America is a nation that loves snacks. People are always on the go. From parents to students to kids, everyone is constantly moving and eating.
However, snacks are more convenient than they are nutritious. You need snacks that are good for you, regardless of season.
Dawn Jackson Blatner (registered dietitian, contributor to Fitness magazine) offers five slimdown snacks for you and your loved ones to help get you through the summer.
Tuna. Tuna is an excellent source for omega-3 fatty acid and lean protein. Protein helps you feel satisfied and fills you up. Research suggests that omega-3s may help lower your body’s fat levels and reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure.
StarKist tuna pouches can be single-served with whole-grain crackers and carrots as well as red bell pepper slices. At 110 calories or less per pouch,* they are a delicious and easy snack.
Watermelon. Watermelon. “slimming secret”The extraordinary high water content of watermelon makes it a very popular fruit. “Watermelon is 92 percent water,”Blatner. “Research shows that foods with high water content may help you naturally eat hundreds less calories per meal.”
Jicama. “This root vegetable is an excellent source of fiber with six grams per cup,” Blatner explains. Snackers can eat fiber quickly and it is crucial for those trying to adhere to a diet.
You can make summer snacks with jicama by cutting it into sticks and adding chili powder and lime zest. Each cup has only 50 calories.
Iced ginger Tea Columbia University found that ginger beverages with meals may make you feel satisfied and help you control your appetite later on in the day. Blatner claims that “It’s one of my favorite refreshing and slimming summer drinks!”
Yogurt. Yogurt has a lot of calcium. Your body will burn more fat if you have more calcium in your cells. It has been shown that avowed yogurt-eaters have less belly fat than nonyogurt-eaters.
Blatner suggests making parfaits with unsweetened 2 percent yogurt and fresh fruit. In a blender, you can mix yogurt, honey and fruit. Make refreshing summer popsicles by freezing the puree.
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* Most StarKist varieties are lighter in calories, except for the products that are packed in oil.