Calorie counts
Not everyone needs to snack. For some people - three square meals work fine. For others, snacking is a way of life. But, without some pre-planning, most snacks choices will keep you in a rut. Snacking healthy is a great way to maintain energy levels, manage hunger and prevent bingeing. To help motivate you to make healthier choices, let's take a look at some popular snacks, the surprising amount of calories they have and some alternative ideas for healthier eating:
1. Peanut butter and jelly sandwich with 8 ounce glass of milk – 555 calories. Instead try an apple with a bit of peanut butter for dipping.2. Bagel with cream cheese and juice – 510 calories. Instead, try a fiber enriched English muffin with a bit of sugar free jam.
3. One slice of cheese pizza – 300 calories. Substitute pizza with a rice cake topped with mozzarella, cut up tomato and fresh basil.
4. Yogurt smoothie – 390 calories. Instead, have a small can of vitamin packed vegetable juice.
5. Peanut butter with a banana on toast - 390 calories. Better to skip the toast and peanut butter and just have the banana.
6. Chili cheese fries – 619 calories. Munch on dried peas instead.
7. Nachos with beans – 560 calories. Instead try about 10 blue organic corn chips with a small amount of hummus for dipping.
8. Four ounces of trail mix with chocolate chips or M & M's included – 582 calories. Instead eat a handful of grapes.
9. Tuna salad on five crackers – 440 calories. Omit crackers and have a small can of tuna sprinkled with favorite seasoning.
10. Granola bar with yogurt – 480 calories. Enjoy instead fat-free Greek yogurt sprinkled with granola and nix the high calorie granola bar.
11. Hostess fruit pie – 480 calories. For a healthier substitute, eat several pieces your favorite variety of dried fruit.
12. Nutter butter cream patties – 160 calories. Substitute with a handful of animal crackers.
13. Small French fries – 230 calories. Have carrot sticks instead. Similar shape, but only a fraction of the calories.
14. One good sized brownie – 450 calories. Instead, peruse health food store isle for healthier versions of sweet snacks. You'll be amazed at what is available!
15. Kit Kat bar - 218 calories. As an alternative, try their mini-version at only 40 calories.
16. Root beer float - 270 calories. Instead make a low-cal version using sugar-free root beer and one scoop of sugar free vanilla ice cream for only 50 calories!
17. Snickers chocolate bar – 280 calories. Have a bit-sized version for only 40 calories.
18. One chocolate chip cookie – 80 calories. Try a low fat version. Small chocolate milk shake - 240 calories. Sub out with small glass of chocolate soy milk.
19. Chips and salsa (15 chips) - 200 calories. Instead have a piece of whole grain crisp bread topped with low fat cottage cheese.
20. One medium sized hotdog with fixings – 315 calories. If you've got to have the meat, enjoy a small beef jerky stick.
21. Pepperoni Pizza Hot Pocket – 350 calories. Instead enjoy a bowl of low sodium soup.
22. Muffins – averaged to large-sized muffins can range up to 500 calories each. If you can't resist, choose a smaller sized whole grain or bran muffin.
23. 16 ounce soda - 150 calories. Instead have 100 fruit juice or antioxidant rich Acai juice.
24. Starbucks chocolate malt frappuccino with whipped cream – 610 calories. Instead, opt for a smaller version with low fat milk.
25. One ounce of cheese puffs - 160 calories. Instead, enjoy munching on veggie-based chips.
