The following are my favorite snacks to ring in the New Year with – enjoy!
1) Roasted seaweed strips– when you are craving something salty and crunchy (and low-calorie) this is the perfect snack! An entire package contains just 60 calories and offers a healthy dose of vitamins A and C and iodine. My favorite variety is the wasabi flavored ones which are made by Annie Chun’s and can be found at Trader Joe’s.
2) Popchips – These delicious “popped” chips still remain my favorite chips on the market! With no fake colors, flavors or preservatives, they are one of the healthiest chips out there and they come in nine delicious flavors (sour cream and onion is still my favorite!)
3) Hummus topped with pomegranate seeds- the foundation of any hummus is chickpeas and tahini – chickpeas are high in protein and fiber (both great for craving control) and tahini is rich in essential fatty acids, calcium, protein and B vitamins. A great twist to this healthy spread is mixing in some pomegranate seeds. They add a sweet accent to the creamy hummus blend and provide a healthy dose of nutrients including fiber, potassium and vitamins C and K.
4) Salt and pepper flavored pistachios – pistachios have always been one of my favorite snacks. They are loaded in nutrients and you get a whopping 49 nuts in just a 1 ounce serving (more than any other nut you’ll find!). My newest obsession is salt and pepper flavored pistachios – I can’t seem to get enough of this classic combination.
5) Honey-Nana Chobani Champions yogurt – freeze this for a delicious and sweet frozen yogurt treat! While these yogurts are marketed to kids, adults will love them too. At just 100 calories per container, they are packed with protein, calcium and vitamin D without any preservatives, artificial sweeteners or synthetic growth hormones.
6) Pumpkin seeds – Pumpkin seeds have a delicious subtly sweet and nutty flavor and are loaded in nutrients, including zinc, magnesium, iron, protein and healthy fats, just to name a few! You can buy them roasted, or roast them yourself. You can try a variety of flavors for an extra kick– chili-lime (toast seeds in a little lime juice and add some chili pepper spice) or spiced (toast seeds with some butter, salt, garlic salt and Worcestershire sauce).
7) Unshelled edamame -this is a great high protein snack that is rich in healthy fat and very satisfying. One cup in shells is only 120 calories. You can stop by any Japanese restaurant to order some, buy them pre-cooked at some grocery stores or boil them yourself if you can find them in the freezer section of your grocer.
8) Hard boiled egg and apple slices – Hard boiled eggs are one of my favorite on-the-go snacks because they are a complete protein source (they contain all nine essential amino acids) and are very satisfying for only 70 calories each. Pairing an egg with an apple provides the perfect salty/sweet combo. However, make sure to go organic with the apple because conventionally grown apples are loaded with pesticides!
9) Almond butter on Ak Mak crackers – almond butter is a nutritional powerhouse, rich in vitamin E, folic acid and magnesium. Spread on Ak Mak crackers (or any other whole grain cracker) is my favorite way to enjoy it.
10) Mini cheese and bean quesadilla – there is something so satisfying about this snack. Simply heat (in oven or microwave) black beans and some shredded cheese in a small whole grain tortilla – this delicious high fiber, high protein snack will definitely carry you through until your next meal.
11) Baked kale chips – this is one of the tastiest and simplest ways to get dark leafy greens into your diet. Simply top fresh kale pieces (often available at the grocery store pre-washed) with spray olive oil and a little sea salt and bake at 375 degrees for 20-30 minutes (shake the tray every 10 minutes or so to prevent burning). Even my 2 year old son loves eating these green “chips”!
12) Air-popped popcorn – While popcorn can be a healthy, satisfying high fiber snack, skip the microwave bag version and look for short ingredient lists when buying bagged popcorn (lite kettle corn, low-fat olive oil, etc). The lining of microwave popcorn bags contains the chemical PFOA (perfluoroctanoic acid) which has been identified as a carcinogen by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Some of my favorite brands include Trader Joe’s lite Kettle Corn and Popcorn, Indiana aged white cheddar.
