Low-Calorie Snack Ideas

 A common health misconception is having to eat boring food in order to stay below your daily calorie limit. Healthy food can also come in mouth-watering flavors, whether salty, sweet, zesty, spicy, bitter or nutty - all you need is to think out of the box for exciting combinations of common ingredients easily found in your kitchen.

Don't ignore your persistent appetite between meals any longer - the following tasty and simple-to-make healthy snacks are just what you need to treat your cravings without ever tipping the 100 calorie line.

Sweet Snacks

1. Chocolate Banana

Melt 2 teaspoons of dark chocolate chips and dip 1/2 frozen, chopped banana in it for some sensational bitter-sweet bites.

2.  Honeyed Yogurt

Fill half a cup with non-fat Greek yogurt, sprinkle a dash of cinnamon and add 1 teaspoon of honey - an unusual yogurt treat with a twist.

3. Stuffed Figs

Grab 3 small dried figs and stuff them with 1 tablespoon of part-skim ricotta each. Sprinkle with cinnamon for the ultimate appetizing combination.

4. Maple-Pumpkin Yogurt

Combine 1/2 cup non-fat plain yogurt (try Greek for extra protein) with 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree and 1 tablespoon of maple syrup - truly succulent. 

5. Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

Find 7 strawberries and dip each of them in 1 tablespoon of dark chocolate to make yourself one juicy treat.

6. Tropical Juice Smoothie

For a thirst-quenching summer snack, mix together natural pineapple juice, orange juice, apple juice, and ice. 

7. Vanilla and Banana Smoothie

Create an outstanding yogurt drink by combining 1/3 cup sliced banana, 1/4 cup vanilla Greek yogurt, and 1 handful ice, and blending the mixture until smooth.

8. Baked Apple

Remove the core from 1 small apple and fill it with 1 teaspoon of brown sugar and a dash of cinnamon. Leave it to bake in the oven until tender and you can enjoy a warm, juicy treat that easily beats your everyday regular apple snack.

9. Fruity Waffles

Spoil yourself with a satisfying snack by toasting 1 Kashi 7-Grain Waffle and top it with 1/4 cup mixed berries. Simple, yet irresistible.

10. Cinnamon Graham Crackers and Peanut Butter

Spread 1 teaspoon peanut butter onto 2 graham cracker squares, and sprinkle them with cinnamon to spice up your delicious mouthfuls of delight. 

11. Warm Spiced Cider

For a gorgeous drink treat, warm up 6 ounces of apple cider and add some cinnamon and nutmeg. It makes the perfect alternative for your usual winter beverages.

12. Maple-Cashew Pear

Add some extra flavor to your usual pear fruit snack by slicing it in pieces and using maple syrup and cashew butter to dip them in. Fruit snacks never tasted so fulfilling before.

13. M.Y.O Popsicle

Prepare yourself a lemon popsicle by pouring 6 ounces of bottled lemonade in an ice pop mold or a small paper cup and leaving it in the freezer to freeze over - and have yourself a healthy, home-made popsicle to beat both your cravings and the summer heat. 

Savory Snacks

14. Cucumber Salad

Make a quick and easy salad by tossing 1 sliced large cucumber with 2 tablespoons of chopped red onion and 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Enjoy a fresh and crunchy home-made snack made in just a few minutes.

15. Spicy Scramble Egg

Prepare 2 scrambled egg whites on 1/2 slice of whole-wheat toast and drizzle 1 teaspoon sriracha on top, for an exceptional result.

16. Curried Sweet Potato

Microwave 1 small sweet potato for 6 minutes and mash it with 1 teaspoon curry and salt and pepper for some extra taste, and satisfy your tummy with a truly scrumptious, healthy and easy snack ready in minutes. 

17. Guacamole-Stuffed Egg Whites

Instead of having your hard-boiled egg the normal way, slice it in half before you eat it and replace the yolk with 2 tablespoons of guacamole. Apart from being a healthier option, they're heaven in a bite.

18. Greek Tomatoes

For one fresh, luscious salad snack, use 2 medium chopped tomatoes and 2 tablespoons feta cheese. Mix them together and add 1 squeeze of fresh lemon juice - the perfect combination for a warm summer afternoon.

19. Turkey Roll-ups

All you need is just 2 slices of smoked turkey and 2 tablespoons honey mustard. Roll the turkey and dip it in the honey mustard to make the most of your meaty snack in the simplest yet yummiest of ways.

20. Cheesy Roasted Asparagus 

Rather than having your asparagus plain, sprinkle 2 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese over 6 spears of asparagus, spritzed with olive-oil spray, and bake everything at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Expect lip-smacking results. 

21. Carrots and Hummus

What better way to spice up your carrots than dipping it in some tasty hummus? All you need is 12 medium baby carrots and 2 tablespoons hummus for the right amount that will keep your appetite at bay for some time. 

22. Spinach and Feta Egg White Scramble

Mix 3 scrambled egg whites with 1/2 cup of raw spinach and 1 tablespoon of feta cheese together. Cook them over the stove or in the microwave until the egg whites are no longer runny. Indulge in a mouth-watering light snack.

23. Grilled Garlic Corn on the Cob

The much-loved corn on the cob is easy to make: Simply grab 1 small corn cob and brush it with 1 teaspoon sautéed minced garlic and 1 teaspoon olive oil to enhance its taste. Grill the cob until tender and devour the juiciness of your warm snack. 

24. Spicy Black Beans

Make a snack out of black beans by adding some interesting flavors to it. Combine 1 tablespoon of salsa with 1 tablespoon of non-fat Greek yogurt and a 1/3 cup of black beans for a tasty blend. 

25. Caprese Salad

Create an appetizing salad from 3 simple ingredients: Use 1 ounce (about 1 hockey puck) of fresh mozzarella with a 1/3 cup of cherry tomatoes and 2 teaspoons of balsamic vinegar for an extra delightful tinge. 

Sweet and Salty Snacks

26. Carrot Raisin Salad

Fuse the taste of carrots with the sweet taste of raisins by creating a unique-tasting salad. Fill 1 cup of shaved carrots and mix it with 1 1/2 tablespoons raisins. Add some balsamic vinegar to give it a tangy finish.

27. Apples and Peanut Butter

Add one simple ingredient to your apple to make your snack all the more exciting. Slice 1/2 an apple into pieces and dip them in 1/2 a tablespoon of natural peanut butter for an added nutty taste. 

28. Tropical Cottage Cheese

Relish a unique combination of cheese and fruit with this simple recipe: Grab 1/2 a cup of non-fat cottage cheese and 1/4 a cup of chopped mango and mix together for an unusual tropical salad with an irresistible cheesy touch. 

29. Blue Cheese-Stuffed Apricots

If you're a lover of blue cheese, try this toothsome mix. Find 3 dried apricots and stuff them with 1 tablespoon of crumbled blue cheese for some heavenly bites. 

30. Sweet 'n' Spicy Pecans

Take pleasure in one light and healthy snack by getting 5 pecans and roast them with 2 teaspoons of maple syrup and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. 

31. Strawberry Salad

Combine fruit and vegetables in a delightful way. Get 2 cups of raw spinach and combine it with 1 cup of sliced strawberries. Add 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar for a final touch of flavor.

Source: greatist.com