Low-Calorie Snack Idea #1: Keep your snacks to 150 calories or less.
The danger of snacks is that they can become more like extra meals if you go overboard. First, make sure you’re truly hungry — and not just bored or stressed or craving chocolate — before reaching for a snack. Then limit yourself to 150 calories per snack. This will help keep your snacking “honest.” After all, it’s hard to find a chocolate bar with only 150 calories. And if you’re hankering for a chocolate bar, but a healthier snack doesn’t appeal, you’re probably not truly hungry.
Low-Calorie Snack Idea #2: Beware of low-fat snacks.
Studies show that people tend to eat about 28 percent more of a snack when it’s low-fat because they think they’re saving on calories. But low-fat snacks such as cookies only have about 11 percent fewer calories than their full-fat counterparts. Stick to the same amount you’d eat if you thought the snack was full-fat.
Low-Calorie Snack Idea #3: Plate your snacks.
Eat straight out of the bag and you’re guaranteed to eat more, whether it’s chips, pretzels, or cookies. Instead, put a small portion on a plate, seal up the bag and put it away, then sit down and enjoy your snack.
Low-Calorie Snack Idea #4: Grab the whole bag.
A single serving bag, that is. You’re much more likely to stop after one serving if you don’t have to measure it out yourself. If paying more for extra packaging that will eventually clog landfills bothers you, separate your snacks yourself into reusable single-serving containers when you get home from the grocery store so they’re ready to grab when you’re ready to eat them.
To Be Continued ....
