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Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Yummy, Healthier, Low Calorie Snack List

low calorie cheese puffsGrilled Cheese Puffs: On top of being healthy, these organic cheese puffs are a perfect blend of cheese flavor and crunch, making them a really fun and satisfying treat/snack to eat. One portion is only 120 calories, 5 grams of fat, and 1 gram of fiber, and 3 weight watchers points (I know, I wish it was 2, but just not enough fiber). And, they are gluten free!


low calorie trail mixLow Calorie Trail Mix: I came across a vegan product called Cocoa Nibs by a company called TerrAmazon at one of my local health food stores (called Country Sun). This trail mix is made primarily with small cocoa nibs, and the flavor I bought has added raisins and coconut that round out the crunch and taste. The cocoa nib mix is definitely a low calorie, healthy, well rounded snack (and trail mix substitute) at only 112 calories per serving, 3 grams of fat, 3 grams of natural fiber, 3 grams of protein, and 2 weight watchers (WW) points.


low calorie hummus and pitaHummus and Pita: I eat hummus and pita for lunch all the time on the weekend. My favorite thing to do is to toast the pita so that it gets crunchy. Then I open it up and spread the hummus inside of the pocket. It keeps lunch from being messy, and it warms the hummus which I think is so wonderful! Sometimes I sneak some low fat cheese in there too, to make it more like a sandwich.



low calorie crepesLow Calorie Crepes: I recently found these wonderful crepes in the frozen food section at Whole Foods. Unfortunately, they are a bit expensive, but they are a totally delicious, low calorie food (also low in weight watchers points at only 2 WW points per giant crepe). If you heat them up a bit, you can unfold them and spread them across an entire plate. Then you can put on them whatever you please. I personally like putting my favorite low calorie ice cream on them (half a serving usually).


low calorie buffalo chickenBuffalo "Chicken": So, I know you loyal meat eaters out there will be skeptical of this food recommendation, but I highly encourage you to get past the vegan label, and give these chicken-free buffalo wings a try! When I am craving really bad food (but I don't want to eat fat and oil), I sometimes pair these to-die-for wings with french fries (which I bake, you can read about it here). Three of these wings comes in at 2 points, so you can eat two servings of them for 4 points, along with the side of your choice!


low calorie ice creamLow Calorie Ice Cream: So, in the spirit of weight watchers, I am always on the lookout for low calorie frozen yogurts and ice creams. I like to stay away from artificial sweeteners and other ingredients I can't understand, so I was quite pleased when I found this Whole Soy and Co brand soy frozen yogurt. I know it is called "soy frozen yogurt" but to me, that just means ice cream! I find this stuff to be as yummy as any ice cream I've ever eaten, so to me eating soy frozen yogurt suffices for my ice cream cravings.


low calorie nutsLow Calorie Pistachio Nuts: These yummy little pistachios make for an awesome afternoon snack. They are healthy, filling, fun to eat, and tasty! They come in four different flavors: "Roasted and Salted," "European Roast," "Salt and Pepper" (my personal favorite), and "Roasted No Salt." None of the flavors have any added oils or artificial ingredients. A one serving bag at Jamba Juice is 3 weight watchers points.


Low Calorie Egg NogLow Calorie Egg Nog: I love drinking egg nog around the holidays. However, not being a huge milk fan, I've bought Soy Nog in the past (which I affectionately refer to as "Sog"). Soy Nog is delicious, but it is pretty high in calories, at 90 calories per half cup serving (their label is a bit misleading by having such a small serving size). So, this year, I decided to try to make my own low calorie egg nog (with no artificial sweeteners of course)! And, I am pleased to report that it actually turned out pretty good!


Low Calorie Almondina CookiesAlmondina Biscotti-Like Cookies: I recently found these delicious little all natural cookies at Whole Foods called Almondina. My flavor of choice is called "The Original," which is made with almonds and raisins, and has no dairy, added fat, salt or cholesterol. The cookies also come in other flavors like pistachios with almonds, as well as chocolate with almonds. Each cookie is very very thinly sliced and super crunchy. They actually remind me of a cross between an almond muffin, a biscotti (but thinner, with less calories), and a crunchy "bready" crouton (one of the many foods I love but usually try to avoid).


luna tea cakesLuna Tea Cakes: A little while ago Luna came out with a lower calorie, yummy, mint chocolate flavored "tea" bar I really love called a Luna Tea Cake. This bar is really different than most bars in that it is a bit more like a soft tea flavored cookie with subtle but tasty flavoring, than a dense protein filled bar. I like that the bars contain tea in them, as tea is full of healthy antioxidants. The Mint Chocolate (my personal favorite) and Orange Blossom flavors of the Luna Tea Cake are 130 calories, and only 2 weight watchers points. The other two flavors, berry pomegranate (140 calories) and vanilla macadamia (150 calories) are 3 WW points.


living intentions gone nutsGone Nuts -Low Calorie Chocolate and Nuts: A company by the name of Living Intentions creates this delicious, gently dried raw mix of cocoa, sprouted almonds and raisins called "Gone Nuts" that is really to die for. The vegan and gluten free mix is crunchy and chocolately and even a bit gooey - but in a good way (you can still eat it with your hands without making a mess)! The best part is that the mix is only 103 calories per 28 gram serving, with 4 grams of fat, 2 grams of fiber, and 2 grams of protein (so 2 weight watchers points).


ian's low calorie cheez-it crackersLow Calorie "Cheez-It" Crackers: But alas, the people at Ian's must have realized that there are people like me in the world, because they created little 100 calorie pouches of *organic* and *all natural* cheddar crackers that look and taste just like cheez-its. Technically they are marketed to kids, but I think they are also marketed to those (like me) who have a kid inside of us that wants to eat crackers like these. Plus a picture of cartoon animal on the front of a box never stopped me from eating something. :) A pouch of these crackers is 100 calories, 4.5 grams of fat, 2 grams of fiber, and 2 grams of protein (so 2 weight watchers points).


low calorie won tonsLow Calorie Mini Won Tons: I absolutely love Indian Food, sometimes a little too much. So, I'm always on the lookout for low calorie Indian options at the store. When I saw some low calorie organic Vegetarian Indian Curry flavored won tons (aka mini-pot stickers) at Whole Foods, I just had to try them! Making them was really quick and easy and they came out crispy and delicious. In fact, the flavor and consistency really reminded me of samosas that you can get at Indian restaurants. Even better, these little vegan won-tons are low calorie! Six of them (55 grams) is 80 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 3 grams of protein, and 1 gram of fiber (or 2 weight watchers points).


