Snacks & Treats for Under 250 Calories

Are you on a diet rollercoaster?  Not surprising...diets don't work!  Most diets severly restrict your calories, and cause your metabolism to slow down.  When your metabolism slows, your body goes into preservation/starvation mode.  Then, your body will start taking nutrients from your muscles for energy.  Do you really think this sounds like the way to lose weight and live a healthy lifestyle?  NO WAY!!  To keep that metabolism kicked into high gear, and for maximum weight loss, you should be eating 5 to 6 meals/day.  Now, I know most of us have no problem getting in three solid meals -  take a look at those meals too, chances are your portions are out of control.  Three meals, and two snacks a day is the way to get your body to the lean machine you've always wanted.  I've put together some snack ideas for you that are 250 calories or less.  I even gave you a couple of sweet treats, because we all have cravings, don't we?!?

Buy a scale, weigh and measure your food for awhile until you feel comfortable eyeballing it.  I still weigh my food when I'm home cooking, just to be on the safe side. 

Enjoy - and let me know what you think!

HUMMUS EGG SALAD

Mix 4 hard boiled egg whites with 2 Tbsp hummus.  Put into a small whole-wheat pita, with lettuce.
184 calories, 3.8 g fat

 

MINI PIZZA

Split 1 whole-wheat English muffin, top with 1/3 cup tomato sauce, and 1 low-fat string cheese stick.  Bake in toaster oven until cheese melts, 3 to 5 minutes.

135 calories, 10 g fat

 

 

 

 

EDAMAME BEANS

Boil 1 cup edamame and sprinkle with sea salt.  Eat the beans in the pod.

179 calories, 7.5 g fat

BLACK BEAN ROLL UP

Fill one small corn tortilla with 1/4 cup mashed black beans.  Top with 1/4 of an avocado, sliced, and 1 Tbsp salsa.
199 calories, 8.7 g fat





STRAWBERRIES & CHEESE

Top 4oz of low-fat ricotta cheese with 1 cup of sliced strawberries, and 2 tsp of honey.

209 calories, 6 g fat



 

 

CHOCOLATE MONKEY

Dip a banana in 1oz melted dark chocolate.
250 calories, 11.6 g fat

EASY TRAIL MIX

Mx 10 kernels of raw pistachios, 1oz dried apricots, and 1oz dark chocolate chips.

250 calories, 14.3 g fat

NEED A GOOD WORKOUT, BUT CAN'T GET OUT OF THE HOUSE?

All these snow days are getting a bit ridiculous.  Since when did we becme such wimps?!?!  I remember the blizzard of "76, when I was a kid living in Newport RI....my father and I were out on the roads for some reason and had to park his van at the the top of the road and walk home because we were at the bottom of a hill.  I also remember always being outside playing in the snow, or asking my neighbors if I could shovel their driveways.  I rarely see kids out these days.  What are they doing?  Sitting inside on the computer or playing video games?  No wonder you parents are going crazy with all these snow days!  Who wouldn't need some stress relief from that?  While you may be stuck inside and not able to get to boot camp or the gym, you can still get a good workout, right at home.  The only thing you'll need for this total body workout is a set of dumbells and a bench.  No worries if you don't have the bench, you can use a step, a coffee table, or even a chair.  If you are uncertain of any exercises, Google or YouTube them.  Or, you can contact me.  :)   Now, go burn some calories, and let me know how you do!

Perform each exercise for 1 minute.  Go through at least 3 times; that should take you close to an hour.

PLANK
PRISONER SQUATS
RENEGADE ROWS
JUMPING JACKS
PUSH UPS
BULGARIAN SPLIT-SQUAT W/BICEP CURL
TRICEP DIP
MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS
SIDE PLANK
SINGLE LEG HIP BRIDGE (AKA HIP EXTENSION)
SPIDER MAN PUSH UP
BENT OVER ROW
BICYCLE CRUNCH
SQUAT JUMP