Healthy Snacks for Losing Weight

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For so long we've heard that snacking is bad; it makes you fat. Not true! Healthy snacking can keep your blood sugar level and boost your metabolism. Here is how to get the most flavor and benefits from snacking.

Milk Snacks

Low fat milk products make fantastic snacks. Research has shown that getting three servings of low fat milk products can help you lose weight faster than skipping them altogether. Milk also provides you with protein and calcium, which is essential for strong muscles and bones.

Here are some great milk snack ideas:

- Low fat yogurt (Many of these come in great flavors like cheesecake and key lime pie!)

- String cheese, low fat variety

- Sugar-free chocolate milk

- Low fat milk with a teaspoon of vanilla extract

Fruits and Veggies

Sure, everyone knows that fruits and veggies are good for you, but do you know why they are great for losing weight? Fruits and vegetables have fiber, and for every gram of fiber you eat your body blocks seven calories.

Now that you're looking at fruits and vegetable with new respect, take a look at this recipe for making your fruits and veggies go from plain to yum.

Snack Salad

INGREDIENTS:

- 1 apple

- 1 carrot

- 1 banana

- 1 individual sized pack of raisins

- quarter cup orange juice

Cut the apple and banana into small slices in a medium sized bowl. Grate the carrot into the bowl. Add the orange juice and raisins and mix well. Serve chilled.

Good Carbs

After the low carb craze, most people probably don't realize that there are good carbs you can snack on without worrying about gaining ten pounds. These carbs are good for you because they are high in fiber and are more filling. Plus, they digest more slowly, which makes you feel fuller, longer.

Here are some examples of good carb snacks:

- Whole-wheat toast

- High fiber bagel

- Wheat tortilla chips

- Crackers

Don't trust words like "whole wheat" or "multi-grain" when picking out your snack, though. Many of these labels are misleading. They may sound like they are high in fiber, but in reality only have one gram of fiber. The trick is to look at the Nutrition Facts labels and find carbs that list at least three to five grams of fiber per serving.

Many high fiber breads come in flavors that taste a lot like their white cousins, too, so there's no reason not to give them a shot. See? Healthy snacking is a possibility, and it doesn't have to be boring!