It’s all too easy to gain weight during the summer by overindulging in snacks that pack lots of calories and fat. The good news is, you can get the taste sensations you want — salty, spicy, crunchy, sweet, smooth, cold — by enjoying lighter versions that are just as delicious yet surprisingly kind to the waistline. Here some great-tasting alternatives to five popular summertime snacks.
Enjoy This: Pop ChipsNot This: Stacy’s Pita Chips
When it comes to chips, we all crave that salty crunch. But what we don’t want is all the calories and fat that often comes with it. Go with All Natural Original Pop Chips instead of Stacy’s Simply Naked Pita Chips. You’re able to eat 10 more chips per serving while also cutting calories, fat and carbohydrates. Eat them plain, or enjoy them with a Laughing Cow cheese wedge.
Pop Chips: Serving Size: 23 chips, 120 calories, 4 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 18 grams of carbs, 1 gram of fiber, 2 grams of protein, 190 milligrams of sodium
Stacy’s Pita Chips: Serving size: 14 chips, 130 calories, 5 grams of fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fat, 19 grams of carbs, 2 grams of fiber, 3 grams of protein, 140 milligrams of sodium
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Enjoy This: Skinny Cow Fudge BarNot This: Häagen-Dazs Coffee Low Fat Frozen Yogurt
Summer and ice cream go hand in hand, but it’s hard to ignore the fat and calories. Low fat frozen yogurt may sound like a better choice, but a serving of Häagen-Dazs Frozen Yogurt can still be high in calories. We like the Skinny Cow fudge pop. For only 100 calories, it satisfies your sweet tooth while also cutting back on fat and giving you some fiber and protein, too.
Skinny Cow: Serving Size: 1 bar, 100 calories, 1 gram of fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fat, 22 grams of carbs, 4 grams of fiber, 4 grams of protein, 45 milligrams of sodium
Häagen-Dazs: Serving Size: 1/2 cup, 200 calories, 4.5 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 31 grams of carbs, 0 grams of fiber, 8 grams of protein, 50 milligrams of sodium
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Enjoy This: Tostitos SalsaNot This: Sabra Hummus
The perfect dip tastes good and is good for us. Salsa and hummus are healthier than cheese-based dips and each offers a completely different taste and nutrition profile. Salsa is still the better choice, however, saving 60 calories and 6 grams of fat per serving compared to hummus. Use salsa as your dip with your crudité and you are essentially eating only vegetables, which translates to 0 grams of fat per serving! Choosing hot over mild salsa may benefit you as well. Studies show that spicy foods not only rev up your metabolism but may increase satiety.
Tostitos Salsa: Serving Size: 2 tablespoons, 10 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 3 grams of carbs. 0.5 grams of fiber, 0.5 grams of protein, 210 milligrams of sodium
Sabra Hummus: Serving Size: 2 tablespoons, 70 calories, 6 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 4 grams of carbs, 1 gram of fiber, 2 grams of protein, 120 milligrams of sodium
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Enjoy This: Jack Link’s Turkey JerkyNot This: Hormel Original Pepperoni Slices
We all occasionally crave salty meats as a snack. However, we can get our salty fix without the added calories from fatty meats such as pepperoni. Instead, try turkey jerky, which will save you 80 calories and 13 grams of fat per serving over sliced pepperoni, while offering three times the amount of protein.
Jack Link’s Turkey Jerky: Serving Size: 1 ounce, 80 calories, 0.5 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 3 grams of carbs, 0 grams of fiber, 15 grams of protein, 700 milligrams of sodium
Hormel Original Pepperoni Slices: Serving Size: 1 ounce, 140 calories, 13 grams of fat, 6 gram of saturated fat, 0 grams of carbs, 0 grams of fiber, 5 gram of protein, 490 milligrams of sodium
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Enjoy This: F-Factor Banana Walnut BarNot This: Clif Bar Banana Nut Bread
Snacking on the go does not have to sabotage your diet. Choose a high fiber bar such as the F-Factor Banana Walnut Bar over the Banana Nut Bread Clif Bar. You'll save 80 calories and get three times as much fiber. You'll also stay more satisfied for a longer time due to the high fiber content, while ingesting less calories, fat and carbs. Talk about a win-win!
F-Factor Banana Walnut Bar: Serving Size: 1 bar, 160 calories, 5 grams of fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fat, 26 grams of carbs, 12 grams of fiber, 3 grams of protein, 25 milligrams of sodium
Clif Bar Banana Nut Bread: Serving Size: 1 bar, 240 calories, 6 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 42 grams of carbs, 4 grams of fiber, 9 grams of protein, 180 milligrams of sodium
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