Low-Cal Snacks / Small Meals

I thought I'd start a thread for low-cal snacks or light meals. I am trying to eat 4-6 small meals throughout the day, with some protein.

 

Please reply and add your own ideas!

 

- Crackers and tuna (prep w/ low cal mayo and a little relish if you'd like)

- Hummus and carrot sticks (homemade if possible, to control fat)

- Whole wheat toast and natural peanut butter (small amounts)

- Cottage cheese and fruit (if canned, don't get the stuff in syrup)

- Chicken pita or wrap (prep w/ low-cal mayor or mustard)

- Lean lunch-meat (i.e. turkey) wrapped around dill pickle (opt. add low-fat soft cheese i.e. Laughing Cow)

My favorite low cal snack is simply hot air popped popcorn, sprayed with I can't believe it's not butter spray, with a little salt on top! - delicious, but not exactly protein packed.

 

 

I also love the simple classic of a cut up granny smith apple, with a little bit of peanut butter.

 

Recently I was introduced to cocoa infused almonds- in smaller portions very delicious and satisfying for a snack!

Yoplait vanilla yogurt with fresh chopped pineapple

I like toasting a piece of low calorie bread (sara lee delightful wheat) and putting a piece of fat free cheese on it with garlic powder, then scrambling up about a 1/2 cup of egg whites with a little onion and putting it on top of the toast and cheese. It makes a quick breakfast with only 150 calories and gives you a little energy to start your day off with!!!!

Calorie Breakdown: 45 calories-bread, 60 calories-egg whites, 30 calories-cheese, 15 calories-onion, garlic powder, salt, pepper.

I've recently found some amazingly delicious crackers to nosh on . They satisfy my crunchy cravings and they are so flavorful. I found them at Whole Foods, they're called "Mary's Gone Crackers". My favorite is herb flavored but onion flavored is quite yummy as well. They sure beat eating potato chips or Doritos, which is my downfall when it comes to junk food.

Have them plain or with a nice sharp cheese, or hummus. They really are terrific.

sounds yummy =D speaking of crackers, i love stoned mini wheat thins. in 19 crackers there are just 130 cals...they're pretty good and they don't have a disgusting amount of salt like a lot of crackers and chips.

hmmm, that sounds good as well. By the way do any of you have any good tips on low calorie desserts?

try frozfruit popsicles from blue bunny i think they only have like 25 cals...also, look for 100 calorie snack packs (they have like cookies and stuff..but without the guilt lol). some super markets sell desserts from diet programs like weight watchers, too.

ooh and have you ever heard of vitalicious? =D they sell cake, muffins, brownies, etc but each has just 100 calories! check it out. vitalicious.com they even have recipes posted haha. good luck!

 

Actually my boyfriend just got a few packs of muffin tops yesterday. Can't wait to try them as an after dinner dessert = ) I'll give you my reaction when I do

cool :P 

Hi  Msgearhart! = ) I was just wondering.

I was reading your calorie breakdown for your breakfast. Are you including the oil or nonstick spray in your calories for your egg whites?...I'm asking because I've looked up calories for egg whites and I've found that 1 large egg white contains 17 calories and 0 cholesterol.

I looked it up for myself a while back when I wanted hard boiled egg whites for breakfast and CC was indicating higher calories than I had found on other sites.

Hi Evy! In my breakdown I wasn't including nonstick spray because my spray has no fat or calories in it so I just left it out. I also used the egg whites that come in a carton instead of breaking a regular egg and just using the white. The carton says that 3 tbsp equals 1 large egg white and 1/3 of a cup equals 2 large egg whites. I usually do 1/2 cup which is a little more than that and it says it is 60 calories and no fat. I'm not sure if this is different than fresh egg whites or not. I hope this helps!! Thanks for asking!!!

msgearhart

My new fav is replacing speghetti squash for pasta in my dinners, i do chicken parm on squash or even regular meat sauce, and you can eat tons of it, 2 cups has less than 100 cals. Easy to make and delicious.

For dessert I love vanilla yogurt topped with berries, it looks really pretty in a martini glass if your entertaining

ok, my favorite low cal snack is a crystal light slushie! the only calories you consume is the crystal light packet, which is usually 10 calories! awesome, right?....just blend the packet, so ice, and water....and eat with a spoon...and there you go!

try whole wheat toast with no salt almond butter instead.

It may defeat the purpose, but if you add your own srpinkle of sal (which actually lower than what manufacturers would add) it makes it taste like you are eating roasted salty almonds... so amazing.

On the subject of crackers try raincoast crisps.

They are Bizarrely sweet cracker. They have 90cal/4 crackers. But they are jampacked with all sorts of lovely things: figs, olives, nuts, cranberries, flax seed, etc...(depending on the flavor you choose) They are made with unbleached flower and sweetened with honey and molasses.

here's the site:

http://lesleystowe.com/raincoastcrisps/about/

They are really good with low cal. yogurt as a dip. Goat cheese, or bree.

