5 Healthy Snacks That Will Make You Feel Full
If it feels like ages until your next meal, it’s easy to start snacking to keep you going. But snacks are not all bad, as long as we make healthy choices and stick to low-calorie snacks with plenty of nutrition, so we feel full but are not over-eating. Here are just five healthy snacks that will make you feel full.
1. Apple slices with peanut butter
This snack is great not only for making you feel full, but for being so easy to prepare if you only have a short break or are on the go. Simply chop an apple, and spread some peanut butter over the slices as if you’re buttering toast. Apples are of course one of the healthiest options, and peanut butter contains healthy fats which is what is going to make you feel nice and full. It also livens up the taste of the apple and makes it taste like a treat, but a portion with one tablespoon is under 200 calories!
2. Dried fruit and nuts
If you have a sweet tooth, this is the one for you. Dried fruit is a great healthy snack to satisfy sugar cravings, as its sweet taste is intensified. Dried apricots, raisins and dates are all great for that sweetness but low in calories. Nuts are another healthy snack as they contain complex, healthy fats – almonds, pistachios and pecans are perfect for leaving you feeling full. Nuts also contribute to reducing the risk of conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, so they’re essentially a superfood as well as a healthy snack. Nuts can be high in calories so stick to a small handful – but they’re so filling that will be all you need!
3. Goat’s cheese bruschetta
Cheeses are automatically associated with being high in calories, but they can be healthy snacks with this particular recipe, which is delicious and under 120 calories per serving. Mix together chopped tomato with seasoning of your choice (oregano, basil and extra virgin olive oil will provide that delicious tangy taste), and spread over a toasted baguette slice with a couple of ounces of goats cheese. This can be a tasty standalone snack or an appetizer, but it will satisfy hunger while still being a healthy snack!
4. Half bagel with smoked salmon and cream cheese
Pret-a-Manger’s version racks up 440 calories, but if you only use half a medium bagel, spread some low-fat cream cheese (only 30 calories a tablespoon!) and top with some smoked salmon, it’s less than 250 calories – so it’s a healthy snack and will make you feel full. Smoked salmon is a great healthy snack because it’s oily fish, so it’s not only a great source of omega 3 but it’s one of the most filling foods you can eat. Because of the carbs you’re getting with the bagel and the rich taste of the cream cheese, this healthy snack will make you feel full and satisfied.
5. Create your own popcorn
A handful of plain, air-popped popcorn only contains 3o calories, so this is the time to get creative. There are plenty of ingredients to add so you can feel full while also satisfying your taste buds. You need a drop of butter to make the toppings stick, but that’s okay because of how low in calories everything else is! Add a teaspoon each of butter, sugar and cinnamon to a cup of plain popcorn. This tastes so amazing you wouldn’t think it was a healthy snack. Another sweet treat that will make you feel full is adding a spoonful of chocolate chips, and a tiny pinch of salt. If you prefer savoury snacks, add some rosemary and thyme or some curry powder with coconut oil. Whatever your tastes are, these healthy snacks are all around the 150 calorie mark.