GoRaw Live Super CookiesGoRaw Live Super Cookies: I'm a big fan of raw food, even though I'm not a vegan or a raw foodie. There are two reasons why I like it: (1) it is healthy since it is not processed at all and is made from foods that occur in nature, and (2) it really fills me up, way more than non-raw foods. I'm not exaggerating about the full thing, I think raw food makes me about twice as full as non-raw food. If I were more disciplined I'd eat it all of the time. A bit ago I discovered some pretty tasty chocolate flavored raw super cookies made by a company called goraw. The full ingredient list is: organic coconut (unsulphered), sprouted organic sesame seeds, organic date, raw organic agave nectar, and raw organic cocoa.


amy's apple pie toaster popsLow Calorie Apple Pie Toaster Pops: Amy delivers great taste and a wonderful breakfast through her organic, vegan, Toaster Pops that taste so good (the outside is like pie crust, the inside is like apple pie filling) it is difficult to believe that each one only has 150 calories! Each Toaster Pop is 3 WW points (a bit of a bigger weekday breakfast for me, without going crazy), and is well balanced with whole wheat ingredients, real organic apples, and only 3.5 g of fat, 6g of sugar, and 4g of protein.



trader joes chocolate wedgesTrader Joes Chocolate Wedges: A few years ago, I discovered these amazing chocolate wedges called "The Chocolate Traveler" at my local Trader Joes (with amazing nutritional info). These one-serving sized chocolate wedges are a gift to those of us who love chocolate, but strive to eat it in moderation. Each wedge is a bit over 30 calories (1 WW point), and is big enough to satisfy your chocolate or sweet craving. I have a deal with myself where I only eat one a day.


fage yogurtFage Yogurt: Do you love thick, creamy, yogurt? If the answer is yes, you have to try Fage! It is one of the thickest, most creamiest, healthy desserts / low calorie snacks that exists (that I have found). Fage yogurt comes in different varieties. My favorite (for dieting) is the 0%, which provides a whopping 5.3 ounces of creamy delight for merely 80 calories (2 WW points if you eat the entire serving). Fage also comes in a 2% variety (make sure you purchase the one with the calories you desire), which you can buy packaged with small sides of fruit, or a point more.


lesser evil flavored popcornLesser Evil Flavored Popcorn: For most people dieting or trying to eat healthy, popcorn is a great snack, but usually not flavored popcorn. In fact, as a kid, I used to love eating candied popcorn, but as an adult trying to eat healthy and watch my weight, I didn't think I would ever be able to eat anything like it again. That was, until I spotted "Lesser Evil" (meaning it does not have "evil" ingredients like high fructose corn syrup, artificial stuff, or hydrogenated oils) popcorn in the chips and popcorn aisle at Whole Foods. Lesser Evil was right on target for me, with only 120 calories & 2 WW points for all 4 flavors (although the peanut butter flavor serving is slightly smaller in volume -- see shopping tip below), per 30 gram serving. Yay!


rubicon bakery cocoaberriesCocoa Berries: Inside the box are very decently sized dark chocolate candies (made from Guittard chocolate) with fresh, ripe, freeze dried blueberries inside of them. You can also buy them filled with fresh freeze dried strawberries instead of blueberries, which I imagine are also really tasty! The Cocoa Berries are not overly crunchy on the inside -- they have a very light crunch and a perfect amount of fruit flavor which makes them interesting (and not chewy), without overpowering the chocolate taste or consistency.


funky monkey freeze dried fruitFunky Monkey Freeze Dried Fruit: We all know that we are supposed to integrate several servings of fruits and vegetables into our diets every day. I personally love fruit (and I guess I also like some vegetables), but unfortunately I have found that it is not always easy to carry fruit with me when I am on the go. Dried fruit is definitely more portable, so I'm always on the lookout for interesting dried fruit options at the store. Funky Monkey distinguishes itself from many dried fruit options in two important ways: (1) the fruit has no added sugar so it is low calorie, and (2) the fruit is combined with other natural flavors (like cinnamon, lime juice, acai) that make it extremely yummy!


low calorie gluten free donutsLow Calorie Gluten Free Donuts: You are probably wondering how big the donuts are. I'd say they are a pretty good size (not too big, not too small -- 45g to be exact). What is interesting about them is how dense they are. One donut is way more filling than 2 of the vans waffles I usually eat. Also, when I eat a donut, I automatically feel like I ate something bad (even if it wasn't), so I find that I tend to be less tempted by other things after I eat one. So, if you are looking for a lower calorie donut or have been looking for a gluten or wheat free donut substitute, these are definitely worth a try. They definitely aren't healthy compared to many other food options, but I think they are a fun and yummy indulgence for every once in a while.


health is wealth pizza muncheesPizza Munchees: If you cook these pizza munchees in your oven (I've yet to try the microwave), what results is a crispy shell that is reminiscent in taste to the outside of mozzarella stick appetizers that you get at Italian restaurants. Amazingly, *six* of these pizza munchees (which are a bit larger than they look on the package) come in at 180 calories, with 5 grams of fat, and 2 grams of fiber (4 weight watchers points) making them a great low calorie lunch option. If you are looking to decrease the calories and eat them as a snack, you can eat five munchees for 150 calories (3 WW points), four for 120 calories (2 WW points), or two munchees for 60 calories (1 WW point).


wasabi peasWasabi Peas: Wasabi Peas are commonly found in bars and at parties, but what you might not know about them is that they actually make a pretty smart, low calorie snack. What I personally love about them is how incredibly spicy and wasabi-y they are (I love Japanese food!). They also have tons of crunch which, as you know, is something I look for. Another great thing about wasabi peas is that they are very difficult to overeat because of their extremely strong wasabi flavor. Not only can you only eat one or two at a time, but they are also *not* the kind of snack where you will accidentally eat the whole bag (the spiciness would make most people sick).


yotta barYotta Bar: Yottabar is a "granola" snack bar that contains 1 serving of both my fruits and my vegetables, which makes me feel happy about eating it. It also doesn't contain anything "bad" like High Fructose Corn Syrup, something I try to avoid. My favorite flavor is cherry, followed quickly by orange. They have other flavors as well.


kashi low calorie cerealKashi Low Calorie Cereal: I love many of the Kashi products, including many of the different Kashi cereals. But, this cereal is very special, because it is only 70 calories per 1 cup serving. Yes, one entire cup! Almost hard to believe! I love this stuff. When I pair this cereal with half a cup of almond milk (20 calories), I end up with a very low calorie meal (90 calories/2 points) that keeps me pretty full and gets me all the way to lunch most of the time.


baked low calorie french friesBaked French Fries: First, start by buying frozen french fries in the freezer section of any supermarket (Safeway makes my favorite kind). Then, instead of putting them in the deep fryer, you bake them in the oven on very high heat. I personally like my french fries really crispy, so I bake them for a long time, sometimes even broiling them at the end to make them crispy. And, even better, you can usually eat a good portion of fries (like 20) for 120 calories, or 2 WW points. Not too shabby!


low calorie almond breeze almond milk40 Calorie Almond Milk: This stuff is amazing!! It is only 40 calories a cup (1 point for WW diet). Sometimes I put it in cereal, or smoothies, and sometimes I just drink it plain with some nutmeg, like eggnog. I highly, highly recommend this to anyone who is dieting. They also have a "sweet" version, around 60 calories or so. I like to stick with this one, though, since it is so low calorie.



baked chipsBaked Chips: Baked chips are a big staple for me. They don't taste low calorie and certainly don't seem like diet food. They come in all sorts of varieties and flavors, and eating them doesn't seem like a compromise. I highly recommend Baked Lays, although there are a lot of potato chips out there that are 130 or less calories per serving, with fiber and protein. A great place to look at chips is at Whole Foods.


