Healthy Snack Ideas

Healthy snacks for weight loss help keep you feeling satisfied so that you will stick to your diet until you reach your goal weight. Don't you hate it when you first start a new diet, and you walk around feeling hungry and cranky? That's because when you significantly lower the number of calories your body is taking in, your blood sugar levels can plummet making you feel weak, irritable and craving foods that are most likely off limits for your weight loss plan.

Here are a few healthy snack ideas for you that will satisfy those cravings, but also keep you on track for your weight loss goals:

High Fiber Diet Cookie Recipe

4 cups of oatmeal (not instant or quick cook)
1 can of cannelloni beans (15 oz), drained
½ cup sugar
½ cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup chopped raisins or dates
½ cup flaked coconut
½ cup chopped walnuts

Place the oatmeal in a blender and blend until the consistency of flour.    Pour into a bowl and set aside.

Place the beans in the blender and blend until smooth.   Stir in the white sugar, brown sugar and vanilla.

Combine the ground oats, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon – blend with the beans.

Stir in the dates or raisins, coconut and walnuts.  Drop heaping spoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 325 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes.

Source: loseweightandgethealthy.com/2011/04/healthy-snacks-for-weight-loss/

Crab Stuffed Mushrooms

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons light or regular mayonnaise
3 tablespoons fat free sour cream
3 tablespoons Italian seasoned dry bread crumbs (panko crumbs can be substituted)
3 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic
1 can (6 1/2 ounces) crabmeat (or 1 cup fresh crabmeat), rinsed and drained well
Dash or two Tabasco
Black pepper to taste
18 medium sized mushrooms, stems removed

Preparation:

Preheat slow cooker to high heat.
Meanwhile, in small bowl, combine mayonnaise, fat free sour cream, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and garlic. Fold in the crabmeat. Add Tabasco and black pepper to taste.
Spoon heaping teaspoons full of crab filling into mushroom caps.
Arrange mushroom caps (crab side up) in the bottom of the preheated slow cooker. Add cover and cook on HIGH for about 2 hours. Reduce heat to LOW and serve the crab-stuffed mushrooms from the slow cooker if desired.

Yield:
Makes 9 servings (2 mushrooms per serving)

Nutritional Information:
Per serving: 59 calories, 5 g protein, 4 g carbohydrate, 2.5 g fat, .6 g saturated fat, 16 mg cholesterol, .5 g fiber, 177 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 38 percent.

Source: medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=98067

Spinach Squares

Ingredients:

1 egg
1/4 cup egg substitute
1/2 cup low-fat milk
1 cup unbleached or all-purpose flour (whole wheat can be substituted for half of the flour)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp butter or canola margarine, melted
1/3 cup fat-free or light sour cream
8 oz reduced fat Monterey Jack cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
2 10-ounce boxes frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained (gently squeeze excess water with hands)

Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Coat a 9x9-inch baking dish with canola cooking spray.
2. Beat egg, egg substitute, milk, flour, salt, baking powder, melted butter, and sour cream in mixing bowl on medium-low speed until smooth batter has formed.
3. Stir in cheese cubes and spinach. Pour into prepared pan, spread evenly with spatula, and bake about 35 minutes. Test center to make sure it isn't runny. Let sit about 10 minutes before serving.
4. Cut the spinach squares after they come out of the oven, then keep them refrigerated. Just eat them cold as a snack or warm what you need in the microwave. These are a low-calorie, higher protein snack with only 17 grams of carbohydrate per serving.

Yield:
9 side servings or snacks

Nutritional Information:
Per serving: 188 calories, 12.5 g protein, 17 g carbohydrate, 8 g fat (4.5 g saturated fat), 45 mg cholesterol, 2 g fiber, 525 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 38%.

Source: medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=59552