The 5 Snacks That Are Almost Calorie Free
When it comes to dieting, one of the most difficult things to cope with is understanding that you can’t snack on unhealthy things like you used to. The idea of giving up cookies and cakes may be too much to bear, but there are plenty of other healthy snacks that you can rely on to satisfy your cravings. The best part? They’re available for little to no calories, helping to jumpstart your weight loss project and help you to achieve the ideal physique with minimal effort.
In today’s day and age there’s absolutely no reason as to why you should feel hungry when on a diet, as all you have to do is make sure that you are snacking on low calorie foods throughout the day. Below are 5 of the best snacks that you can find in your grocery store that are almost calorie free and if they do have calories, they’re all healthy ones!
1. Cucumbers and Sliced Vegetables
As one of the most typical snacks that you can surely rely on when it comes to finding a low calorie healthy snack, cucumbers and other vegetables are a reliable choice. If you find yourself in a position to where you’re tired of drinking water in an effort to curb your cravings, opt for some chopped veggies instead.
According to Monica Reinagel, a licensed nutritionist, choosing foods that have a higher water content help to take up more space in your stomach, helping you to feel fuller. This can be an incredible lifesaver when it comes to fending off your hunger until your next meal.
It’s also important to note that vegetables are packed with essential vitamins and minerals ranging from silica to vitamin K, helping to make your body healthier and happier with each bite.
If you’ve already tried the sliced vegetable route to no avail, why not try switching it up and pairing all of the ingredients together in a salad or adding a homemade dip to make the snack more enjoyable and tasty?
2. Citrus Fruits
Imagine having the ability to enjoy a fulfilling snack that is equally as healthy as it is sweet and tangy. Little do most people know that citrus fruits not only come with an ample amount of vitamin C, but they can also help you to burn 25% more fat when you start to exercise. Oranges, mandarins, lemons, and limes are just a few examples of great citrus fruits that you can rely on for antioxidants, which are important components that help to fight off free radicals. The less free radicals you have in your system, the less likely you are to experience detrimental ailments ranging from heart disease to cancer.
3. Celery
If you’re not afraid of vegetables with a striking taste, celery could easily become your best friend when you start to rummage through the refrigerator looking for something to satiate your temporary hunger. One of the most notable benefits of using celery as a low calorie snack is that each stalk typically contains 6 calories at most but there are plenty of myths surrounding celery, such as that it doesn’t have a lot of nutrients. Fortunately, these myths are incredibly wrong as celery does pack a powerful punch when it comes to potassium, vitamin K, vitamin A, folate, and fiber.
You might even want to consider eating celery if you’re dealing with high blood pressure as a single stock is packed with compounds known as phthalides. Phthalides are renowned for relaxing the tissues around your arteries, helping to improve the overall amount of blood flow through your entire system.
One difficulty you might experience with celery is its taste, but that certainly doesn’t mean that it’s a vegetable you need to avoid buying, as there are plenty of ways that you can amp up its appeal. For example, pairing a stalk of celery with organic peanut butter or almond butter will cut some of its taste, or, you could pair it with other vegetables in a soup.
4. Kelp
You might be wondering, what exactly is a sea vegetable going to give me that I can’t get from regular fruits and vegetables at the grocery store? The answer is, a lot. Kelp, although found in the ocean, could easily become an essential part of your everyday diet, especially if you’re interested in salty and savory flavors to mix with your salads, stir fry, and even as a substitute for traditional pasta noodles.
Aside from the fact that kelp has highly concentrated levels of vitamin K and fiber, it also helps to prevent your body from absorbing fat. Every 4 ounces will net approximately 6 calories, making it the perfect snack throughout the day. As the popularity of this ingredient becomes known throughout the world, there are a variety of kelp-based snacks that you can make on your own time.
5. Watermelon
What would a healthy snack list be without the mention of watermelon? Especially during the summertime, there’s nothing more appealing than biting into a juicy piece of watermelon and enjoying the sunshine. Although it might feel like you’re cheating, watermelon is filled with an amino acid known as citrulline, which converts into arginine once ingested.
The most interesting part is that arginine may assist with weight loss, based on a study in the Journal of Nutrition. In the study, mice that were given supplements containing arginine were able to get rid of more fat and encouraged the production of lean muscle far faster than the mice that didn’t ingest the supplements.
Is Healthy Snacking Possible?
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering if healthy snacking is actually possible, the answer is absolutely! All you have to do is get a little creative with the things you choose throughout the day, but the bottom line is that as long as you opt for fresh produce you won’t have to worry about excessive unhealthy calories. There’s no reason as to why you should go hungry throughout the day as a result of not having low calorie snacks at your disposal, there are plenty of options available.
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