A snack a day keeps a bad day away! This is true because when are you ever bored of snacking? Whether you’re working, watching a movie, relaxing, or going out, a perfect, healthy, low-calorie snack is just the right amount of warmth for the New Year.
Smart snacking doesn’t have to be boring and that’s what comes to mind when you think of healthy snacks. We get it, eating greens and fruit while watching a Hallmark movie can be sad. That’s why the art of dazzling your everyday healthy snacks is just what you need this New Year.
The New Year calls for fun, but it also calls for a commitment to staying healthy. Yes, that last one might not be our favorite part, but staying healthy has never been out of the question. It’s all about finding a snack that will make you happy while also being nutritious. Here are five tasty yet nutritious snacks to start the new year off right.
1. Popcorn with cinnamon spices
Who said popcorn can’t be healthy and fun? With a hint of perfect cinnamon spice on top, air-popped popcorn might be your next best movie partner. A cup of air-popped popcorn contains only 30 calories. If popcorn is this healthy, I can see you refilling the bowl before midterms!
A bucket of popcorn can be made more nutritious with the right seasoning, and pure cinnamon is the perfect choice. Quick and easy, you start with a selection of low-calorie, simple, airy kernels. If you have a sweet tooth, a sprinkle of powdered sugar wouldn’t hurt and would help your popcorn stick better than granulated sugar.
While cinnamon is the main character, you can always add a mix of other fun spices like nutmeg or salt without adding calories. A healthy, low-calorie popcorn is an underrated treat and a solid snack option.
2. Cheese board
There is nothing more exciting than a fancy cheeseboard paired with cozy evening gossip sessions with friends and family. Creating a healthy, low-calorie cheesecake is an art that can take some time to master. Although conventionally, cheese boards aren’t always the lowest in calories, smart portion control makes them your next favorite healthy snack.
We start by choosing the right nutritional yet fun alternative to cheese: feta! Feta cheese is not only low in calories compared to many other cheeses, but it’s also high in protein and nutrients like calcium and vitamin B. Since it’s a cheese board, our healthy, low-calorie feta can be paired with other soft cheeses like cottage cheese or ricotta.
The rule is to stick to portion and serving control. That’s why, for a low-calorie meat, choosing thinly sliced turkey pepperoni can be a perfect addition to your cheeseboard. To add some color to your table, we can add fruits and vegetables rich in fiber, such as apple slices, strawberries, baby carrots or peppers.
3. Mini stuffed avocados
If there’s one thing that remains a favorite, regardless of the season, it’s avocado! Avocados not only add vibrant color to any meal but are also rich in nutrients and fiber. Your guide to making avocados healthy and low in calories is to keep it right portion control when it comes to their fillings.
One of the popular fillings for avocados is a fresh, spicy salsa. With some juicy tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, cilantro, lemon juice and light seasonings, the delicacies on your table can become much more colorful and delicious. The avocado and salsa mix will not only deliver the richest nutrients in one go, but it will also deliver a burst of flavor with just the right amount of crunch.
4. Sweet potato chips
A New Year’s celebration is not complete without chips, and these light and airy, sweet, low-calorie chips are just the right snack. Not only are sweet potatoes rich in antioxidants and fiber, they also come with a naturally sweeter side that will keep you and your stomach fuller than regular potatoes!
How we make these sweet potato chips into low-calorie snacks follows two steps. First, we make our healthy sweet potato chips by frying or air-frying, which saves us the extra fat of frying. Tossing our crisps in a little olive oil spray gives them that extra boost of nutrition and an amazing taste too!
Second, we control our portion control. Seasoned with just the right amount of salt and light seasoning, low-calorie sweet potato chips become such an easy and healthy alternative. You can get your chips and a good game of Jenga, maybe the best combination ever.
5. Roasted chickpeas
A little spice and a hot cup of healthy, low-calorie roasted chickpeas make for the nicest snack on our list. It sounds hot, delicious, healthy and most importantly, it’s healthy! Chickpeas are probably the best low-calorie snack because they’re not only high in protein and fiber, but they’re also a better, crunchier alternative to packaged chips.
You can eat crunchy, spicy, roasted chickpeas this season, but let us break it down for you. You can start with a nice, light spray of olive oil on the chickpeas. After roasting your chickpeas, you can play around with some spices.
After tossing your roasted chickpeas with a creative blend of spices, you’re good to go. Grab a bowl, put in your new healthy, crunchy snack and make those New Year’s resolutions come true!
Final Thoughts
Healthy and smart snacking doesn’t have to be hard. When we think of healthy, low-calorie foods, we can’t help but associate them with the most boring things out there. But that’s not the truth! Healthy snacking can be made fun in the easiest way possible. It’s just a game of making the right choice with low-calorie alternatives and a balanced portion size.
We hope this will become your go-to list for satisfying your low-calorie snack cravings, helping you reach those weight goals much faster. It’s always about happiness and health coexisting in the best possible way!
