low calorie snacks.... I need help

mdmomof4

Can someone offer advice on some low calorie, low fat snacks. I have to eat 2 banana's a day because I get severe leg cramps at night which cost me 200 calories a day in what I consider snacks. I need ideas for snacks that will fit into my 1200 calorie a day plan. My breakfast normally counts as 310 calories a day, lunch is about 360 calories , I try to get a dinner around 350- 400 calories which doesn;t leave a lot of extra calories since the bananas are using 200 calories. Help Please.

Emme1980

Hey you could try oat cakes,wholegrain crackers,fat-free yogurts&fruit

mdmomof4

Thank you sounds like a good idea

SunnyFitt

Veggies and fruit? Like... cucumber and watermelon bites. Baby carrots.

As to the bananas.... why not incorporate them into your meals and make them count there? Bananas on your oatmeal in the morning is super good and some cinnamon on top. Bananas in a lunch smoothie with lots of other fruits or veggies or yogurt. Almonds and oats into the blender as well and its a perfect lunch! - I could go on but you get the picture. Cut back on some other sides in your breakfast or lunch and use bananas instead and that way you can have your snacks-calories left for something else.

DoozerDMB

lol...I woke up with a leg cramp today and immediately grabbed a banana
It depends on what kind of snack you are looking for. Air popped popcorn is great and you can season it. I love frozen grapes! Laughing cow cheese wedge with low fat crackers. Pretzels. Celery, peppers and hummus. Sugar free fudgesicles.

Xiaolongbao

I love Kavali crispbread. 3 of them is 50 calories and if you break them up into pieces to snack on they last quite a while.

janetmarisa

Reduced fat colby jack cheese sticks (60 calories), almonds (no salt), boiled eggs, low sodium turkey slices, greek yogurt - just a few examples. You can take magnesium pills/tablets will help with your cramps too without the extra calories of a banana.

SorchaRavenlock

Take a look at this thread as well for inspiration:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/588804-88-snacks-under-100-calories

SeaChele77

Light string cheese
Fruit
Raw Veggies
Pretzels (watch out.... carbs add up)
yogurt
Edamame
Turkey Peperoni

luzmidd

I keep a packet of almonds and a packet of raisins in my office. One serving of almonds is about 15-20 almonds... When you snack though, dont snack out of a packet, put it out on a plate, it gives the impression that you are eating more! And also, a craving for a snack could also be replaced by a glass of water.

anniev106

Greek yogurt is amazing, and fills you up. Also veggies (or pretzel thins) and hummus is a great snack to fill you up as well!

tsaustin

Veggies
Fruit
Low fat String cheese
Yogurt
Pretzels and Laughing cow Low fat swiss cheese

tansygreen

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/588804-88-snacks-under-100-calories

Another user posted this the other day which Ithoght was pretty amazing! there are loads of things to stop you getting bored. Happy snacking...

RobinHammill

I keep a big container of mixed fruit available for a quick fix. A servings is 1/2 cup each of Cantalope and Water Melon with a handful of Red Grapes. That's about 70 calories, but much more filling that a single banana, not to mention more flavor. You can also make the process of eating it slower.

phinphanbill26

I suffer from the same leg cramp issue at night when I'm sleeping. The cramping is the reult of a potassium deficiency. Try about a 1/4 cup of dried apricots per day...provides 480mg of potassium and they're only 100 calories. It worked for me!

sunnycloud82

Hard boiled eggs, carrot sticks (plain or with hummus), slices of cucumber with a wedge of Laughing Cow spread on them, fruit, low fat string cheese, raw/unsalted nuts and seeds. Those are some of my favs.....good luck!

