Best Weight Loss Snacks

Shot of a young woman making a healthy snack with fruit at home

If you're sacrificing snacks to cut calories, stop—to lose weight, you need snacks. "Snacking is an opportunity to fuel your body between meals," says nutritionist Rania Batayneh, author of The One One One Diet. Healthy snacks ensure you won't be ravenous come mealtime and keep your fat-burning metabolism revved up. Here are 21 nutritionist-approved choices for both store-bought and make-your-own snacks. Each nosh packs 150 to 200 calories, is filled with good-for-you nutrients, and will make you feel like your diet is about anything but deprivation.

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Greek Yogurt With Raspberries and Honey

Bowl of yogurt with raspberries. Top view, table scene on a dark slate background. — Adobe Stock

Sweet, creamy, and filling, this trio feels completely indulgent. The combination of fiber, healthy fats, and protein are sure to get you over any 3pm slump. Plus, the vitamin C in raspberries increases your body's fat-burning ability, according to research in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition. Combine a single-serving container of Greek yogurt, a cup of raspberries, and a half-tablespoon of honey.

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Grapes and Walnuts

No matter how much you love either, there are only so many you can eat. That's because grapes are super sweet and walnuts are even more filling. A cup of grapes and a handful of walnuts together are a power-combo of natural sugars, fiber, healthy fats, and protein—all of which make for more long-lasting energy.

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KIND Healthy Grains Bar

nutty-snack-awards-health-mag-nov-2020 — Courtesy of manufacturers

The KIND bar has amaranth, quinoa, millet, buckwheat, and gluten-free oats and meet one-third of your daily whole grain needs. Apart from lowering your cholesterol, research in the Journal of Nutrition suggests a diet rich in whole grains can help you burn fat.

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Edamame Hummus

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If you're craving chips and dip but don't want to compromise your healthy diet, reach of some buckwheat crackers with edamame hummus. Both buckwheat groats and edamame are packed with protein, making them an ideal option to help ward off hunger. Buckwheat groats also filled with nutrients like zinc, copper, manganese, and magnesium.

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Wheat Thins and Cottage Cheese

Dip 10 Wheat Thins in the cottage cheese, or enjoy them side-by-side. A half-cup serving of cottage cheese contains one-quarter of your recommended daily intake of protein. Rather than a nonfat variety, go for 2% or even full-fat. The fat combined with the protein will keep your stomach full until mealtime.

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Mediterranean Hummus Tray

top view of hummus with parsley, cut vegetables and pita bread on wooden tabletop — Adobe Stock

Get your Mediterranean diet on: Cucumbers, olives, and hummus are all high in fiber, low in fat, and pair perfectly for a snack that feels more like a meal. Your spread should include a cup of cucumber slices, about four kalamata olives, and about four tablespoons of hummus.

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Oatmeal and Blueberries

Oats aren't just for breakfast—they're good any time you need a hearty treat. Full of fiber, they help regulate blood sugar levels to keep you from crashing. Meanwhile, blueberries add a kick of sweetness (and vitamin C) without any table sugar. Try a packet of plain, microwaveable oatmeal topped with a half cup of blueberries.

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Banana With Peanut Butter

Peanut butter chia seed banana toast for breakfast on a pink background, healthy snack, top view — Adobe Stock

Spread a tablespoon of peanut butter onto a banana. The carbs will give you a quick mood and energy spike, while the protein will keep the energy going for hours. A 2013 study in the British Journal of Nutrition found that eating peanut butter in the morning can help curb your appetite throughout the rest of the day.

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Rhythm Superfoods Kale Chips

Whatever less-than-healthy potato chip variety you like, chances are this brand has a similar flavor without all of the fat. The zesty nacho variety, for instance, has 1.5 grams saturated fat, 5 grams of protein, and seven times your daily quota of vitamin K, which helps maintain strong bones. As an alternative, you could make your own kale chips.

RELATED: Health Benefits of Kale

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Apple Slices With Cheese

Apple on apple shaped board — Adobe Stock

An apple a day might not necessarily keep the doctor away, but it could help prevent weight gain, according to research in the journal Nutrition. Plus, a 2016 study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests dairy may help women keep weight off. Try pairing a gala apple with a half-inch slice of sharp cheddar cheese.

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Cheerios and Soy Nuts

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It's perhaps not the most obvious pairing, but put a quarter-cup of roasted, salted soy nuts and a half-cup of Multigrain Cheerios together, shake them up, and you'll be hooked. The sweet and salty combo (not to mention the fiber and protein) makes for a scrumptious snack.

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Turkey Rolls

Sliced turkey breast doesn't need a bun! Roll up five slices of turkey with two roasted red peppers and two teaspoons of spicy mustard. It's basically a mini meal, and it comes in at only 150 calories.

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Pear Slices With Almond Butter

Pair your pear with a tablespoon of almond butter for the perfect carb and protein combination. A 2018 Nutrients study found almonds improve fasting and post-meal blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes.

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Hardboiled Egg

When hunger strikes, a hardboiled egg is a great grab-and-go snack. It's high in protein, which will curb your appetite and keep you from reaching for something less-than-healthy. Plus it packs nutrients like vitamins D and B12, but only contains 78 calories. Simply prep a bunch of hard-boiled eggs at once, and store them in the fridge for a quick hunger fix.

Snack suggestions provided by Batayneh, as well as Georgie Fear, RD, author of Lean Habits For Lifelong Weight Loss: Mastering 4 Core Eating Behaviors to Stay Slim Forever; Gayl Canfield, RD, owner of EatWell4Life ; and Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD, Health's contributing nutrition editor.

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