Low-Calorie Filling Snacks to Try This Summer
It’s finally summer: the season of water balloon fights and lawn mowing, lazy pool days and sweat-soaked hours gardening. Whether you’re lying on a beach in Cancun or hopping between air-conditioned buildings to finish your list of errands, it’s unlikely that you’ll find yourself wanting to munch on anything heavy.
Instead, you’ll gravitate toward light, low-calorie filling snacks to give you the fuel you need without sapping even more of the energy you’re already losing to the heat.
Finding that perfect combination of light-yet-satisfying can be tricky. Here are the best low-calorie filling snacks that will keep you fueled — not faint — all summer long.
Mindful Munchies
Sometimes, you just want a chip. Especially if you’re just recently breaking the habit of turning to chips and other processed munchies as a go-to appetite filler, keeping a salty, satisfying crunchie on-hand can be a lifesaver. And fortunately, not all chips are created equal — some are actually good for you!
At Outstanding Foods, we’ve designed an outstanding (no pun intended) lineup of low-calorie filling snacks that are loaded with the flavor and crunch that many of us crave. Whether you’re craving something cheesy, something spicy, or something perfectly savory, we’ve got you covered.
Not sure where to start? Try our Outstanding Puffs for a family favorite that’s got the whole package. Each serving has 7 grams of plant-based protein to keep you running, and 20 vitamins — among which are notably iron, calcium, and Vitamins B12, D, and E — will keep your energy high and fatigue low.
Want more? Try our Outstanding Cheese Balls or our Outstanding Pig Out Crunchies for two more low-calorie filling snacks that won’t disappoint. Both are packed with plant-based protein and deceptively delicious dairy-free flavor that’ll leave you wondering how you didn’t find them sooner!
Non-Fat or Low-Fat Dairy
Fats are an essential component of low-calorie filling snacks. Though the concept of a low-calorie, fat-based snack may seem contradictory, realize that healthy fats are essential to a balanced diet.
Let’s talk Greek yogurt. Using the brand FAGE as an example, one serving of 0% Greek yogurt gives you 16 grams of protein with only 80 calories. One serving of FAGE 5% gives two fewer grams of protein (only 14 grams) and 140 calories — almost double the calorie count of the 0% yogurt.
Similarly, low-fat cottage cheese is a low-calorie filling snack that’s packed with protein, while regular cottage cheese is higher in fat but lower in protein. As a rule of thumb, if you don’t snack much throughout the day, go ahead and get the 5% fat option. It won’t be as low in calories, but it still won’t be too heavy.
If you tend to be a snacker (we know who we are), or if you’re trying to cut weight, gravitate toward the non-fat or low-fat options. These will help you add a helpful boost of protein to your day while saving those extra calories.
Watermelon
Think of summer; think of watermelon. This classic summer favorite is also one of the best low-calorie filling snacks around thanks to the heavy dose of water it contains. Foods that have a high water density fill your belly (giving that nice “full-belly” feeling) without dragging down your energy levels with heavy digestion.
Eat it plain or pair it with some feta for a protein boost — either way, you can’t go wrong. Our favorite way? Dice your watermelon, then compile a simple dressing of salt, sugar, fresh mint, and fresh lemon. You’ll want to play with the ratio that you like, but we found that for half of an average watermelon, you can use:
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— 1 teaspoon salt
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— 2 tablespoons sugar
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— ½ cup diced fresh mint
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— 2 lemons worth of lemon juice (about half a cup)
Shake the dressing in a jar, toss, and enjoy. Whatever’s left over will store for three to four days. On the go? Throw your watermelon salad into a jar and take it with you — whether your destination is the beach or the bread aisle.
Nuts
Nuts are a fantastic example of foods that are high-fat and high satisfaction, and they’re one of the best things to keep in your arsenal of low-calorie filling snacks. They’re also a prime example of a snack to enjoy in moderation: Try to stick to a serving size of around one-quarter cup of whatever nut you choose.
No matter what your goals are — whether you’re looking to lose weight, maintain your weight, or just get through your day, nuts are your new best friend. Do note, however: Eat raw nuts; avoid roasted nuts.
Roasted nuts are certainly the easiest to find — they have a longer shelf life. That said, they’re higher in both calories and sodium, and they tend to lose some of their nutritional value.
Raw nuts are fantastic sources of the healthy fats that keep your appetite satisfied and your body nourished with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Whether you eat them plain or pair them with some organic raisins and coarse salt, they’re one of the best low-calorie filling snacks to have around.
Honorable Mention
We’ve given you our top four, but they certainly aren’t all. Here are some other low-calorie filling snacks that deserve an honorable mention:
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— Edamame (buy them in a freezer pack and microwave to eat)
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— Apples (eat alone or with a small portion of nut butter)
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— Cucumber (eat alone or with low-fat cream cheese and seasoning salt)
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— Popcorn (leave unseasoned, top with your favorite spices, or toss in bits of dark chocolate)
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— Baked potatoes (microwave and add salt and a dollop of plain Greek yogurt)
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— Eggs (fry them, boil them, poach them, bake them, devil them)
No matter your preference, the best low-calorie filling snacks are ones that satiate your hunger without weighing you down so you can get back to soaking in the sun and enjoying the summer heat.
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