banana puffet
Banana Puffet: My favorite is the banana puffet (featured to your left), which is more "desserty", but the company makes other types as well that could substitute as a side for one of your meals (like the "Eat Your Greens Puffet" or "Carrot Risotto Puffet"). The Banana Puffet is only 2 points, with 2 points of fiber.


clif z-barsClif Z Bars: The Clif "Kid" Z Bar is one of my most favorite snack bars. It is very healthy -- it is organic, whole grain, has fiber, and has no artificial ingredients. It is also quite yummy, and filling. It is a great snack. They come in an array of flavors (in order from my favorite to least favorite): Chocolate Chip, Honey Graham, Peanut Butter, Brownie, Blueberry, and Apple Cinnamon. They are super cheap (maybe because they target kids instead of dieters), and they are available for $.49/each at my local Whole Foods.


fiberful barsFiberful Bars: I was thrilled when I came across these super-delicious fiber-enriched fruit bars at Trader Joe's, which, with 60 calories and 6 grams of fiber, cost 0 WW points to eat! These fruit leathers are quite big in size (20g), and they come in a wide variety of tasty flavors such as apricot, mixed berry (my personal favorite), boysenberry, and strawberry. Sometimes I'll eat one of these fruity treats before I go out to a restaurant to curb my hunger, which makes me less tempted to order something really bad for my diet when dining out.


steel cut oatmealSteel Cut Oatmeal: Trader Joe's Steelcut Oatmeal is a great alternative to preparing steel cut oats on your own, for those of you that are busy or don't like to cook (if you do, you should totally try making your own steel cut oatmeal straight from the oats). Inside the box are two pre-sized portions of brown sugar and maple syrup flavored oatmeal that you just place into a bowl and microwave to prepare. The portion size is very large and filling, and due to all the fiber, it is only 2 WW points (150 calories)!


low calorie cookiesIan's Low Calorie Cookie Butons: I recently came across Ian's Cookie Buttons at my local Whole Foods. They are similar to 100 calorie packs, in that they come in little one-serving packages that are actually made for kids. These cookies buttons are a much better alternative to many of the other 100 calorie cookie packs on the market since they are made from non-bleached flour (wheat flour in the case of the Chocolate Chip and Double Chocolate Chip Flavors), and do NOT contain any refined sugars.


low calorie samosasLow Calorie Samosas: The trick to keeping these samosas low calorie is to *not* follow the directions on the box which suggest that you deep fry them. Instead, heat up a pan with a teaspoon of oil (if you do this, make sure you count the points), or a tablespoon or two of water, or just a non-stick cooking spray like Pam, and pan fry them rather than deep frying them. Alternatively, you could put them in the oven and bake them.


low calorie pepperoniLow Calorie Turkey Pepperoni: Since pepperoni derives its flavor from the spices and not the mystery meat it's made of, the turkey version tastes exactly the same as any other pepperoni. As you can see from the picture, however, it has 70% less fat than regular pepperoni. That adds up to 50% fewer calories per serving.



low calorie banana smoothieBanana Smoothie: So today I thought I'd share with you my first recipe. It only has a few ingredients, but that doesn't mean it isn't super yummy. Use the recipe to make a low calorie, healthy, banana smoothie that doesn't require any mixes, anything unnatural, or anything artificial.




low calorie dried fruitDried Fruit: In general, dried fruits are a great choice when it comes to snacking. They are tasty (very sweet if you like sweet things) and they still contain fiber and nutrients. They are much better than reaching for something starchy like a bagel, or some of the other items you might find in an average vending machine. Sensible foods makes wonderful pouches of dried fruit that make a great filling & healthy snack, without costing you tons of calories.


chocolate gojiChocolate Goji: So, having never tried Goji Berries, I was quite intrigued when I found this package of "Chocolate Goji Treats" made by Superfood Snacks when I was shopping at Whole Foods. Inside the bag are "nuggets" that not only contain cocoa powder and Goji Berries, but also contain other raw and natural ingredients like raisins, coconut (which I absolutely love!!!), and sesame seeds. Each Goji treat looks a like coconut covered date (both in shape and in size).


barbara's low calorie cerealBarbara's Low Calorie Cereal: There are two reasons why I love cereal. The first reason is that I think it makes for a super yummy, healthy, and filling breakfast (or even lunch sometimes) when combined with low calorie almond milk and some frozen fruit or frozen bananas (for only 3-4 WW points depending on which cereal variety you pick). Secondly, I love it because it makes a great (and crunchy!) 2 WW point snack -- and there are so many different healthy varieties of cereal on the market that it never gets old!


low calorie salsaYummy, Fresh, Low Calorie Salsa: I love salsa! Not only is it low calorie and good for you, it is also great with baked chips (super yum!), on quesadillas, soft tacos, eggs, etc. There are really countless ways to incorporate salsa into your meals and snacks. In a personal quest to find the perfect salsa, I tried making my own salsa several times, but unfortunately, I never created a salsa that I really loved. Then, I discovered a really yummy homemade-like salsa at a friend's bbq that turned out to be Casa Sanchez' Salsa Roja.


julie's ice cream sandwichesJulie's Ice Cream Sandwiches: Julie's ice cream sandwiches are different, and different in many good ways! Not only are they very low in calorie (100 calories/sandwich or 2 WW points), they are also made with real, ice cream! Yes, I did say real ice cream -- made with all natural ingredients, so for those of you that don't like soy ice cream or low calorie frozen yogurt, you will find that they are tasty, creamy, rich and yummy beyond belief.


0 calorie flavored waterHint Flavored Water: If you are too busy to make your own naturally flavored water, I have to say Hint water is a very close substitute. The fruit flavor is very subtle, but yummy enough to help me easily drink my 8 cups of water per day. I really like drinking Hint water when it is refrigerated versus warm. Hint water comes in a ton of flavors (you can check out the Hint website to see a complete list) of which my personal favorites are pear and strawberry kiwi.


gnu barsGnu Bars: In particular I really like the chocolate brownie flavor, and I absolutely love the banana walnut flavor (reminds me of banana bread - another food I don't get to eat as often as I would like). As with most of the foods I blog about, these bars are not only super tasty but they contain good ingredients -- full of fiber, whole wheat flower, no artificial flavors, no hydrogenated oils, no high fructose corn syrup, which always puts a smile on my face.


potato rondeletPotato Rondelet: A friend of mine recently turned me onto Potato Gratin Rondelets, a french version of potatoes and low calorie cheese, made by Whole Kitchen. A big fan of both potatoes and cheese, I have to say, she didn't have to do a lot of work to convince me to try them, especially once she told me that they are only 100 calories each (or 2 WW points). These potato rondelets (I personally like to call them potato domes) are delicious. Each one is somewhat petite, but is definitely big enough as a side dish, or would make a great snack, if you were having a potato craving.


low calorie figamagigsFigamajigs: he Figamajig bars come in a few flavors: dark chocolate covered fig (2 WW points, 130 calories), dark chocolate covered mint (2 WW points, 130 calories), dark chocolate covered raspberry (2 WW points, 130 calories), and dark chocolate covered almond bar (3 WW points, 150 calories). My personal favorite is the plain one. These figs and chocolate give the bars such a strong taste that the extra flavoring isn't really needed to make them yummy (although the flavored ones are really good, and the crunch in the almond one is nice!).


