Low Calorie Snacks that Reduce Cravings

One of the keys to weight loss is to always be prepared with some kind of low calorie snack that can help stabilize my blood sugar and therefore reduce cravings!


Gluten Free A-Z Blog
                      


These snacks didn't work for me

Last night, a friend had a few women over and she put out snacks of gluten free crackers, blueberry jam covered goat cheese log, chocolate covered blueberries and cherries , vegetable chips, and nuts. She also had vanilla ice cream and an apple type turnover.Of course, all things that I love and pack on weight!  I nibbled on a few nuts and had a few crackers with goat cheese ( and a few chips); I wasn't too out of control, but I was not eating as consciously as I would have  at home. Some  snacks can really be caloric and really play havoc with a good eating plan. The 4 crackers and blueberry coated goat cheese, the 5-6 nuts, and the 6-7 vegetable chips probably added up to about 10 points which is too caloric for one sitting. ( Was I even hungry? No! Would they start me craving , YES!)

If I were at home, my snack would have been air popped pop corn for 3 points. I would have sprayed it with olive oil spray and been in snacker's heaven. Air popped pop corn is full of fiber, low in fat and calories which is satisfying. It takes a while to eat, and I love crunching!

Why weight loss is also mental 

One of my favorites is sitting with friends, talking, having a good time and munching on snacks. I could have eaten half of that bowl of chocolate covered blueberries and cherries.Thank goodness I didn't start.  I always have to bring myself back to awareness and conscious eating . It was so easy to keep having just one more cracker and one one chip. For me, in situations like that , I do better when I abstain. Once I start, I lose track of my goals: I want to lose weight right now, not maintain. When I am not consciously eating , I might just maintain ( or gain) .. and my ultimate goal of weight loss  will take longer. This is a mental journey as well as an eating journey.There will be plenty of time for maintaining, once I lose this weight. ( Of course I only have about 15 pounds to lose) by the way, I still had a great time without munching my way through the whole night!

 I'm starting to love looking better in clothes again, and I feel more energetic!

I have found that since I have eliminated "sugars" and salty foods, I taste food differently. Fresh fruit tastes amazing especially a mango and a Gala apple. 



Snacks that work for me and help stabilize cravings

At home, I always keep snacks in the refrigerator that I can " go to" quickly and that are on my Weight Watchers Plan and of course are all gluten free.

• Hard boiled eggs ( I buy Eggland's best in a bag already cooked)
• Mozzarella sticks ( Weight Watcher's brand are just 1 point)
• Fresh fruit ( apples, pears, mangoes, oranges)
• Cut up fresh veggies dipped in plain Greek yogurt ( red pepper, cucumber, carrots,etc) 
• Greek yogurt ( plain nonfat) or add frozen fruit 
• Air popped pop corn ( I pop it myself)
• Measured out baggies of  raw almonds or pistachio nuts
• 1 Tablespoon nut butter on celery
• Scroll down for my favorite 2 point snack

One of my favorite snacks is  Trader Joe's Cherry Berry Frozen Fruit bag ( 0) points plus covered in plain Almond milk- I put it in the bowl frozen cover with almond milk and enjoy it as it gets icy and as the frozen fruit softens it tastes like ice cream. The almond milk is just 1 point plus ..Total snack:  1 pt. plus

I love this snack!  Frozen Fruit with Almond Milk

 Of course you could put the frozen berries ( 0 points plus)  in the blender with plain nonfat Greek yogurt  for a rich and creamy 2 point plus snack. Tastes amazing and really rich in antioxidants!

                                 

Think, plan, be prepared and eliminate foods that you can't handle
When I am at home I have no problem following my diet plan because I keep high fiber, low fat, low point plus value healthy snacks around that don't stimulate my taste buds and actually help stabilize my blood sugar. When I am out, I realize how caloric" normal" snacks can be, and it really doesn't work. for me.

I try to eat every 2-3 hours so I don't get too hungry and then make poor choices. Snacks really help me stick to my plan and these healthy snacks are nutrient dense so I benefit from the added nutrition and health giving antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.

The key for me is to find nutritious low point snacks and food that I can fill up on and stop the cravings! Sugar, salt, and fried foods call me back for more and more and more.
I find it is hard to eat out. How about you?

