Skinny Snacks to Eat on Your Sofa
By Lisa Lillien, REDBOOK
If you're craving...Creamy
Go for low-fat yogurt with fruit and a sprinkle of crunchy cereal.
If you're craving...Salty
Avoid the calorie catastrophe that is a full bag of chips. Portion-controlled single-serving options are the way to go--like 100-calorie bags of Popchips. Need something that'll last a little longer? Try 94% fat-free microwave popcorn, like Orville Redenbacher's SmartPop. You can have a big bowl--5 cups--for around 100 calories and 2 grams of fat. Now, what's on TV?
If you're craving...Sweet
This candy apple treat is amazingly satisfying: Cut up 1 apple (preferably a Fuji--it's the perfect blend of sweet and tart) and put the slices in a bowl. Drizzle with 1 Tbsp fat-free or light caramel dip, and sprinkle with 1½ tsp crushed dry-roasted peanuts, 1 tsp mini semisweet chocolate chips, and 1 tsp shredded sweetened coconut. This combo has 210 calories, which is perfectly reasonable for dessert.
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If you're craving...Chewy
Most snack bars have one thing in common: lots of sugar and calories. But you can find some smart choices. A few of my faves are Quaker Chewy 90 Calorie Peanut Butter Granola Bar, Fiber One 90 Calorie Chocolate Bar, and Honey Nut Special K Cereal Bar. And jerky is a great pick if you want savory. It's packed with filling protein and is surprisingly low in fat.
If you're craving...Crunchy
Sugar snap peas, baby carrots, red pepper strips, and celery are a great way to keep your chompers busy, especially when paired with low-cal hummus. Nasoya Super Hummus is fantastic: It has half the fat and twice as much protein as many brands. Or add a packet of ranch-dressing mix to fat-free Greek yogurt. And if you've never tried jicama, you're missing out! Just peel and cut into sticks--try it with salsa.
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