low calorie sushiSushi: Sushi can definitely be difficult to navigate when you are on a diet or watching your calorie intake, since there are so many different kinds of ingredients that can be in a roll. But, it shouldn't be all-out avoided, since many rolls are made with healthy ingredients that are actually good for you (like avocado, seaweed, cucumber, fish). It is all about your choices. With that in mind, I put together some sushi eating tips, staring with a special tip just for those of you out there that don't eat fish.


mr. krisper baked kripsBaked Krisps: I've tried some of the other "better for me" chips and crackers that are out there in the past, which I've liked for the most part, but these krisps are different both in taste and consistency. First of all, they are very thin and crunchy not thick and rice-y like many low calorie rice crackers/chips that are on the market today (you can kind of see the difference from the picture). Second of all, the flavoring is really yummy, and done well enough to fill that Sour Cream and Onion craving that I just can't avoid sometimes.


low calorie whole wheat tortillasLow Calorie Whole Wheat Tortilla: I've been eating La Tortilla Factory high fiber tortillas for a long time. They are a great bread substitution, and also work well for making quesadillas (with fat free cheese, salsa, fat-free sour cream -- super yum!), burritos, soft tacos, egg sandwiches, low calorie pizza, and more.



low calorie potato pancakesLow Calorie Potato Pancakes: I don't have words to describe how much I enjoy eating these Golden brand Potato Pancakes. They are unbelievable amazing and are only 1-2 WW points (70 calories each, right on the edge between 1 and 2 points). After you heat them up (I've heated them both in the microwave and in a pan with PAM), you can put some fat free sour cream on them for only a small amount of added calories.


low calorie frozen blueberries and frozen cherriesFrozen Fruit: There are tons of different frozen fruits available at the supermarket (and you can also make your own at home). My personal favorite is frozen cherries because they come without pits and ready to eat (they also taste *amazingly* good). In addition to cherries, I am also a big fan of frozen mango, frozen blueberries, as well as frozen bananas.


soy nutsSoy Nuts: So, soy nuts can definitely be yummy, although they aren't quite as fulfilling as eating peanuts (they are much lighter in weight which is why a serving is so much bigger, and they aren't as flavorful, so I would not eat them alone). But, I've found they work really well as a substitute for some purposes!




spicy boca chickenSpicy Boca Chicken: I think Boca Spicy Chicken ("Chick'n") Patties are delicious, and their high level of protein (11g per serving) is just an added bonus to something that I already enjoy eating. As you might be imagining, these patties are a great low-fat substitute to fried chicken. The fun thing about them is that there are so many things you can do with them, as they make such a great low calorie lunch option!


low fat babybel cheeseLow Fat Cheese: Dieting and eating low calorie doesn't mean you have to give up cheese! Cheese and other dairy products are great sources of calcium as well as protein so it is great if you can find a way to incorporate low fat dairy into your diet. As you probably know there are many low fat and non-fat milk substitutes that you can purchase at your local supermarket. What you might know know is that: (1) some low fat dairy products taste better than others, (2) some low fat dairy products contain undesirable ingredients so it is important to read nutrition labels carefully, and (3) cooking with low fat dairy can be tricky.


low calorie herbal sweet teaSweet Herbal Tea: Drinking tea is a great idea, but not when you feel like you need to add tons of sugar to make it tasty. That is why I personally love Good Earth's Sweet and Spicy Herbal Tea (note, it comes in a non-herbal version as well, so make sure you buy the right one). This tea is the yummiest, sweetest tasting unsweetened tea I've ever had. It's made from a flavorful Rooibos base, has no caffeine (unless you buy the caffeine version), contains natural antioxidants, and has a strong, sweet, cinnamon taste.


zenergize vitamin drinkVitamin Drink: A few months ago I came across Zenergize Vitamin Boost tablets at my local Whole Foods. They were a bit expensive, but I decided to try them anyway since I figured they might taste good, and they might help me drink more water (and even get more vitamins) during the day. I have to say, they beat my expectations! At only 2 calories per tablet (0 weight watchers points goes without saying), with 0 g sugar, and all natural ingredients, they have a lot going for them! On top of that, what is really nice about these tablets is how potent they are.


probiotic barsAttune Probiotic Bars: Attune chocolate bars taste a lot like regular candy bars, in fact they are a close substitute to a Nestle's crunch bar. Unfortunately for us, each bar is more petite than a Nestle's crunch, but the Attune bars are still an impressive, filling size, especially considering how yummy they are. The Attune chocolate bars come in 4 delicious all-natural, gluten-free flavors: Chocolate Crisp, Dark Chocolate (my personal favorite, which is also vegan by the way), Mint Chocolate, and Blueberry Vanilla (made with delicious White Chocolate).


low calorie tortilla chipsTortilla Chips: One of my favorite kinds of these chips is made by Whole Foods (365 is the brand). The chips are all natural, large and ready to be dipped in yummy salsa, like at a restaurant, and best of all, they taste authentic (I think it is because they are made with stone ground whole white corn -- at least that is what the bag says). The kind I buy are only "Lightly Salted" (50mg of sodium per serving) which is actually kind of hard to believe because they taste so good, even when I don't dip them in salsa or put anything on them.


julie's sorbet barsJulie's Sorbet Bars: Julie's Sorbet bars are organic, non-fat, cholesterol free, made from real fruit, and one bar is only 60 calories (coming out to 1 weight watchers point). They taste like you're eating fruity ice cream, which is impressive considering that are completely non-dairy. Julie's Organic Sorbet Bars make the perfect yummy low-calorie dessert, especially at the end of the day after dinner when you're craving something sweet or fruity, but can't afford to eat many more calories.


pacific 40 calorie almond milkPacific Low Calorie Almond Milk: The 35 calorie milk I bought from Pacific isn't as strongly vanilla flavored as the almond breeze I am used to drinking, and therefore not quite as tasty. But I see online that Pacific has a vanilla unsweetened flavor as well (at 40 calories), so I'm going to start looking for that at all my local supermarkets. For now, I have a lot of the non-vanilla kind, so I'm adding a bit of vanilla extract and nutmeg (and sometimes cinnamon) to sweeten it up and make it more flavorful.


edamameEdamame: I love eating edamame (it is high in protein, as well as vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and iron), although I usually avoid ordering it as an appetizer at a Japanese restaurant because it is so expensive. The price is really pretty ridiculous considering how easy it is to buy and make edamame on your own at home! Also, when you make edamame at home, you can control the salt content, which is a huge added benefit to anyone watching their salt intake. So, you might be wondering, how do you make edamame at home?


zen bakery fiber muffinsFiber Muffins: Although they look like muffins to me, Zen Bakery calls these fabulous, high fiber blueberry muffins by the name of "fiber cakes". Perhaps it is because each one contains a whopping 13g of natural fiber which makes them incredibly filling despite their somewhat petite size (they really aren't that small, but compared to the muffins you'd buy at a bakery, they are somewhat small).

