Are you constantly wondering what you can eat as a snack without gaining weight? We, the SoDelicious team, are wondering the precise same thing every day! So, we’ve compiled a list with snacks under 200 calories; it’s a good idea that can be useful for us and for you!
Have you ever heard about the theory that certain foods help burn more calories during digestion than they contain? Don’t get high hopes, because it turns out the negative calorie theory is a myth. Still, some foods are low-calorie and make a perfect choice if you’re looking for snacks that don’t make you gain weight.
The whole point of snacking is to keep yourself from getting too hungry between meals (and maybe help you deal with your emotions). But the problem is when you feel like munching all the time and you choose zero-nutrient foods that don’t satisfy you, or unhealthy and caloric packaged snack foods like oily chips, crackers, or pretzels.
Instead of eating foods that don’t contain the nutrients you need to actually be satisfied, choose a snack that’s more than just carbs and check out our list with snacks under 200 calories.
10 snacks under 200 calories
1. Oven-baked zucchini chips
Whoever said you can’t eat chips because they’re not healthy haven’t tried these oven-baked zucchini chips. Give them a try and you’ll see that they’re delicious, crunchy, and they won’t mess up your diet! We made 2 servings from one zucchini, each one having 63 kcal. So, if you want more, you can eat both servings without the fear of gaining weight.
You can also make potato chips at home, but one serving (made of 1 potato) exceeds 200 calories by a little: it counts 207 kcal.
2. Half an apple with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter
Does it seem unsatisfying to only have half an apple with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter? Just try it and you’ll feel full and satisfied. This healthy snack has only 157 calories, yet packs a powerful and nutritious punch of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Half an apple has 63 calories, and one tablespoon of natural peanut butter has 94 calories and 8 grams of fat. Plus the sweet and salty combo is delicious!
3. Half a whole-wheat pita and one-quarter cup of hummus
An average whole-wheat pita has 85 calories. So, don’t be greedy and avoid the larger ones. Usually, a quarter-cup serving of hummus has about 93 calories, but this also depends on the ingredients. Together, the two make filling snacks under 200 calories. Besides being tasty, the whole grains in pita are a great source of fiber, and hummus is high in protein. Here you can find out how to make hummus at home because it’s healthier than the store-bought option.
4. 10 baked tortilla chips with half-cup of salsa
Choosing baked instead of fried tortilla chips and making fresh salsa at home is a smart way to snack. 10 baked tortilla chips have about 120 kilocalories, while a half-cup of salsa contains about 42 kilocalories. Salsa isn’t even difficult to make as long as you have fresh ingredients. Watch on to see the steps to take! Also, stop after the tenth tortilla chip!
5. One-quarter cup of almonds, cashews, or pistachios
You probably know that unsalted almonds, cashews, and pistachios are full of healthy fats. They’re also full of protein and fiber. But nuts are also high in calories. So, why are they on our 10 snacks under 200 calories list? Well, the key is to watch portion sizes. Almonds have 155 calories per quarter-cup serving, cashews have 157 calories, and pistachios have 170.
6. One apple with one stick of string cheese
When you’re on the go and you’re hungry you may feel tempted to eat high-calorie foods. Because low-cal snacks are not so easy to find in shops. Still, we give you an option that’s gonna satisfy you. One apple and one stick of low-fat string cheese. Yes, we know there are many in one pack, but stick to one if you want to eat less than 200 calories. A stick of low-fat string cheese is somewhere between 60 and 80 calories, and a medium apple is about 126 calories.
7. Parmesan cauliflower popcorn
Snacks really can be tasty and healthy at the same time. For this parmesan cauliflower fake popcorn, just mix the cauliflower florets with spices and parmesan and then all you have to do is roast them for 20 minutes. One serving has 100 calories and we made 4 servings using 1 pound (450 grams) of cauliflower. This can be served as a side dish, too.
8. A protein bar
When you’re on the go, another way to stick on snacks under 200 calories is to have a protein bar. Watch out for added sugar in store-bought protein bars and look for protein bars made with natural ingredients that are lower in calories and sugar and high in protein and fiber.
9. A half-cup of frozen yogurt
Sweet snacks under 200 calories are not easy to find. But some of them are incredibly easy to make. So, when your sweet tooth demands to be satisfied, eat half-cup of low- or nonfat frozen yogurt, because most varieties have less than 150 calories per serving. For sweetness and added nutrients, add chunks of fresh fruit. Or, if you have more time, you can try these oat muffins topped with fruit yogurt. The quantities are for 6 servings, and one serving has 135 kcal.
10. 6 ounces of plain Greek yogurt with strawberries
And if you’re really in a hurry and you want to eat something slightly sweet and fresh, mix Greek yogurt with fresh strawberries. Greek yogurt has just 100 calories per 6-ounce (170 grams) serving and has proteins that’ll make you feel full. Strawberries have only 46 calories in a cup, so you can eat without worries. Plus they’re packed with vitamins and antioxidants. So, combine to the two for a filling snack with a big nutrition boost.
A final note for you: you don’t have to count calories to be healthy. You can be healthy if you eat healthy foods, and healthy foods don’t necessarily mean few calories. Keep in mind that your calorie needs depend on your body type, your activity level, your goals, and many other factors. Still, if you want to lose weight, you should eat fewer calories than you burn.
