When it comes to weight loss, there is a lot of debate about whether or not you should be having snacks. I don’t know about you, but personally I find any eating plan much easier to follow when I’m not hungry – so snacks do tend to be pretty important.
The options that you have for snacks are pretty much endless. However, that list gets a whole lot shorter when you are trying to find snacks that actually help you lose weight. Some key things to look out for a high protein, low sugar, low calorie or high in fiber, and ideally food that isn’t heavily processed.
This list doesn’t cover all choices for healthy snacks (that would be impossible), but it does cover a lot of them. These snacks are perfect to tide you over to the next meal or just to help you fight off a sweet tooth.
What’s more, many of them actually taste fantastic as well.
Watermelon Pizza
Who says that pizza has to be unhealthy?
Popcorn
Low in calories and tasty – as long as make it yourself and watch the toppings.
Greek Yogurt with Walnuts
Great source of protein; look for the low sugar and unflavored varieties of Greek yogurt.
Real Licorice (Twizzlers do not count!)
Not only is licorice low in calories, but it can also help reduce appetite – plus, it's hard to eat too much in a sitting.
Edamame
Fresh or dried, edamame is high in fiber and protein, and a great snack all around.
String Cheese
Cheesy goodness that is relatively high in protein and fat, while only being around 80 calories.
An Apple and a Spoonful of Peanut Butter
Protein, fiber and a great combination of tastes – what's not to love?
Carrots or Celery with Hummus
Extremely healthy, and the hummus can make the entire snack feel like a treat.
Popcorn with Candy Melts
Perfect if normal popcorn is a bit boring – and you can even use flavors like the pumpkin spice candy melts to make it taste like fall.
Banana
Bananas are the ultimate portable snack, and a surprisingly filling one at that.
Smoothie Bowl
Smoothie bowls tend to be more filling than smoothies and good options for snacking.
Sliced Tomato with a little Feta
The combination of tastes makes this small dish a good snack, especially with the protein from the feta.
Instant Oatmeal
Oatmeal doesn't have to be a breakfast food – it's also a great snack, as long as you avoid the high sugar varieties.
Turkey Jerky
Low in calories and fat, plus the chewing helps to keep your appetite down, which is always good for weight loss.
Mini Salad
Salads are normally reserved for meals, but they don't' need to be; instead small salads make great snacks any time of the day.
Strawberries with a little Fat Free Cool Whip
Despite being low in calories, this is an amazingly decadent snack.
Lettuce, Chicken and Hummus Wraps
Fast and easy – plus, you avoid all the calories from bread.
Raspberries and Low Fat (or Greek) Yogurt
Berries are a great way to add flavor to plain yogurt, along with fiber and natural compounds.
Frozen Yogurt
Frozen yogurt has the advantage of being much healthier than ice cream, with the same creaminess and appeal.
Dark Chocolate
Although it has the same calories as milk chocolate, you tend to eat less of dark chocolate and it is great for satisfying sweet cravings.
Banana, Apple and Quinoa Breakfast Cups
These are a great healthy alternative to muffins and easy to use as a breakfast or a snack.
Pretzels
Low in calories and a great salty treat – as long as you watch your serving size.
Cucumber and Red Onion Mini Salad
This is a very low calorie mini salad that makes a great snack – just bring some breath mints.
Almonds
The high protein of almonds makes them a filling snack that helps starve off cravings.
Dried Plums
Five or so of these makes a sweet snack that is low in calories and offers a decent amount of fiber.
Hard Boiled Egg
Despite their reputation, eggs are actually good for weight loss, particularly because of their protein levels.
Banana SLices with Peanut Butter and Dark Chocolate
These might be a little messy to eat, but they are a good choice for a sweet snack.
Toasted Bagel with Low Fat Cream Cheese
Don't go overboard with this one, but every so often a bagel with cream cheese can be a great (and filling) snack.
Dill Pickle
Pickles have very few calories, making them a perfect snack for any time of the day.
Celery Stick with Peanut Butter
Here's another example of fiber and protein in one delicious and easy-to-eat snack.
Frozen Seedless Grapes
Frozen grapes are pretty cool – because you get the taste of grapes with a sorbet-like interior. Yum!
Cottage Cheese with Fruit
Cottage cheese can be great as a meal or as a snack, and the fruit helps to make it a bit more interesting.
Quinoa and Fruit Porridge
Porridge doesn't just have to be for breakfast, and quinoa is a great addition to make it a bit more interesting.
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
These are a great snack that you can easily take with you, plus they are packed with nutrients.
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