izze esqueIzze Esque: spotted something called Izze Esque, sitting close to the regular Izze sparkling juice I always craved but never bought. Izze Esque was all good news -- a 60 calorie (40 calories per 8 ounce) serving of the same kind of sparkling juice, made by the same company that cares so much about keeping its products all natural. After buying some, I found that I like Izze Esque just as much as I liked the full calorie Izze flavor. I'm not really sure how the Izze people pulled off the delicious taste without adding anything artificial, but they did!


o'coco chocolate cripsO'Coco Chocolate Crips: I have to admit, I'm really impressed with these crackers. I never realized it until I ate them, but they actually satisfy two of my cravings: (1) chocolate and (2) crunch, and with only 90 calories (2 weight watchers points) in a pre-portioned bag, I have to say, they are right up my alley and they make a great low cal snack food. The crisps are not only delicious, light, and crunchy but they are also all-natural, organic, and hydrogenated oil free.


coconut milk yogurtCoconut Milk Yogurt: So recently I was perusing the yogurt section of Whole Foods, hoping to mix up my yogurt selection a bit, and an all natural Coconut milk yogurt caught my eye (made by Turtle Mountain). I was intrigued since I absolutely love the taste of coconut, but it is yet another food that that I have found difficult to integrate into my low calorie diet. I was also interested in this yogurt since I go through phases where I avoid dairy, and as much as I enjoy soy products, I always think it is interesting to explore non-soy alternatives to dairy as well.


frozen bananaFrozen Bananas: When people think about freezing fruit, they often think about frozen blueberries, frozen cherries, frozen strawberries, etc. (all super yummy and great for your health/diet), but today I wanted to write about another type of frozen fruit -- frozen bananas! Bananas are my favorite fruit and freezing them makes them even better (and sweeter). In this post, I've answered a few questions you might have.


huuraw raw vegetable chipsHuuraw Vegetable Chips: I recently discovered some completely raw chips in the "extremely natural foods" aisle at Whole Foods. They looked interesting so I turned them over and was overjoyed by the calorie information -- 1 oz (28g) of chips for 40 calories, 2.5g of fat, and 2g of fiber! So, basically, one serving of these chips is only 1 weight watchers point (and extremely low in calories) vs. tortilla chips which are usually 2-3 WW points for the same size serving. It is amazing what happens when you don't add oil to a food to prepare it!


low calorie english muffinsEnglish Muffins: I've always loved English muffins as a kid, but I've steered clear of them through many years of dieting and watching my weight, because I always assumed they were high calorie like other white colored breads that I knew I needed to avoid. But, I recently rediscovered them (ironically they were in my refrigerator because someone I live with eats them a lot), when I happened to see the nutritional information on the back of the box. Now, maybe you all already knew this, but English Muffins are totally within reason calorie-wise and if you choose carefully, you can even eat ones that are actually pretty good for your health and your diet.


fruitabuFruitabu: The smooshed bars have no added sugar, are each half a serving of fruit, and come in several yummy flavors including apple, apricot, grape, raspberry, and strawberry. What is great about these bars vs. the fiberful bars is that they have less calories (the smooshed bars are 40 calories vs. the 60 calories in the fiberful bars). However, because the fiberful bars have added fiber, they come out to be 0 weight watchers points, whereas these bars are 1 WW point.


lesser evil krinkle sticksKrinkle Sticks: I was thrilled to find that the krinkle sticks are very low in calorie like their popcorn counterparts, coming in at only 110 calories per 1 cup serving (aka 2 weight watchers points), which is awesome! As for the taste -- they turned out pretty good. They remind me of a cross between a very crunchy well-seasoned french fry, and a baked chip, both foods that I really like. The krinkle sticks also come in a classic sea salt flavor (which I imagine is more french fry like) and a bar-b-q flavor as well. If you've tried them, I'd love to hear what you thought of them!


dagoba dark chocolate tasting squareDagoba Dark Chocolate Tasting Squares: I happened to see a small Dagoba chocolate bar over by the checkout counter called a Dagoba tasting square (note: it was not with the Dagoba bars in the chocolate aisle). The one I bought (and have continued to buy) is called "Pacuare" and has 68% cocoa content, combined with sugar, cocoa butter, and soy lecithin (and is gluten-free). Although the Dagoba Tasting Square does not have calorie information, the bar is labeled as being 9g (~50% bigger than the Trader Joes chocolate wedge). And, the tasting chocolate bar is totally delicious, just as I would have expected based on the other Dagoba chocolates I had eaten.


dreyers fruit barsDreyers Frozen Fruit Bars: Enamored with the coconut bar, I've since tried some of the other flavors, including strawberry and orange cream -- all worth exploring. Like with the coconut bar, I found these bars to be quite satisfying because of the effect of their thickness and real fruit content on their flavor and texture. Dreyers also makes other flavors, namely grape, lemonade, lime, tangerine and strawberry-banana smoothie.


amy's steel cut oatmealAmy's Steel Cut Oatmeal: As I mentioned previously, steel-cut oatmeal is delicious and filling, but very time consuming to make. Like with the Trader Joe's version, Amy has created a pre-made frozen version of the oatmeal which you can conveniently make on your own. The serving size is really filling (255g) and the oatmeal is quite tasty. In terms of nutrtition, the oatmeal is dairy free, all natural, and has 220 calories, 3.5 grams of fat, and 5 grams of fiber (so 4 weight watchers points).


go raw low calorie banana breaad barGo Raw Banana Bread Bar: If the banana bar looks big in the picture, it is because it is quite large and flat (1.2 oz), and amazingly filling at only 120 calories (and 2 weight watchers points). The only ingredients in the bar are sprouted organic flax seeds, organic banana, organic unsulphured coconut, and organic dates, which contribute to its 5 grams of fiber, 4 grams of protein and 5 grams of fat. The label boasts that this bar is wheat free, gluten free, cholesterol free, has no added sugar, was made by hand, uses no GMOs and is 100% organic, so clearly it has a lot going for it.


low calorie popoversPopovers: After I left home to go to college, I went many years without coming across a popover, until I discovered a fantastic, healthy, easy-to-make (with only four ingredients which is ideal for me since I'm not a skilled cook) recipe for making popovers in a friend's Betty Crocker Cookbook. This popover recipe (which is now available online) not only helps me make delicious popovers, but each one only has 100 calories and 1 gram of fat (2 weight watchers points total).


low calorie granolaLow Calorie Granola: I later found a granola (on the lowest shelf just as I was about to give up) by a company called Enjoy Life, a brand known for their gluten free foods. Although I had never tried their products before, I decided to buy the Cinnamon Crunch flavor which had 160 calories (with 5 grams of fiber, and 3 grams of protein) for a half a cup serving -- 3 weight watchers points for a whole serving, but only 1 WW point for half a serving. This was one of the lowest calorie and lowest fat granolas I found, so I decided to try it and take it home for a taste test.


healthy applesApples: So, why are apples so good for us? Well, there are many reasons! What I learned in the article is that apples are a great source of fiber in the form of pectin, as well as a great source of antioxidants. The fiber helps cleanse our bowels and encourages good colon heath. Apples are also believed to help lower your bad cholesterol, reduce the risk of cancer, slow down our aging (my favorite benefit!) by lessening the effects of stress, diabetes, and heart disease, and help prevent hair loss.


