When you're managing your weight and like to snack, it's important to stock your kitchen or office with smart food choices. Here are some snacking hints:
Include snacks as part of your daily meal plan. For example, if you want to have a few cookies or a small piece of cake one day as a snack, cut back on high-calorie foods the rest of the day.
Consider when you most crave a snack. Mid-morning? Afternoon? Evening? Make that your snack time. This will help you avoid constant snacking throughout the day.
When you're craving a specific snack, don't deprive yourself. Even if it's higher in fat and calories than other snacks, allow yourself a small amount.
Keep fruits and vegetables handy. For example, peel and section a few oranges and keep them in a plastic container in the fridge. Cut up vegetables and store in a plastic bag. This way, better food choices are easily accessible and ready to eat.
A glass of vegetable juice like V8® 100% vegetable juice or Campbell's® tomato juice is not only a great snack, but also an easy way to add more vegetables to your diet.
- Try V8 V-Fusion® single-serve 8-ounce slim cans, available in Pomegranate Blueberry and Strawberry Banana varieties. V8 V-Fusion® + Tea provides a light, crisp taste with the antioxidants of natural green tea for only 50 calories per 8-ounce serving.
If you're snacking from a vending machine, choose pretzels, granola bars, fig cookies, or animal crackers.
Pepperidge Farm® Cheddar Goldfish® crackers made with Whole Grain and Pepperidge Farm® Garden Cheddar Goldfish® are a crunchy and tasty treat with no artificial preservatives.
High-fiber, low-fat cereal can be a great snack; have a small bowl with skim milk. Try shredded wheat cereals, bran-based cereals, or low-fat granolas.
Popcorn is a delicious snack. There are many low-fat microwave varieties to choose from. This is also a great snack to keep stashed in your desk drawer.
Soups are a delicious snack. Check out Campbell's® selection of soups that provide a full serving of vegetables. If you are monitoring calories, check out the Campbell's soups that provide 50-150 calories per serving.
Many soups are available in a range of sodium levels. Check out the Campbell's® Healthy Request® in condensed, Chunky™, and Select Harvest® varieties, 25% Less Sodium, and Low Sodium soup lines.
Low-fat yogurt with granola or fresh fruit is a filling and delicious snack.
For a refreshing low-calorie beverage, try a fruity-tasting Diet V8 Splash® juice drink.
Dried fruit is a sweeter snack and provides fiber. Because dried fruit is higher in calories than regular fruit, keep portions small — stick with a handful and don't eat directly out of the bag.
V8 Splash® Smoothies are a great snack alone or blended with fruit and yogurt.
To satisfy a sweet tooth, try reduced-fat chocolate
candies or a glass of low-fat chocolate milk. Or, enjoy one small "fun-sized"
candy bar or a few bite-sized chocolates.
Substitute frozen yogurt or light ice cream in place of the full-fat, higher calorie varieties. Or just take a small amount of the full-fat version and slowly savor it.