Stop mindless snacking, add these 5 dietitian-approved picks to your cart today.

Spring is right around the corner, which makes it an incredibly popular time to getting into shape. If you’re considering dieting, setting yourself up for success starts with an optimized grocery list. Having the right items on hand can make all the difference in your efforts—especially when it comes to snacks. After all, late-night snacking can be the downfall of a calorie deficit if you’re unprepared.

To help you get started, we spoke with Dr. Kezia Joy, RDN and Medical Advisor with Welzo, to learn which healthy snacks should be on your list. In fact, these five snacks are the only ones Dr. Joy recommends eating when it comes to weight loss.

The 5 Snacks a Dietitian Recommends for Weight Loss

According to Dr. Joy, her five most commonly suggested snacks for weight loss include cottage cheese with vegetables, Greek yogurt with fresh berries, hummus with raw vegetables, an ounce of or a few nuts with a piece of fruit, and a smoothie using whole food ingredients and protein.

Three Key Components That Support Weight Loss

Three essential components that support weight loss are protein, healthy fats, and fiber, with protein serving as the foundation of a weight-loss-approved snack.

“Each [of these options] allows for quick preparation, can be easily incorporated into your daily routine, and will allow you to have a variety of options as you work on losing weight, and help keep you from feeling like you’re being deprived by eating a “snack,’” Dr. Joy explains. “When you eat snacks that are good for you and allow you to meet your nutritional needs, but also limit the amount of calories you consume, you are more likely to continue to make good choices over time.”

How These Snacks Support Satiety and Prevent Overeating

These healthy snack options are chock-full of fiber and protein—both of which promote satiety and take longer to digest compared to other snacks. By decreasing the desire to over-eat during your next meal, you’re establishing more balanced eating habits.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

“These types of snack food can assist with maintaining consistent blood glucose levels, and consistent blood glucose levels are very important to regulate your hunger. The less your blood glucose levels fluctuate, the less you will experience hunger,” Dr. Joy adds. “If you are able to control your hunger with snack foods prior to consuming highly processed convenience foods, it may help to limit the amount of highly processed convenience foods you consume during the day.”

Why Many Snacks Derail Weight-Loss Goals

Many snacks are packed with refined carbs and added sugar while adding zero nutritional value to your diet.

As Dr. Joy puts it, “They’re easily digested, but do little to suppress our desire for additional food.” This makes it easy to overeat these snack foods throughout the day, leading to excess calorie consumption.

“Another reason why the snacks I recommend are better than typical snacks is that they have a larger volume of nutrients per serving than typical snacks,” Dr. Joy tells us. “Most snack foods are designed so that we can eat too much of them with very little nutritional value. Therefore, when you choose to eat one of the snacks I recommend, the calories will provide satiety, or fullness.”

Why Snack Timing Matters

Snack timing matters more than you’d think.

“Snacks at appropriate times may prevent an interval of time from one meal to another in which individuals are likely to consume excess calories due to a large gap in time since the last meal. Snacking maintains consistent levels of energy throughout the day,” Dr. Joy says. “A mid-afternoon snack will also help control energy crashes and reduce the likelihood that you’ll feel the need for sweet treats. A balanced snack supports your ability to focus and be productive. Evening snacking should be purposeful (not routine) and based on your body’s need for food as opposed to just eating out of habit. Protein-based snacks are usually the best choice.”

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Dietitians share simple daily snacks that support fat loss, muscle, and metabolism after sixty.

Snacking often gets a bed reputation when it comes to losing weight. Some people equate snacking with adding extra calories to your daily count. However, there is another way of looking at it. Snacking can also amp up your protein intake, while satiating cravings. As you age, selecting snacks to fuel your body can be tricky. We asked our go-to nutritionist, Tara Collingwood, MS, RDN, CSSD, LD/N, ACSM-CPT, a Board Certified Sports Dietitian and co-author of the Flat Belly Cookbook for Dummies for recommendations. Whether you like sweet or savory snacks, she has options that will keep your fueled up in between meals. Here are 4 daily snacks that shrink belly pooch without exercise after 60.

Greek Yogurt with Berries

Greek Yogurt with Berries is the first snack on Collingwood’s list. “Protein becomes especially important as we age to help preserve muscle, and Greek yogurt delivers a solid protein boost in a small, easy-to-eat snack. Adding berries adds fiber, which helps keep hunger at bay longer. This combo supports muscle health, digestion, and steady energy,” she says.

Harvest Snaps with Hummus or Cottage Cheese

Harvest Snaps with Hummus or Cottage Cheese offers some salt and crunch but also protein. “Harvest Snaps Lightly Salted are made from real veggies, so they naturally provide 4g of fiber and 5g of satiating, whole food-sourced protein. Pairing them with hummus or cottage cheese adds even more protein.  The crunch satisfies cravings, while protein and fiber work together to promote fullness,” Collingwood says.

Apple Slices with Peanut or Almond Butter

Apple Slices with Peanut or Almond Butter is a delicious snack you can make at home. “Fiber from fruit plus protein and fat from nut butter is a classic combination that works especially well after 50, when blood sugar stability and satiety really matter,” Collingwood explains. “This snack is portable, satisfying, and easy to adjust for appetite.”6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

Smoothie with Protein and Fiber

You can never go wrong with a smoothie packed with protein and fiber to fuel you up for the day. “A small smoothie with protein powder, berries, and chia or flax offers both protein and fiber in a convenient form. You can customize the type of protein you prefer and drink it at your desk or on the go,” says Collingwood.

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