nada moo low calorie ice creamNada Moo Ice Cream: I recently found another delicious lower calorie ice cream substitute at Whole Foods called Nada Moo. This ice cream is unique from other low calorie ice creams and low calorie frozen yogurts I've found, as it is made from coconut milk and brown rice milk, so it is not soy based and it is dairy free (note: the label has a disclaimer that says it contains soy within its ingredients, but because the ice cream is not soy based, it does not have that soy taste that some people abhor). One of my favorite parts of this ice cream is its subtle coconut taste, even in the non-coconut flavors.


low calorie rice krispies cerealLow Calorie "Rice Krispies" Cereal: The crispy rice cereal made by Erewhon is made entirely from brown rice (not even processed into flour), barley malt, and sea salt and is organic, 100% whole grain, wheat free, and fat free -- with only 1 gram of sugar. It is also only 110 calories per giant 30 gram serving (the serving is huge since each of the puffed rice crisps is full of air!). This cereal is exactly like rice krispies which I loved as a child, just a little less sweet, which is a-ok with me.


goldenberriesGoldenberries: Have you ever heard of a goldenberry? Well, goldenberries are apparently a "superfruit" that hail from South America. From what I've read they appear to be very healthy - with a high vitamin A content. They are rich in bioflavonoids, which help reduce inflammation in the body. They also contain a high level of vitamin A, vitamin C, beta-carotene, vitamin P, as well as some iron. In case you are wondering, vitamin P (sometimes known as rutin) is believed to strengthen the circulatory system in addition to helping with vitamin C absorption.


low calorie banana breadLow Calorie Banana Bread: A wonderful, delicious, wholesome low calorie banana bread recipe created by a fellow blogger! Each piece is only 60 calories, 1 gram of fat, and 1 gram of fiber (so 1 weight watchers point). There are tons of great ways to eat this bread as well!



0 calorie mint waterMint Water: If you like mint (and I mean if you *really* *really* like the taste of mint), and you are looking for a way to drink flavored water (without added sweeteners or calories), then you might want to try Metromint waters. I discovered Metromint waters one day when I was really thirsty while shopping at Whole Foods. When I saw that the water had 0 calories, was all natural, and was available in a *chocolate mint* flavor, I just had to try it. I had never tasted chocolate flavored water before!


kind barsKind Bars: Luckily, there is one flavor of the Kind bar that I've discovered called "Walnut and Date" that is less calories than the others -- with only 150 calories, 7 grams of fat, 3 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein per bar - so 3 weight watchers points. It is also *very* delicious (just not my favorite since the other one has coconut). The "Walnut and Date" bar also has a lot going for it -- it is all natural, dairy free, gluten free, and wheat free. I'm a nut lover, and I think this bar is the perfect blend of walnuts (one of the best nuts you can eat), dates and honey. It is both sweet and nutty at the same time!


figamajigs bite sized candiesFigamajigs Bite Sized Candies: A company called Figamajigs not only makes yummy chocolate fig bars (which I blogged about previously), but they also make a pretty low calorie fig candy that is a great, all-natural, healthier substitute for candies like M&Ms. These figamajigs candies come in a few flavors, some candy coated, some not, including: dark chocolate, dark chocolate with candy coating, mint flavor, and mint flavor with candy coating. My favorite by far is the mint flavored candy coated (which is pictured)!


amazing grass green superfoodGreen Superfood: The low down on all-organic green superfood is that one serving has the antioxidant equivalent to seven servings of fruits and vegetables. Inside of each serving is a blend of four powders: (1) Green Foods (things like grass, alfalfa, spinach), (2) Antioxidants (acai, carrot, beet, green tea), (3) Fiber (flax seed powder, apple pectin fiber), and (4) Digestive Enzymes & Probiotics (acidophilus , chicory root). These blends contribute to a packet of green powder that has 100% of your daily vitamin A (great for your skin), 40% of your daily vitamin C, 50% of your vitamin K, as well as large amounts of other vitamins as well.


wildwood pasta slim noodlesWildwood Past Slim Noodles: I discovered Wildwood pasta slim noodles at my local Andronicos. I purchased a spinach flavored fettuccine flavor (the one on the left) hoping it would taste more like spinach noodles and less like tofu. And it did! It is really good (if you like spinach)! As you would expect, the noodles are made from tofu and are totally vegan, high in fiber, and are gluten free. The *whole bag* (2 servings, or 200g) is 50 calories, 6 grams of fiber, 2 grams of protein, and 0 grams of fat, making it 0 weight watchers points.


ricotta pumpkin dessertRicotta Pumpkin Treat: So, there are tons of ways to dress up ricotta cheese into a dessert on its own (I've heard of people adding sugar, cocoa, vanilla extract, etc. etc. to make pretty interesting desserts). I thought today in honor of the holidays I'd post a recipe for ricotta-pumpkin pudding. Pumpkin is another great low calorie food (a 1/2 cup serving is 50 calories, 0 grams of fat, 4 grams of fiber, and 1 gram of protein -- so 0 weight watchers points), and if you like it you will surely like this recipe (and if you don't like pumpkin, you should pass on this recipe and play around with just the ricotta cheese, since the pudding is thick and has a strong pumpkin flavor).


wheatgrass juiceWheatgrass Juice: I found out that wheatgrass is a type of plant, which looks a lot like the kind of grass you grow on your lawn (although it is actually a young gluten-free form of wheat). There are many, often extreme claims about the health benefits of wheatgrass of which various critics are skeptical. The supporters of wheatgrass claim that it has extremely high amino acid, vitamin, mineral and chrolophyll content. The supposed benefits are that it helps prevent diabetes, heart disease, hair loss and cancer while promoting a general feeling of well being by promoting better blood flow and detoxification.


tropical mango barTropical Mango Bar: This bar is really tasty if you like the taste of the tropical fruits. It is totally raw, vegan, gluten-free, organic, and oil free. It only has fruit in it! But, unlike other fruit-only bars, it is hard, thick, and crunchy rather than fruity and chewy, making it quite filling (I actually find the taste to be pretty strong). The consistency reminds me a bit of a granola bar (I'm always on the lookout for great low calorie granola by the way!).


low calorie ice cream sandwichesSo Delicious Low Calorie Ice Cream: The mint minis are pretty yummy. Each one is only 90 calories, 2 grams of fat, 1 gram of fiber and 8 grams of sugar (2 weight watchers points). But, I think I've decided that I like the coconut ones more. The coconut sandwiches have 100 calories, 3.5 grams of fat (omega 3 from the coconut milk), 2 grams of fiber, and 1 gram of protein (so also 2 weight watchers points). They also differ from the mint versions because they are sweetened with agave syrup instead of regular sugar.


fat free cheeseFat Free Cheese: This cheese comes in many fat free flavors, namely: namely: Sharp Cheddar, Swiss, Mild Mexican, Garden Vegetable, Monterey Jack, Mozzarella and Jalapeno Jack. Picking one was a difficult decision, and I ultimately went with the Cheddar since it was the first one that caught my eye. Once I started adding it to my cooked foods and to my sandwiches I was extremely impressed. It really does melt, making it way better than most fat-free cheeses for cooking!


