If you have ever heard of the popular book, Eat This Not That you probably already know that there are tons of substitutions you can use to cut calories from your diet. Making smart food choices is a great habit to get into and can help you develop long-term strategies for weight management success. Recently, the release of the book The No-Diet Weight Loss Solution was published as a second in the series. This book promises to “strip away 10, 20, 30 pounds or more,” and we just want to remind you that weight loss results are never instant, and by developing your ability to know which foods are better for you than others you can significantly improve your long-term weight loss success. Here are a few Skinny Ms. suggestions to help you decide which foods to eat, and which to stay away from.
Salty cravings hit at least once a month, if not more. You might reach for nuts as a healthy option for a snack because they are extremely nutritious, but they also contain large amounts of fats. Albeit, “good” fats, they contain large amounts of calories as well. When you eat nuts, be sure to measure a serving and put the package away. Everything in moderation! Try Seaweed Snacks as an occasional alternative. They also contain essential nutrients including a variety of minerals. These healthy low calorie snacks are a must-have!
Eat This Not That
Seaweed Snacks: ½ Package: 30 calories, 2 g fat, 1 carbohydrate, 1 g protein, 1 g fiber
1 Cup Whole Almonds: 827 calories, 72 g fat, 28 carbohydrates, 30 g fiber
Sweet foods can also be healthy foods. Stay away from processed foods and artificial sweeteners and stick with naturally sweet foods like fruit, and honey. Sliced fruit and a drizzle of fat free chocolate sauce is a sweet snack loaded with nutrients. We’ve got tons of healthy and sweet smoothies to choose from like this protein-packed Quinoa Banana Berry Smoothie.
Eat This Not That
1 Molasses Honey Oatmeal Cookie: 124 calories, 5 g fat, 17 carbohydrates, 2 g protein Get the recipe here!
1 Slice Cheesecake: 350 calories, 20 g fat, 20 carbohydrates
Crunchy foods are an easy thing to replace since there are so many great options out there. Slice up crisp veggies like sweet bell peppers, celery, and carrots to conquer your craving for crunch. Check out our skinny recipe for Sweet Potato Cruncies.
Eat This Not That
1 Cup Sliced Vegetables: 32 calories, 0 fat, 24 carbohydrates
1 Serving Flax Crackers: 180 calories, 13 g fat, 10 carbohydrates, 5 g protein
On-the-Go snacks can be a disaster if you don’t know what to look for. Try a protein bar with balanced nutrients like Balance Bars. These provide balanced calories between fat, carbohydrates and protein and you only need to eat about half of one with a glass of water to fill up. But some are LOADED with fat, and carbohydrates so be careful.
Eat This Not That
Cherry Pie LaraBar: 200 Calories (1/2 bar 100 calories), 8 g fat, .5 g saturated fat, 30g carbohydrate, 5 g protein, 5 g fiber
Snickers Bar: 280 calories, 14 g fat, 5g saturated fat, 30g sugar
Midnight Snack options are limited but don’t give up and just grab anything. If you’re craving something at night, try something high in protein and low in carbohydrates. The body does not store protein so by consuming a high-protein meal at that time of night, your body will not store it as fat. Choosing a high carb snack means your body will store the unused carbohydrates as fat while you sleep.
Eat This Not That
1 Slice String Cheese: 70 calories, fat 4.5 g, carbohydrate 1
1 Cup Chocolate Milk: 158 calories, 2.5 g fat, carbohydrates 26, 8 g protein
For more great ideas, check out these 25 snack ideas under 100 calories!
