weight and fight diabetes. As with all nuts, stick to just a handful to avoid overdoing it on the fat. Try a Spinach, Pear, and Walnut Salad or our Walnut-Crusted Chicken Breasts.
13. Papaya
This unique fruit contains papain, an enzyme that helps our bodies break down food, easing bloat. Learn more about what this yummy fruit can do for you and The Top 5 Healthy Reasons to Pick Papaya.
14. Sunflower seeds
Sunflower seeds contain many of the same healthy nutrients as nuts, like Vitamin E, phosphorus, and magnesium. Keep a bag in the car and munch on them when you’re tempted to make a drive-through run.
Eat more seeds for better health!
15. Pistachios
These are one of the best nuts to snack on for a flat belly. They’re lower in calories than most other nuts and give a healthy serving of protein and fiber. You might also like Spinach Rolls with Ricotta and Pistachios, Herbed Couscous with Arugula and Pistachios, and Baked Breaded Sole with Pistachios.
16. Bananas
These bright yellow grab-and-go snacks are filled with potassium. Potassium helps rid your body of excess water weight, which can bloat your midsection. Enjoy Peanut Butter Banana Cups (featured above) or Superfood Banana Pops.
17. Pineapple
This tropical fruit contains a digestive enzyme that helps to ease bloating. It’s also a healthy source of natural sugars, which can keep you from snacking on the unhealthy, refined kind.
18. Oven Baked Zucchini Chips
Skip the fattening bagged potato chips and bring along a bag of these crispy, veggie-based munchies instead.
19. Cheese cubes
High in both protein and flavor, cheese cubes are a great snack to have on hand to stave off cravings between meals. Stick to one or two cubes to keep from overindulging.
20. Whole Grain Cinnamon Pita Chips
Whole grain goodness in a yummy chip. These crispy bite-size chips are made with only three ingredients.
21. Spinach Salad
Spinach is a high-volume, low-calorie food that helps you feel more full. A spinach salad topped with yummy veggies is a healthy midday snack to tide you over until dinnertime. Try our Strawberry and Spinach Salad recipe!
22. Kale Chips
Superfood kale saves the day in the form of these crunchy chips when you’re feeling famished.
23. Pears
Just one pear contains nearly 20% of the recommended daily dose of fiber. They have a lower glycemic index than most fruits, keeping your blood sugar stable to fight cravings.
24. Oatmeal
Opt for the real thing instead of pre-packaged oatmeal, which may contain lots of added sugar. Oatmeal jump-starts your metabolism and gives your body fuel to get through the day. You’ll love our Oatmeal Cranberry-Walnut Cookies and these 6 Oatmeal Recipes for Weight Loss.
25. Chocolate Covered Strawberries
This mouth-watering dessert can actually make a skinny snack! Have one or two of our chocolate-covered strawberries made with only clean ingredients.
26. Watermelon
As its name suggests, watermelon is filled with water, which is a must for keeping a flat stomach. It’s also an abundant source of the amino acid arginine, which may promote weight loss. Our Easy Watermelon Sorbet is the perfect snack for a hot day.
27. Popcorn
This light and airy snack is great for munching in between meals. Make your own on the stove at home to skip the added butter from the packaged stuff. Our list of healthy popcorn recipes will make even the toughest critic smile.
28. Soybeans
Several studies have shown soy may promote weight loss. Snack on unsalted edamame rather than soy nuts, as they contain fewer calories for the same serving size.
29. Blackberries
Blackberries are a secret weapon in your flat-belly arsenal! They’re mostly water and crazy low on calories, so a whole cup will cost you just 60 calories.
30. Quinoa
There’s a reason this healthy, nutty grain is a snack favorite of anyone wanting to get a flat belly. One serving of quinoa contains five grams of fiber and 11 grams of protein. Quinoa Protein Bars (featured above) can be made ahead simply by cutting them into serving sizes and placing them in an airtight container or ziplock bag.
We think you’ll also love:
Quinoa Chocolate Drops
Quinoa Meatless Meatballs
Also, be sure to check out our Quinoa Superfood Recipe eBook.
31. Grapefruit
Many studies have shown this wonder fruit promotes weight loss. In one, people who ate ½ a grapefruit before each meal lost significantly more weight than people who ate meals as normal.
32. Celery
Celery is a high-fiber food that helps you feel full on very few calories. Top it with all-natural peanut butter or almond butter for a delicious snack or light lunch. You might also like celery in our Clean Eating Chicken Salad or Cleanse and Detox Smoothie.
33. Chicken
Chicken is one of the most versatile foods and also one of the best for keeping a flat belly. Even the kids will love snacking on our Baked Coconut Chicken Strips.
34. Smoothies
When prepared with the right ingredients, smoothies can be an effective addition to your flat-stomach game. We’ve got a ton of skinny smoothies and drinks made with all-natural ingredients here.
35. Sweet Potato Crunchies
So easy and so delicious! Take these sweet potato crunchies along to work or layer them atop a skinny salad.
36. Cucumbers
These water-filled veggies are not only crunchy and satisfying, they help hydrate you, which promotes a healthy weight. Feast on an Avocado, Tomato, and Cucumber Salad.
37. Peppers
From red peppers to chili peppers, these veggies kick up your metabolism and help fend off cravings with their intense flavor. Munch on these crunchy Bell Pepper Candies.
38. Quinoa Crisp and Berry Parfait
Swap granola for quinoa in this protein-packed snack that will keep your waistline slim.
39. Ahi Poke with Endive
Delicious ahi tuna is also incredibly low in fat, making this easy-to-prep snack perfect for promoting a flat stomach.
If you enjoyed these snacks to lose belly fat, you might also like to try:
- Top 10 Flat Belly Diet Smoothies Recipes
- 5 Flat Belly Drink Recipes
- How to Eat Well and Lose Weight Fast
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