The Best Low Calorie Snacks

Choosing the right snacks for low calorie diets can be really tricky. They need to be tasty, nutritious, filling, and easy to prepare. Here are my favourite 150 cal snacks (600kj). Please note to convert KJs into Cals divide by 4.

Nutrient Dense Whole Foods

• Fruit:
  • One banana and a peach,
  • small-med mango,
  • large orange
  • 15 x medium strawberries, ½ cup blueberries and a dollop of LF yoghurt
• Nuts: Nuts are a risk; they are VERY high in fat and more-ish. I don’t recommend them unless it’s a sprinkle in salad.
  • 20 almonds
  • 12 walnuts (1/2 nut shaped like a beetle)
  • 15 cashew nuts
  • 40 pistachios.
• Vegetables:
  • 3 medium carrots,
  • 3 x 15cm celery sticks filled with cottage/cream cheese or ricotta + a few raisins.
  • Capsicum with cottage/cream cheese,  ricotta or a low fat dip.

Protein Rich Snacks

Protein Shakes

My favourite protein powder is Complete as it is also a multivitamin derived solely from whole foods. Order here.  Most companies suggest two scoops but for calorie counting purposes, stick with one scoop. Be sure to measure your ingredients the first time you make it to make sure you don’t go over 150 cal.

Cherry Ripe Bomb (protein shake)

• 1 scoop protein powder,
• 1/3 cup frozen mixed berries (frozen raspberries better but can be expensive)
• ½ cup LF soy/ricemilk/ LF milk
• Water as needed
• Pinch of nutmeg (optional)

Mix with a stick blender. Should be thick like a thick shake and if your protein powder is chocolate it will taste like a cherry ripe!

Banana Smoothie (protein shake)

• 1 scoop protein powder,
• ½ banana
• Dollop of LF yoghurt
• ½ cup LF soy/ricemilk/ LF milk
• Water as needed
• Pinch of nutmeg (optional)

Mix with a stick blender. Serve with ice cubes on a hot day

Protein Bars

My favourite is Aussie Bodies Protein FX (choc cherry). However I only eat half a bar as a whole bar is 377 cal. Order Here (although sometimes it’s out of stock and wont appear). Protein FX Low carb is lower in Cal (209) so either have a smaller snack for your other or give someone a bite!

Yoghurt

• Valia Low fat (LF):
• Jalna LF
• Yoplait LF
• Ski Delight

Tip, choose lower sugar such as Jalna and choose the individual tubs for convenience and portion control.

Tinned foods

• Tinned Tuna: There are lots of low fat (i.e. tuna in brine/Springwater) tuna varieties out there. My favs are lemon and cracked pepper or sun dried tomatoes. Just don’t scoff one before a one-on-one meeting!
• Baked beans: Not only an awesome snack but also a great breakfast. Be aware that they can be high in salt so if you suffer from high blood pressure steer clear.
• Be Natural Trail bars: Muesli bars
• Tinned spaghetti
• Fruit (see nutrient dense whole foods)
• Toast with jam (no butter) or cottage cheese, or sliced tomato, scraping of avocado.

Carbohydrate Rich

• Be Natural Trail bars: Museli bars
• Tinned spaghetti
• Fruit (see nutrient dense whole foods)
• Toast with jam (no butter) or cottage cheese, or sliced tomato, scraping of avocado.

There are plenty more out there. What are your favourite low calorie snacks and which ones fill you up for longer?