Crispy Dried Pears
Crispy Dried Pears: There are a few things I love about Crispy Green freeze dried fruit: (1) it comes in satisfying one serving bags that are around 38 calories each (0 weight watchers points) making it an extremely low calorie snack, (2) it comes in some really interesting/unique flavors including pear (my favorite), apricot, peach, pineapple, as well as apple, (3) the dried fruit is totally raw so it is very healthy (especially compared to those popular 100 calorie snacks) and (4) it is very crunchy and fun to eat!


Chocolate Covered Cocoa NibsChocolate Covered Cocoa Nibs: Cocoa nibs aren't quite sweet enough to eat on their own (although they are great with other foods), so I was delighted to see that Kopali had decided to sell them covered in dark chocolate. Since both the cocoa nibs and the chocolate are full of healthy antioxidants and bioflavonoids as well as iron, these little treats are actually pretty good for you! One serving consists of 40 pieces (28 grams) of the little nibs, with 10 grams of fat and 2 grams of fiber (so 3 weight watchers points).While a small handful of these makes a great quick snack, I think a small portion of the chocolate covered cocoa nibs are most useful for "chocolating" up your favorite foods.


Soy Joy BarsSoy Joy Bars: Apple is my favorite flavor. It is 140 calories, with 6 grams of fat, 3 grams of fiber, and 4 grams of protein, making it 2 or 2.5 weight watchers points. It also has some iron and vitamin C in it, which is never a bad thing!




YaconYacon: What does dried yacon taste like? It is a bit difficult to describe but I'll do my best. It is a tuber like the potato, but it has a subtle bit of melon-like sweetness to it (but not too much, nothing close to the sweetness of a goldenberry). The petal-like pieces remind me a bit of a dried apple, but more rooty. :) The best way to really find out is to try it. Yacon is really low calorie. It comes in powder and syrup form, but I'm really into the dried yacon as a healthy snack.


Avocado SmoothieAvocado Smoothie: I recently got on an avocado kick, and I was feeling crazy one day so I decided to throw one into my blender to see what would happen. What resulted was a really thick creamy smoothie, almost like an ice cream shake. Since then, I've been playing around trying to make a perfect low calorie avocado smoothie. I haven't quite reached perfection yet, but I thought I'd blog about what I have, and then you could play around with your ideas as well.


Apple Blackberry SauceApple Blackberry Sauce: I recently found a new favorite organic apple sauce, made by a company called Santa Cruz Organic. I love their Apple Blackberry flavor. It is thick, sweet, and tasty! I like it enough that I'm trying to figure out ways to integrate it into other foods. For instance, this morning, I added a couple of teaspoonfuls to my cereal which created the most decadent cereal ever. This applesauce has great ingredients -- the entire list is "organic apples, organic blackberry puree, organic apple juice concentrate, and vitamin C (from ascorbic acid)."


Low Calorie Mashed PotatoesLow Calorie Mashed Potatoes: I thought I'd attempt to create some low calorie mashed potatoes, which are by far my favorite food during the holidays. I also decided to make low calorie mashed sweet potatoes (which are so filling with their subtle sweet taste) at the same time to see how they'd turn out. Each serving is 153 calories, 2.3 grams of fat, 3.6 grams of fiber, or 2-3 weight watchers points (right on the line). Pretty darn good for mashed potatoes!


Low Calorie Indian PakorasLow Calorie Indian Pakoras: I *adore* Indian food, but I have no idea how to make it myself, nor the time to do so. As such, I've come to really love many of the entrees made by Tandoor Chef (if you haven't already, check out my previous postings on their low calorie Indian Kofta Curry and their delicious low calorie Indian Naan). These are an additional all natural (and vegan!) snack / appetizer that Tandoor Chef makes called spinach Pakoras.


FizzitFizzit: I discovered these yummy little packets of women's vitamins called "Fizzit" (they also come in immunity, joint and multivitamin formulas as well). You just add the fizzit powder packet to a glass of water, and within a minute you have a flavorful, vitamin packed drink that is much more interesting than plain water. Each packet is only 25 calories (or 1 weight watchers point). Drinking these is much better than eating a 150 calorie snack, and a great way to find out if you are really thirsty instead of hungry.


Low Calorie Dark Hot ChocolateDark Hot Chocolate: Allegro Coffee just came out with a delicious dark hot drinking chocolate. I prefer dark chocolate to milk chocolate both because of its deep chocolatey taste as well as the health benefits like lowering blood pressure and protecting against heart disease. The flavor I bought is called Ghana 80, meaning that the Cocoa beans are from Ghana, and that it is very dark chocolate. Two tablespoons of the chocolate (1 serving) are 90 calories, 5 grams of fat, and 4 grams of fiber, making it *amazingly* only 1 weight watchers point.


van's wafflesVan's Waffles: I really love Van's 97% fat free whole grain waffles. Two waffles are 140 calories, 2 grams of fat, 4 grams of protein, and 3 grams of fiber, meaning they are only 2 weight watchers points. They are a bit bigger than Van's Belgian Waffles (which I also love), which was a huge plus as well. They are also dairy and egg free which is a plus if you have dietary restrictions.


all natural low free popcornNewman's Own Popcorn: Popcorn is such a good healthy snack since it is quite low in calories and high in fiber. However, most popcorn that you buy at the store contains really unhealthy ingredients like high fat hydrogenated oils or large amounts of sodium. If you don't have a popcorn popper, then a great alternative is Newsman's Own Organic "Pop's Corn" which is completely natural unsalted microwave popcorn.


guavaUnique Superfruits: While fruits that are typically eaten are all really good for us, it is also good for us to eat other less common fruits and vegetables to get additional health benefits that might not be found in our usual, sometimes repetitive eating routines (like figs, lychees, asian pears, and papayas). Broadening our fruit choices can improve our health!


sugar cookie sleigh ride tea and bigelow eggnog'n teaHoliday Teas: I love tea since it is a wonderful warm drink that I can turn to without any bad consequences for my diet (in fact a lot of teas are full of antioxidants which are actually great for one's health, so I can even feel good about drinking it!). Also, there are so many wonderful flavors of tea, I never get bored. Two of my favorite holiday teas are: (1) Celestial Seasonings Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride and (2) Bigelow Eggnog'n.


glutino gluten free chocolate and banana barsGlutino Chocolate and Banana Bars: I love the flavor combination of chocolate combined with banana, although I'm not usually able to find it in snack bars. So, when I found these gluten free chocolate and banana bars made by a company called Glutino at Whole Foods I was really excited. On top of being a delicious flavor, these bars have a lot of other things going for them, namely being totally organic, low calorie, and full of healthy (and desirable) ingredients like dark chocolate chips, quinoa, buckwheat, flaxseeds, and honey.