FitPatty738

We eat Fudgesicles - the sugar free ones are 30 calories. We keep Rolos - 25 calories and the snack size York Peppermint Patties in the fridge - 50 calories. It's something sweet that hits the spot when you need it. I would think the leg cramps are caused by low potassium. Pick up some potassium pills and stop eating the fattening bananas. Another thing we have switched to is Egg Beaters and the lower calorie bread - 35 calories a slice. And The Lay's chips that are fat free with Olean....75 calories for 20 chips. They are better than regular chips. There are ways to adjust - keep working at it and stick with it.

harleygaljojo

Nabisco delight bars are wonderful, they have a chocolate and a cheesecake for 100 calories.
I alway keep them so if I have a sweet tooth.

mamnboston

carrots with hummus
lots of fruit
sugar free pudding snacks
sugar free low cal yogurt, high protein ones like Chobani
celery
pretzels
low fat cottage cheese
AND FILL UP ON LOTS OF WATER!!!

bethieannie

Archer Farms Real Fruit strips. 45 calories, made with all natural ingredients, SUPER yummy! Reminds me of homemade fruit roll ups.
45 calories, 0 fat, 0 cholesterol, 5mg sodium, 85mg potassium, 11 carbs, 1 fiber, 9 sugars
Target carries them:happy:

TammyScalf

Hummis w/ carrot and peppers LOW Cal and all natural 164 calories


Pecan Vannila Yougurt Crunch
1 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
Dash of vanilla extract
1 TBS chopped Pecans
mix and eat 164 calories

almond butter and celery stalks YUMMO 236 calories


these are a couple from the Jillian Michaels BODY REVOLUTION

BurtHuttz

Perhaps consider other sources of potassium than bananas. Beet greens are an excellent source, white beans, tomatoes. Also, stretching is a zero-calorie method of mitigating cramping. 1200 calories sounds very low, though.

nicholjenny

I have trouble getting potassium too... Did you know that corn and potatoes are a great source of potassium? You could add potassium rich food into your meals and free up some of your snack calories. Just a thought.

harleygaljojo

Hi, everyone. I started MFP on March 11. Over my lifetime I have lost and gained probably 1000 pounds. I will keep it off
2 years and then next thing I know it is back. I am thankful that my daughter told me about MFP because now I really believe this
time it will be gone for good because I have a way to monitor my foods the rest of my life. I really needs to keep it off due to health
reasons. Having something in the pantry to help with a craving for something sweets really helps so on course.

I always look in the cookie isle at the store and can find for really good low calories snacks that are 100 calories or less
this seems to help when you can give your self a treat and not take much from you calorie count

mdmomof4

Thank everyone for all the ideas. Im going to give them a try. I have never had greek yogurt but that seems to be a favorite to quite a few people

alp1990

They may not be particularly healthy but ones I have occasionally are:

Caramel rocky bar - 101 cals
Jumbo chocolate chip snack a jacks - 62 calories
Butterkist toffee popcorn (30g from multipack) - 125 calories
Tesco crispy marshmallow square - 120 calories
Sunbites - 120 calories
Muller light yoghurts - calories range from 90-120 depending on flavour
kit kat - 99 calories
french fries - 99 calories

mdmomof4

Everyone has given me great advice. I have never ever felt I would be able to lose the weight on my own, BUT with the people on this site I know I can do it. Everyone is so helpful, you have no idea how greatful I am. I am aiming at 60- 65 pounds to lose , im sure its going to be a long road ahead of me and I may slip up from time t time, but Im NOT going to fail this time.

linochka1969

Good snacks
1.Hummus & carrots
2.Edamame beens with a little salt ( awesome source of protein)
3.Trader Joe's - Goat Milk Yogurt - Plain, 6 oz ( 100 cal & 7 carbs)
4. Lauging Cow products ( tasty, low cals, and individually wrapped)
5. Slice of smoked salmon with some tomato ( great protein & OMEGA 3)
6. Pumpkin seeds

nefarious

you can buy potassium pills at your local walmart for around $5.oo

here is from a blog I posted about 100 calorie snacks, hope this helps! Nicole

Best Snacks 100 Calories or Less
-5 Nabisco Nilla Wafers
-1 Whole Foods Market Two-Bite Brownie
-1 Healthy Choice Mocha Fudge Swirl Bar
-9 Tootsie Roll Midgees
-1 pouch Keebler Sandies Right Bites Shortbread Cookies
-½ cup Sharon's Lemon Sorbet with 1/4 cup blueberries
-1 Skinny Cow Fat Free Fudge Bar
-1 Nestlé Butterfinger Stixx
-12 vanilla Miss Meringue Minis
-4 Country Choice Certified Organic Ginger Snaps
-1 Vitamuffin Vitatop

