We all know the feeling; you’re rushing off to class, a meeting, a party, or work when it hits–attack of the munchies. There’s nothing worse than the rapid onset of plummeting blood sugar and insatiable hunger. It’s 3 p.m. – you’ve got to have a snack.
You could reach for a refined (read: white) flour-based 100-calorie pack of Chips Ahoy or a granola bar comprised of carbs sealed together with a startling glut of corn syrup (read: sugar). Take our word for it; in an hour, you’ll be back to square one.
To cure the hungry-girl blues, we’ve put together a menu of delicious, filling and surprisingly low-calorie snack options to help busy girls keep their high energy levels. This is the fuel you need to knock out that paper or exam, power through a late night or tackle a hectic afternoon–all for just about 100 calories. Magic? We think so.
1. Berry smoothie: 1/3 cup nonfat yogurt, 2/3 cup frozen berries
Smoothies are a classic on-the-go snack. They can be made with any number of ingredients thrown into a blender and pureed with the touch of a button. A homemade smoothie always trumps a store-bought one, though. Many chains fill their supersized cups with added sugars and dessert-like frozen yogurts and sherberts. Save your money and blend your own! Most importantly, base it with 100% fruit. Pick up a frozen bag of mixed berries, banana, mango or pineapple–whatever your favorite combination. Spoon in 1/3 cup plain nonfat yogurt, a splash of milk and a dollop of honey if you need more sweetness. Choose Greek-style yogurt, such as Fage, for a surge of filling protein. Cold snacks take longer to eat, which can help give your brain time to register fullness.
2. Orville Redenbacher’s Smart Pop 100-Calorie Mini Bags
If you’re in need of a salty snack, look no further than a few cups of microwave popcorn. Not only can this movie-theater delight be ready in less than two minutes, it’s filled with fiber to help keep you feeling full. It’s a very low-density snack, which will give your body the illusion that you’ve eaten a larger amount.
3. One Half Arnold Multi-Grain Select Sandwich Thin, 1 Laughing Cow Light wedge
Spread one of these delicious and perfectly-portioned wedges of creamy Laughing Cow cheese onto a half of a sandwich thin. Toast if you’d like for a makeshift grilled cheese. These mini-portions of cheese weigh in at only 35 calories each, but taste every bit as decadent as their fattier counterparts. Choose from a wide variety of flavors such as French Onion, Sundried Tomato & Mozzarella or plain old Swiss. Each has just a few grams of fat, enough to help satiate hunger. They’re also great to spread on a few whole-grain crackers! Plus, the whole grains pack in 24% of your daily dose of fiber.
4. Baked apple with cinnamon sugar
When it comes to fruit, apples are the Superman of the food group. A large red delicious or gala can be a filling snack on the go for under 100 calories. Apples have high water content, which helps to fill you up. Be sure to leave the skin on, too–it’s a great source of fiber. If you’ve got a few minutes, try cutting out the core and top of the apple; sprinkling on cinnamon sugar; and broiling on a small baking sheet for 3 to 4 minutes. All the great nutrients will still be there and you’ll feel like you’re eating dessert!
5. 1/3 cup frozen edamame
Edamame, also known as vegetable soy beans, have long been quarantined as a vegetarian-only food or a staple of Asian cuisines. But these mini-beans pack a big nutritional punch! They’re rich in carbohydrates, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids–the building blocks of a perfect snack. They’re usually sold frozen and in their pods–microwave on defrost for about 2 minutes and squeeze out of the pods if you wish. Sprinkle with Hot Shot (a delicious blend of cracked red and black pepper), garlic salt or Greek Seasoning to add some flavor.
Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-100-calorie-snacks#
http://caloriecount.about.com/
Smoothie (photo): DrinkWhat. http://www.drinkwhat.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Home-Made-Real-Fruit-Smoothie.jpg
Laughing Cow (photo): The Laughing Cow. http://www.thelaughingcow.com/files/2010/04/Wheels_Partially_Open_LightSwiss1.jpg
Fruit (photo): Squidoo. https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTxg_mnDTlQNuCwnyjK2k0hWkvLmnRsTTYv1etIp5MEPIt3bv5yyA