Low Calorie Snacks

One good morning, you finally decide it is time to lose some extra weight and get back in shape, but you don't know where to begin or exactly what you should eat.

These days, various types of weight loss diets are available and you may opt for one, only to quickly discover that it isn't for you! I would suggest that before opting for a weight loss diet, you may start with light snacks first and then turn to low calorie diet. Reducing the calories per day and adding some exercise is the easiest way to lose weight.

Obesity has become an universal problem now. Dietitians try their best to convince people of the health benefits of light snacks and meals and also ask people to stay away from processed food. Life today is so fast that mothers don't have time for cooking.

Even though they prefer to have light food or homemade food, it is difficult for them to arrange everything, as they can not spare sufficient time for these things. Parents are always worried about their kid's diet.

These days, light snacks on the go are preferred by all. From the Internet, you can get innumerable ideas about how to reduce calories in various dishes. Low calorie versions of various food products are available in market.

You can enjoy low calorie drinks as evening snacks. Milk shakes with l% Milk can act as morning or evening snacks. Dishes prepared with low calorie cottage cheese, lean meat, fish like cod, halibut and bass can be low in calories. Calories in snacks mostly depend upon the ingredients chosen and the method of preparation.

List of snacks that contain comparatively lesser calories includes

• Fat free hotdogs
• Fat free chicken patties
• Rice cakes
• Low calorie chips and crackers
• Light yogurts
• Tofu

• Boiled beans
• Boiled macaroni
• Boiled potatoes
• Brussels sprouts
• Oats porridge
• Lemon juice
• Brown rice
• Whole grain foods
• Egg white
• Pulses

• Low calorie breakfast bars, granola bars
• Popcorn made from natural kernels that need to be popped in a hot-air popper.
• Vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, potatoes, carrots, cucumber, beetroot, onions, garlic, radishes, spinach, turnips, tomatoes, etc.

• Fruits like apple, cranberries, strawberries, raspberries, oranges, mango, muskmelon, peaches, pineapple, papaya, grapefruit, guava, pomegranates, watermelon, etc.

Using the above listed ingredients, you can prepare yummy snacks for kids as well as elderly. Avoiding, butter, sugar and dips helps reduce calories from your diet. You can have light breads, sugar free jello, fat free versions of ketchup and spreads with mustard etc.

You can enjoy mixed fruit and mixed vegetable salads, porridge, soups, desserts with low fat yogurts.

After your workout, a protein shake made from whey protein, water, and half a banana would be a great choice, since your body can quickly turn it into energy.

Peanut butter with half banana on a brown rice cake, ¼ cup hummus with 1 whole wheat pita, low-fat yogurt with ½ cup berries, tuna on one slice of whole wheat bread, turkey with cottage cheese and apple slices, etc. can prove good light snacks for work.

Remember, it is not healthy to consume low calorie foods for months. If you continue eating only low calorie foods, eventually you may have to face health problems. You can reduce your weight by trying some other ways, like drinking lots of water or liquids to suppress the craving for food, reducing fat intake, etc.

Do you know that a diet that is very low in calories, can cause vitamin deficiency? There is no need to put your body at risk. Vitamin deficiency can lead to weakness, fatigue and illness.

Keep it in mind that you should include all types of food in your diet to avail benefits of all vitamins and minerals. And the most important thing is that if you want to lose weight, then you should burn more number of calories than the number of calories consumed, for which you need to exercise regularly.

For achieving your goals, you should plan well in advance. You should eat wisely, when on low calorie diets.