low calorie puppodumsLow Calorie Puppodums: I found some yummy looking puppodums at Whole Foods a few weeks ago that are made by a company called Tiger Tiger. I was thrilled to see that 2 packaged puppodums were only 47 calories, 0 grams of fat, and 3 grams of fiber (so 0 weight watchers points!). I decided to buy them to see how they would taste cooked without oil (sadly if you eat them at a restaurant you'll have to factor in additional calories for oil).


qbel chocolate wafer rollsQbel Chocolate Wafer Rolls: What are Qbel Chocolate Wafer Rolls exactly? Well, they are basically like pirouline rolls (round crispy/flaky wafers), except these are different in that they are coated inside with a thin layer of chocolate and then covered with an even more perfect layer of dark chocolate around the outside. The outer layer of chocolate is deliciously thick (*much* thicker than you'd imagine) -- in fact it is so thick, that it is hard to believe that two of these dark chocolate covered wafers are only 120 calories!!


snacktrition fruit and nut mixSnacktrition Fruit and Nut Mix: I'm a huge fan of trail mix and as much as I love making my own, sometimes I'm happy to buy pre-made mixes with ingredients I might not combine on my own. So when a cute container of trail mix at Whole Foods caught my eye the other day, I decided to give it a try. The trail mix I bought was made by a company called snacktrition and is called "fruit and nut mix". The mix consists of almonds, cashews, dried blueberries, dried cranberries, and some small yogurt chips.


sweet riot chocolate covered cocoa nibsChocolate Covered Cocoa Nibs: The sweet riot chocolate covered cocoa nibs are really fabulous, and as much as I adore the other dark chocolate cocoa nibs I've blogged about, I have to say the one serving size container these come in also makes them really cool! What's also cool about the container is that you can re-use it by filling it with small one size servings of nuts, other treats, or even more coca nibs.


aunt gussie's whole grain cracker flatsWhole Grain Cracker Flats: When I found, Aunt Gussie's Cracker Flats I was thrilled since they exceeded my standards! These crackers are made primary with organic spelt flour which has a nutty flavor that I love! The whole ingredient list (for the garlic flavor that I buy) is: organic whole grain spelt flour, fresh onions, garlic, organic milled flax seeds, egg whites, non-gmo expeller pressed canola oil, and sea salt! The cracker box also boasts that the crackers have more than 8 grams of whole grain per serving, which is a huge plus!


low caloire crumpetsCrumpets: What I love about crumpets is that they are really large, thick, and bready. Just like with regular bread, you can toast them in the toaster, and dress them up to go with your favorite dishes. I find that they are great for dipping in sauce or soup, such as with the low calorie Dal Shorba Indian dish I blogged about previously this week. Or you can make mini-pizzas on them with pizza sauce and fat free cheese. Or, spread some olive oil across them for a delicious breakfast. The possibilities are really endless (in fact -- you can substitute crumpets in any of the low calorie lunch ideas that I posted for dressing up english muffins)!


laughing cow gourmet cheese bitesLaughing Cow Gourmet Cheese Bites: Inside the box are 25 individually wrapped cheese cubes (just like people serve at parties on toothpicks). But what makes these different from what you eat at parties is the fact that each one is only 7 calories and approximately a third of a gram of fat. That means that 5 of them (one serving size) is only 35 calories and 2 grams of fat) -- so one weight watchers point. Or, if you just want to eat one for a quick nibble/snack, eating two is zero weight watchers points.


low calorie cookies and cream shakeLow Calorie Cookies and Cream Shake: Several months ago, a friend sent me a note about the cookies and cream version of spiru-tein (protein powder). I did some research and it looked absolutely delicious, so I went out and bought some. I used it to create a smooth, creamy, delicious and healthy cookies and cream drink!



warm cinnamon applesWarm Cinnamon Apples: A while ago I wrote about the many health benefits of apples. Basically, apples are a great source of fiber in the form of pectin, as well as a great source of antioxidants. A friend of mine suggested that I try cooking apples in the microwave, which sounded intriguing. What resulted from cooking the apple with cinnamon was a dessert/snack that tastes just like apple pie.


luna white chocolate macadamia barLuna White Chocolate Macadamia Bar: I'm a huge fan of Luna Tea Cakes, and I like many of the flavors of Luna's regular bars as well. So, when I saw this White Chocolate Macadamia Luna bar at Whole Foods a week or so ago, I absolutely had to try it! I've been a big fan of Luna brand bars for a long time because I like what they stand for -- nutrition for women (although men can totally eat them too!) as well as natural ingredients, combined with great taste.


organic low calorie fruit mashupsFruit Mashups: I recently found these nifty pouches of organic fruit puree made by a company called Revolution Foods at my local Whole Foods. Each pouch contains a squeezable serving (called a "mashup") of blended fruit, that has the consistency, in my opinion, of apple sauce. What's fun about these pouches is that you can put them in the freezer, and easily create all-natural pure fruit popsicles!


low calorie ice cream cupsLow Calorie Ice Cream Cups: A friend recently pointed me towards the 100 calorie Eating Right Light Ice Cream Cups, which actually pass my ingredient test! The flavor I decided to try is called pomegranate (which you can see in the picture). For those of you that don't like pomegranates, the cups also come in Mocha Cappuccino and Vanilla flavors as well (which I haven't tried yet -- let me know if they are good).



Kahiki Low Calorie Egg RollsLow Calorie Egg Rolls: As much as I love healthy, hearty food, I do like to splurge every one in a while. So, when I find products like 70 calorie egg rolls that meet my ingredient requirements (you can read about them in my About Me section), I get pretty excited! I love finding and/or making lower calorie versions of foods that I'd normally have to avoid when eating out at restaurants. The egg rolls I'm referring to are made by a company named Kahiki, and they are really fantastic!


kashi mighty bitesKashi Mighty Bites: I love Kashi products -- their brand stands for hearty whole grain goodness, which is exactly what their products always deliver. I've been eating Kashi whole grain puffs for a long time. In fact, a whole cup of the whole grain puffs (70 calories) makes such a really filling breakfast when combined with a cup of almond milk and some frozen blueberries.


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Here are some additional Low Calorie food ideas you might want to check out:

Low Calorie BarsLow Calorie Bars

Low Calorie RecipesLow Calorie Recipes


6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Can I just say I think this website is amazing. I have recently seen the light regarding all the chemicals, artificial sweetners and flavors and high fructose corn syrup that is found in virtually every packaged food. I am trying to be healthier (and that doesn't just mean lo-cal eating!) and this website is the best I have found! Great work and thanks so much for all the healthy, natural and easy to travel with snack ideas!!

Trisha's Blog said...

This is such a great website! I am SO glad I found it!

ACH said...

Hi Juliet, thank you so much for this terrific list! I am also health conscious & weight conscious--but vegan, too! Your list had a ton of great suggestions I haven't tried yet, and I can't wait!

P.S. I'd love it if you'd check out my blog, makingstuffanddoingthings.blogspot.com!

Anonymous said...

this is a really great website.
the only problem i have is that most of these products are not sold in my country because very few people care for them....:(
but thanks anyways

Anonymous said...

i hope they will sell snacks like this in my country again

Denise said...

What an awesome list, exactly what I was looking for, now I'm going on the hunt for some of these things, wish me luck! Thanks for all the work you put into this!

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