Top 20 Healthy Snacks: Shape Magazine.com

By Sharon Liao

These healthy snacks satisfy any craving, while still letting you lose weight.

It's 3 p.m. and the vending machine is calling. Don't listen. Instead, get satisfied—without blowing your diet—with one of these satisfying picks we selected with the help of Sally Sampson, the author of the 100-Calorie Snack Cookbook.

HEALTHY SNACKS TO TRY IF YOU'RE CRAVING SWEET
1 HOSTESS 100 CALORIE PACK CUPCAKES Lemon (100 calories, 2.5 g fat)

3/4 CUP MANGO tossed with lime juice and red pepper flakes (86 calories, 0.5 g fat)

1 SHEET (4 SMALL) GRAHAM CRACKERS spread with 1 teaspoon each part-skim ricotta and jam(86 calories, 2 g fat)

1/2 CUP STRAWBERRIES dipped in chocolate (microwave 1 tablespoon chocolate chips in 10-second increments until melted) (93 calories, 4 g fat)

1/2 LARGE PINK GRAPEFRUIT sprinkled with 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar and broiled for about 5 minutes(69 calories, 0 g fat)

HEALTHY SNACKS TO TRY IF YOU'RE CRAVING SALTY
1/2 CUP EDAMAME sprinkled with a pinch of sea salt (95 calories, 4 g fat)

1 LARGE HARD-BOILED EGG, sliced and sprinkled with salt and cumin, celery seed, or nutmeg(80 calories, 6 g fat)

3 OUNCES DELI TURKEY spread with 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard and rolled in 2 romaine lettuce leaves(90 calories, 1 g fat)

1 MEDJOOL DATE, sliced and stuffed with 1 teaspoon blue cheese and 1 pecan half (86 calories, 2 g fat)

1 CUP CAMPBELL'S SELECT HARVEST LIGHT SOUP Roasted Chicken with Italian Herbs (80 calories, 2.5 g fat)


HEALTHY SNACKS TO TRY IF YOU'RE CRAVING CRUNCHY
TORTILLA CHIPS (cut 1 corn tortilla into triangles and drizzle with 1/2 teaspoon olive oil; bake at 325 for 10 minutes) with 2 tablespoons salsa for dipping(80 calories, 3 g fat)

16 POPCHIPS Parmesan Garlic Potato(96 calories, 3 g fat)

BAKED APPLE CHIPS (thinly slice 1 small apple and toss with 1 teaspoon each cinnamon and sugar; bake at 250 for 1 hour or until crispy) (99 calories, 0 g fat)

1 CUP JICAMA STICKS with 2 tablespoons hummus for dipping(96 calories, 3 g fat)

1 RYE CRISPBREAD topped with 1 tablespoon cream cheese and 1 tomato slice(91 calories, 5 g fat)

HEALTHY SNACKS TO TRY IF YOU'RE CRAVING CREAMY
SMOOTHIE (blend 3/4 cup nonfat milk, 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder, 1/4 banana, and 3 ice cubes) (72 calories, 1 g fat)

1/4 CUP CANNED PUMPKIN mixed with 1/2 cup nonfat Greek yogurt, 1 teaspoon maple syrup, and 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice(100 calories, 0.5 g fat)

1 JELL-O MOUSSE TEMPTATIONS CUP Dark Chocolate Decadence(60 calories, 3 g fat)

1/2 SMALL WHOLE-WHEAT PITA spread with 2 tablespoons guacamole(77 calories, 4 g fat)

1/2 MEDIUM BAKED POTATO (pierce and microwave for 4 minutes) topped with 1 tablespoon each fat-free sour cream and salsa(81 calories, 0.5 g fat)

Answer to that burning question

Quite a few of you have asked if our weights will be published online... NO they will not be! :)

4 Foods You Need In Your Kitchen

4 Foods You Need In Your Kitchen

Couldn't swing by the grocery store?

No problem! These healthy pantry staples work overtime.

• Peanut Butter "Use this sandwich spread to make a protein-packed pasta sauce," says Leslie Bonci, R.D., the director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Mix together 1/3 cup peanut butter with 3 tablespoons each vinegar and soy sauce; toss with whole-wheat pasa, sugar snap peas, and chicken.
• Canned diced tomatoes with Italian seasoning This versatile veggie can serve as a marinade for chicken, pork, and fish. The tomatoes' acidity will tenderize the protien, while the herbs add flavor. Plus you'll score at least one extra serving of veggies.
• Brown rice Recycle last night's leftovers for a delicious high-fiber breakfast. "Mix 1/2 cup brown rice with a splash of soy or almond milk and a little cinnamon and brown sugar, then heat in a saucepan for a few minutes," says Bonci. Top with sliced bananas and berries.
• Plain yogurt High in calcium and immunity-boosting probiotics, yogurt is always a good-for-you snack. But when mixed with dill, it doubles as a tangy topper for fish, chicken, and baked potatoes!

Excerpt from Shape Magazine: May 2010 issue

A Couple of Changes

Just wanted to let you all know that in thinking it over... to make things fair, we will be changing the most weight lost from poounds to percentage.... Biggest Looser style! It has also been said that perhaps we should allow one missed weigh-in per month and if you miss any more than that, you have to pay a fine of $1.... any thoughts on this???

Are you ready for a challenge?

Turn on your television, open the newspaper, or log onto the web, and you are likely to see a story of someone who is either struggling with their weight or just succeeded in revamping their lifestyle to control their weight. So, are you ready for a challenge? I know I am!
Here is the way it will work:
*The challenge will begin on June 4, 2010 @ 6:30 pm
*The challenge will end on November 4, 2010 @ 6:30 pm
*The cost will be $20.00 initial fee, $1.00 at each weigh-in if you gain
any weight
*You will weigh-in each Thursday between the hours of 6:30 pm and 8:00 pm
*The person who loses the most weight (pounds) will win a gift card valued
at 20 times the number of participants (eg: 20 x 10 = 200)
*Communicate with other members of the challenge through our personal blog:
http://thinningandgrinning.blogspot.com/

Does this sound like something you are interested in? If so give me a call and I will let you know the location of the first weigh-in! So here’s to “Thinning & Grinning”!
Contact: Danielle @ danicaligirl74@gmail.com