OR my favorite:

Fruit salsa,

take your favorite fruits, I recomend, strawberries, mangoes, and peaches.

Throw them into the food processor with the gratting feature on.

To make it thicker with a great consistency add apples to the mix.

then for a great taste add cinamon and orange zest.

 

Original Post by olexandra:

On the subject of crackers try raincoast crisps.

A cracker that I have come to enjoy is Wasa Crisp 'n Light Crispbreads. Each cracker is just slightly smaller than a whole graham cracker, so they're big. They come in other varieties too (Rye, 7-grain, etc) an 3 "slices" is only 60 calories. They're super-light, they kindof remind me of the stuff an ice cream cone is made from (that light foam-like crispy cracker). But they have really good flavor. I like to have 3 crackers with a laughing cow light wedge cheese (plain or garlic-herb). If I am at home, I will also slice up a tomato, and put that on the cracker, too.

140 cals per serving chocolate cake!

1 box reduced sugar devil's food cake mix

1 can diet soda (diet chocolate fudge is awesome if you can find it!)

mix well, bake as directed

each CUP of batter (with one box yielding 4 cups) is 450 cals

use 2 cups to bake two 8"round cakes...bakes in less time than says on package due to smaller portion size, about 20 minutes i think

for frosting

1 (4 serving size) package sugar free chocolate pudding

1 cup fat free calorie countdown dairy beverage, made by HOOD

mix well and use for frosting

this cake is even more delicious if you allow to sit in fridge overnight

makes a double layer 8 serving cake

 

other 2 cups of batter can be baked and frozen to be used later, defrost at room temp

 

I go to T&T supermarket and get tofu and vegetable noodles.
for 68g of green vegetable noodles it's 44cals, 9g of protein - cooks exactly like regular pasta but with out all the calories and carbs. should be found in the dry pasta/noodle section

the other noodles look like glass noodles, are wrapped in little bundles, for 6 bundles (half the package) is 39cals and pretty much nothing else. they are found in the tofu/udon noodle section. on the package it says good for you. Can't give any more info since most of the store's products are written in an Asian langauge.

also pick up some miso soup, it's kinda of high in salt but makes a great easy side dish to any dinner.
if i'm craving salt (which is rare) i use NoSalt (can be found at any local grocer).

so those are my tips on replacing regular/whole wheat pasta with noodles that are actually filling and definitely lower in calories.

 

Hi everybody!!!

Well I eat 6 times a day.

Breakfast - A cup of fruit with fat-free yogurt, 1 wheat pita bread, sugar free jelly & a cup of vanilla soy milk (I add a cup of water to make it 2 cups, and you can add instant coffee 2 give it more flavor)

Snack - A fruit

Lunch - Chicken, Low-Fat beef or Fish with a vegetable, and brown rice or quinoa  or any other grain & a small salad with a tablespoon of low-cal dressing

Snack - A fruit

A medium size salad with low-cal dressing & 2 tablespoons of low-cal dressing

Dinner - A cup of fruit with fat-free yogurt & a cup of vanilla soy milk (I add a cup of water to make it 2 cups, and you can add instant coffee 2 give it more flavor)

I average about 1,600 cals a day and keep within my allowed Carbs & Fats %s. I rather eat low cal food so I can eat more than waist my cals on foods that are high in calories and less nutritious. I also drink 2 glasses of water before every meal or snack & that helps a lot. I don't feel hungry all day because my body is getting what it needs. We often confuse thirst with hunger & when we don't get the nutrients we need from food it feels like hunger. Your body won't tell you "OH!!! by the way I am lacking vitamin A" If you don't eat what your body needs to compensate that deficiency you'll feel hungry no matter how much you eat which is why most diets don't work. Most people focus on what they should NOT eat rather than what they SHOULD eat so they won't feel hungry and eat less of the food that are not good for our bodies.

I used to weight OVER 200 pounds and I am only 5 feet tall so I looked like a snow woman trapped in a bubble. I tried every diet that exists and realized that diets & programs like Jenny Craig etc DO NOT WORK. You need to do something that you can live with for the rest of your life without torturing your self. Because I eat EVERYTHING that my body needs I don't feel hungry so I don't need will power if I don't feel like cheating & if you ever want to eat something "bad" but yummy GO AHEAD!!! but with measure & just exercise extra for the extra calories you consumed & on to the next day WITHOUT guilt.

Loosing weight is as easy as adding and subtracting. You need to put out what you put in to loose weight & that is the bottom line. I keep my ideal weight for 7 years, I had my baby and gained some back & I am just 10 pounds away from what I used to weight when I was 18 & I am 36. When you do it the right way is not hard at all. If I did it anybody can; I used to eat ALL day long non stop & I felt hungry because I was eating empty foods. High in calories & very low in nutrients & what I started eating more of the good foods I eventually craved more of the good & less of the bad until I made it a way of life that does not feel like dieting & I love it!!!

Good luck 2 all!!!

Gaby