I  love to read your comments; so please leave one.
What are your " go to"  snacks?
 Does eating out do you in?
Are there any foods you can't handle? ( Pistachios for me- I want to eat the entire bag!)

Pin It Please leave a comment so I know you stopped by. Scroll down to the end of the post and click on comments.

This post will be linked to the following blog carnivals
Works For Me Wednesday; Real Food Wednesday; Whatever Goes Wednesday; What’s On the Menu Wednesday; We Did It Wednesday; Penny Pinching Party; Friendly Wednesday; Passionately Artistic;; What I Whipped up Wednesday;  This Chick Cooks; Your Whims Wednesday; Show and Tell Linking Party Wednesday; Wow Me Wednesdays; Wild Wednesday Hop; Show and Share;  Sweet Tempatations; ; Success U-Wednesday Link-up ;; Ducks in a Row  Frugal Ways, Sustainable Days   Gluten Free Wednesday, Gold Star Wednesday,  What's on the Menu Wednesday, Welcome Wednesday,  Gluten Free Pantry  Beyond the Peel  Healthy2day Wed Simple Living Wednesday   My Pick Of The Week  Homestead Revival,  Whole Lifestyle Recipe Swap


 Creative Juice Thursday;  Full Plate Thursday; It’s A Keeper Thursday; What’s Cooking Thursday; Making It with Allie Thursdays; Frugal Follies Thursday;  Bake with Bizzy; Delightfully Inspiring Thursday Link Party; Share Your Awesomeness Thursdays; It’s a Blog Party;  Pennywise Platter Thursday,  Simple Lives Thursday,  Thursday Ultimate Recipe Swap, Tastastic   Katherine's Corner

Family Friendly Fridays ;Simply Sweet Home Friday’s Favorites ;Food on Fridays ;Foodie Friday  Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap ;Creation Corner, Friday’s Link Party ;Feature Yourself Friday ;Sweets This Week Friday ;Simply Delish ; ;It’s a Hodgepodge Friday   Frugal Friday, Wellness Weekend, Hearth and Soul Blog Hop,   Fight Back Fridays Thankful for Food   Shabby Nest  Speckled Dog  Jennifer Cooks' Fusion Friday  Fantabulous Friday  Friday Food, Allergy-Friendly Friday    Food Renegade, Natural Mother's Network, Butter Believer, A Well Seasoned Life, Six Sister's Stuff, The Sweet Details) Katherine Martinelli  Fresh Bites Friday, Fitness Friday, Foodie Friday  Sugar Bananas  My Romantic Home  Iron Violet Designs  Simply Sweet Home  Home Is Where My Story Begins



Seasonal Celebration Sunday Savory Sundays; Every Day Sisters Sharing Sundays; Your Recipe, My Kitchen Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper,  Sunday Night Soup Nighthttp    

Under the Table and Dreaming , DIY Showoff , Nifty Thrifty Things, Homemaker on a Dime , Embellishing Life, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, DIY Home Sweet Home, Blissful Domestic,The Sweet Talk Shop My 1929Charmer  I Gotta Create

Monday 
My Meatless Mondays ;Mouthwatering Mondays ; Homemaker Mondays ; Midnight Maniac Meatless  ;  Monday Mania ; Melt in Your Mouth Mondays ; Made By You Mondays ; Made With Love Mondays ; Happy Homemaker Mondays ; Make a Food-e Friend Monday ; Menu Mondays ; Mangia Mondays; ; Motivate Me Mondays; ; Made It Monday; Making Your Home Sing Monday; Making Monday Marvelous Day; Making the World Cuter Monday; Amaze Me Mondays; Muffin Monday; Motivated Mondays ; Homestead Barn Hop ; Make Your Own Mondays ; A Marvelous Monday ; Savvy Homemade Monday  Just another Meatless Monday, ,  Meet Me Monday  Mix it up Monday Must Try Monday  Making you crave Mondays Organizing Junkie's Meal Plan Monday Green Backs' Meatless Monday Veggie Mama's Meatless Monday On the Menu Monday
In the Gumbo Monday   Yummy  Inspriations Breakfast   Mealtime Monday