Savory Bites

-29 pistachios
-60 Pepperidge Farm Baby Goldfish Crackers
-1 Jolly Time Healthy Pop 100 Calorie Mini Bag popcorn
-25 EatSmart Café Fries
-12 Back to Nature Sesame Ginger Rice Thins
-12 Quaker Quakes Cheddar Cheese Rice Snacks
-40 Rold Gold Classic Style Pretzel Sticks

Dairy Delights

-1 Laughing Cow Light Creamy Garlic & Herb cheese wedge and 3 Triscuits
-1 Kraft Polly-O Superlong Twist-Ums string cheese stick
-1 Yoplait Light Smoothie
-½ cup low-fat cottage cheese with 5 strawberries

Hearty Helpings

-Campbell's Soup at Hand Blended Vegetable Medley
-1 hard-boiled egg with 1 slice Melba toast
-4 slices Sara Lee Honey Ham with 2 teaspoons honey mustard, rolled in lettuce leaf
-½ mini bagel with 1 ounce smoked salmon

Fruits & veggies

-2 cups raspberries
-28 grapes
-1 cup blueberries
-1 cup mango chunks
-½ medium cantaloupe
-15 strawberries dipped in 1⁄4 cup Cool Whip Lite
-45 steamed edamame (green soybeans)
-2 tablespoons each of mashed avocado and chopped tomatoes stuffed in 1⁄2 mini pita
-½ red bell pepper dipped in 3 tablespoons hummus

bcattoes

If you are eating bananas for the potassium, perhaps you should try V8 instead. One 11.5 oz can of low sodium V8 has more than twice the potassium of 1 cup of sliced banana and the V8 is only 70 calories vs 134 for the banana.

jodigirl03

I didn't get to read all the replys but I saw some great snack ideas. Also, I think I'd go w/ a supplement and do the 1/2 banana in the am, the other 1/2 in the pm. I like the fruit smoothie ideas, cheese wedges, yogurt, fruit or veggies etc. But here's one I do if I'm still hungry at bedtime and my calories are gone for the day, I fry two egg whites w/ non stick cooking spray. Sometimes I have to take a fiber supplement with it so I can atleast fall asleep before the growlies come to get me. Ha ha! I add it to meals that just aren't filling enough too. It's my lil go to 32 calorie trick. But alos it seems like you may be able to make some cuts on your breakfast, possibly even lunch. What are you eating.

a few examples for breakfast:

2 egg whites
1-2 toast on Sara Lee 45 cal whole grain bread
1 tsp of 1/2 sugar or SF grape jelly

or
oatmeal
2 egg whites

1 turkey sausage patty
1-2 pieces of 45 cal toasted bread

lunch:

ham or turkey sandwich plain on WG bread
small salad, light dressing

or

1/2 chicken breast
fresh green beans
small salad, light dressing

or

a lean meal 290 calories

or
protein shake with 1/2 banana

snack ideas:

Berries are extremly low in calories however you want to incorporate them.
also good w/ a lil light whip cream mixed with 1 tbsp of FF cream cheese & a vanilla splenda.

or

carrots sliced and baked w/ non stick cooking spray, (taste like sweet potato fries)

another good idea, sweet potato w/ spray butter

miniture box of raisins

Some days I don't eat meals but I eat 10-12 mini HEALTHY snacks all throughout the day. It feels like I'm eating once an hour. I probably am. I stay very satisfied that way. I've learned one wrong choice can just blow the rest of your day.
Hope that helps.