Best Low Calorie Snacks

I have said it before and I will say it again, I feel counting calories is pretty much the only way to lose weight. Now I am not a nutritionist, but I have lost all my college weight and baby weight this way (over 25 pounds each time) and I feel that this method really works! I know there are a lot of shakes, protein diets, and cleanses that people swear by, but I just can't see doing a diet that I can't keep up somewhat on a regular basis. Granted, I have never tried any of those other diets, but count calories just makes sense to me. As Dr. Laura always says, "More more, eat less."

With that said, I have 10 pounds to lose in this new year, thanks to my overindulgent eating over the holidays and the messed up scale (see post Things To Get Done In The New Year.)

In addition to my beloved MyFitnessPal,

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I couldn't count calories without my list of low calorie snacky foods that help me make it through those moments of hunger/boredom.

Here is my list for the Best Low Calorie Snacks that will help you power through to your weight loss goals:

1. String Cheese
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At around 80 calories per serving, string cheese is one of those foods that are great to eat on the go! It also has the benefits of adding protein and calcium to your diet.

2. Greek Yogurtsource

You can ask anyone, I love my yogurt. When I found out about Greek Yogurt, my love only grew stronger! This yogurt usually has about 15 to 20 grams of protein which is twice as much as regular yogurt. At around 140 calories per serving you can't go wrong!

3. Oatmeal

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This is a little unconventional as healthy snack foods, but on days I am craving something sweet this seems to hit the spot. It only has 120 calories, usually fills me up for a while, and provides lots of vitamin A, fiber, and iron.

4. Air-Popped Popcorn
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I love air-popped popcorn! This has become an almost nightly snack for me. The plain taste takes some time to get use to, but when you find out you can eat 4 cups of this at only 124 calories, you might want to give it a try.

5. Dove Dark Chocolate Miniatures
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This too has become a nightly snack for me. I love chocolate and I usually eat 2-3 pieces of this chocolate a night. It seems just to be enough to stop me from running up to Dairy Queen for a blizzard. If you savor each piece you will be amazed at how it will curb your sweet tooth. Eating 3 pieces of this chocolate is only 126 calories.

6. Green Tea
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There are moments throughout the day where you find that just want to eat out of boredom. I find them mostly when I am sitting on the couch watching TV. I have solved this problem by drinking a cup of green tea. Not only is it calorie free but it's also a calming part of my day to enjoy a nice cup of green tea. I know some people out there think it tastes bitter, but I ONLY buy the Bigelow Decaffeinated Green Tea because I have found many other brands are bitter. (An added bonus I have read lately is that green tea is suppose to help with fat loss!)

7. Cheerios
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This really started when I was pregnant and I don't know why I never thought of it before. If I workout really hard during the day I have a problem of waking up in the middle of the night hungry. I have solved this problem by eating a bowl of cheerios with skim milk right before bed. It only has 150 calories (if measured to what it says on the box) and it seems to just help me make it through the night. Also, I don't seem to wake up as hungry when I eat before bed.

8. Cottage Cheese
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My husband hates this stuff, but I love it. I am the only one eating it in the house, so when wanting some quick snack I grab a spoon and eat out of the container. I only buy the low-fat kind just to make sure I am not consuming large amount of calories. Eating 1/2 a cup is only 90 calories!

9. Hot Chocolate
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On those days you are really craving chocolate, I love to enjoy a nice cup of hot chocolate. It's sweet, warm and just enjoyable to drink. I don't think I have ever seen someone drink hot chocolate angry and how could you at only 90 calories a cup!

10. Peanut Butter
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I believe peanut butter can be both your friend and foe while dieting. Eating too much adds up the calories but eating a little can give you a little extra energy and keep you full for hours. I like to top a piece of 40 calorie whole wheat bread with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter, which ends up being about 140 calories.

That is my major snack food list while I work on losing this extra weight. Do you have any low calorie snack foods that you live by? If so, I would love to hear about them. I am always up for new ideas when counting calories. Please feel free to share below in the comments!