Secrets of Success

Keep fresh fruit around

Buy fresh fruit and keep it in stock and in sight. I keep apples and bananas on the counter, and fresh berries and such at eye level in the fridge. Chances are, if it is in sight, you'll eat it.

Air Popcorn

I bought a hot air popcorn maker and pop white kernel popcorn. It has a nutty flavor and I don't need flavorings during the day when I just want something to crunch on (and I'm tired of celery)

Pop in the am and bring to work - still tastes freshly popped!

Serving Size Portions

Whenever I buy a 'snackable' food (carrots, crisps, pretzels, cookies, ect) I immediately repackage it into serving size baggies with the calories written directly on the package. That way everytime I reach for a snack I'm reminded of exactly what I'm eating!

Track First

I like to track my day's food first thing in the morning or as soon as I know what I'm eating for meals. That way I know how much is left for a snack in the evening. I love to budget my calories and fat for a snack during my downtime in the evening. It makes it feel like a splurge even though it fits perfectly into my day's plan!

grilled fruity

grilling fruits brings out the sweetness add alittle whipped heavy cream for an extra punch

Have a snack set

Find a set of snacks that will fit within your calorie budget. Know the proper portion sizes for these snacks by heart. Keep these things together so that when the munchies set in you can go straight to them for a small snack rather than raiding the fridge.

Greek Yogurt with Honey and Strawberries

This snack is amazing! You have 6 ounces of fat free Greek Yogurt, 1 teaspoon of honey, 1/2 cup of chopped strawberries, and 1-2 packets of Splenda. It feel like a cheat snack that gives me my sweet tooth fix, while burning fat!

Switch out your snacks!

I hear people complain about being tempted by their snack food. Here's a flash! No matter where you are in your journey, take a look at your stash of snacks. Purge that stash with healthy goodies. Focus on snack time at twice a day, three times max! Put fruit and veggies into the mix! Get rid of the bad stuff! It's really easy to do and it will become a healthy change to your lifestyle!

Add ground flax seeds to yogurt

I add ground flax seed to yogurt instead of granola. It has fewer calories and adds texture, crunch and healthy fats.

Afternoon Sweet Tooth?

When I get hungry in the afternoons (or after a good workout), I mix 4 ounces of regular fat free Greek yogurt with a packet of Diet Swiss Miss cocoa powder (25 calories). Its a very filling and satisfying sweet snack!

Making healthy snacks easy and fast!

After groceries I immediately cut up all the veggies and divide them into small containers. I put 4 or 5 different veggies in each. I use other containers to do the same thing with fruit. When we need a snack or to take to work we grab one of each plus whatever else we need. The hubs loves having them available and I love that there are no old veggies wasting away in the fridge not being eaten.

Try water first

Feeling hungry again? You may just be thirsty. Drink a glass of water and see if you still feel hungry. Often time thirst for me feels like hunger, but after rehydrating I feel satisfied.

Something to Look Forward to Every Day

Ice cream--a really good half-fat kind, like Lovin Scoopfuls or Breyer's, has a permanent home in my freezer--and in my heart. I know that I can look forward to eating a half-cup of it any and every evening, as long as it fits into my calore count for the day. At about 100 calories per serving, it ALWAYS does.

Black Friday Snacks- Double Win

When I Black Friday shop, I'm usually out for AT LEAST 8 hours...make sure to bring healthy snacks with you so when you get snacky you don't grab something at the register...you save money and calories!

Too busy to think? Plan NOW for TOMORROW.

If I don't plan ahead I just seem to do whatever I "feel" like, which often doesn't equal ANYTHING on my goal list.

Attempting to plan for tomorrow, today, seems to help me out quite a bit. So when I don't have time to think- I don't HAVE to. Days don't always go according to "plan", but I stick a LOT closer to my goals than without a plan. At least I'll be thinking about my goals!

Sometimes without a plan, I waste so much time THINKING about what to do that I end up not having time to DO it.

Tame Your On-The-Go Munchies

I find that if I miss my snacks between meals, I am much more likely to over eat later or grab something bad for me! Having healthy snacks to grab on a busy schedule can be tough. I keep a stash of health 100 calorie or less snacks, pre-portioned in my car (if you live in temperature extremes pack items that won't spoil or freeze), at work, and 1-2 portions in my purse. I have no excuse to eat poorly on-the-go foods or binge later!

fill fuller

i drink one 8 oz glass of water before I put any food in my mouth. Makes me fill fuller quicker and I notice I am not hungry after eating my small meals or snacks. I never get headaches anymore ( dehydration is the number one reason for headaches) and I don't get thirsty anymore either ( which is your bodies way of telling you are already dehydrated) Water is a huge help for many things!!

Craving Sweets?

I love sweets so when I get a craving that I just cannot shake off I will pop a bag of kettle corn in the microwave. It has a slightly sweet taste to it. You can get the bags in the single serving size and for under a 100 calories your craving is satiated.

Pre-portion fruits and veggies to take on the run!

I like to cut up, portion/weigh fruits and veggies into baggies and write the weight in grams on the bag so they ready for me to grab quickly as I leave for work in the morning. This makes it quick and easy to eat and track! They are also perfect snack size, and helps me get my 5 a day (minimum) in easily!

Colorful Cherry Tomatoes - Pop in Some Flavor!

Cherry tomatoes make great guilt free snack! When I open the fridge door looking for something to munch on, they are the first thing I see. They have a nice bright flavor that prevents me from grazing deeper in to the depths of the fridge. Plus, it is kind of fun to pop them in your mouth and hear them crunch! Each cherry tomato is only 3 calories. It is a great effortless way to pop in more servings of vegetables.

CALORIE-FREE FOODS... do exist ;)

Tracking everything can be difficult... Sometimes you just want something and you don't want to run to the computer or enter it in your phone.. You just want to have a little something with the kids maybe or before bed ... What if you didn't have to track it? What if you could take the calories out of your favorite foods?

You can.

All you have to do is track it earlier... not an estimate. Instead, make yourself a smoothie, track the full amount and don't drink it all... freeze some for later.

Southwest Enchilada Black Bean Dip-Fritos brand-actually looked at the label...

I'm a sucker for chips & dip!! Bought a can of Fritos Southwest Enchilada Black Bean Dip & didn't open it because I was sure it wouldn't be good for me, but then I looked at the label & a serving is just 30 calories and NO FAT!! Imagine my surprise!! Not everything Fritos makes is terrible for you. Had a serving of the dip with a serving of baked tortilla chips - a pretty good snack all-in-all!!

Allow wiggle room in your diet on the weekends.

Allowing yourself "weekends off" when it comes to dieting can help motivate you to eat extremely healthy for five days of the week--when you restrict yourself to only allowing your treats on weekends, it reduces the temptation to give in "just this once" the rest of the time. In addition, when the obligation of strict eating is loosened on the weekends, the temptation to give up on the diet or be fed up and binge is greatly reduced.

If you know you eat when your'e bored, eat tactile foods.

This is certainly not a new idea, but it's on my mind tonight: If you know you eat out of boredom, get yourself foods to snack on that are "stimulating" to the senses in some way. For example, baby carrots are adorable to look at and make that wonderful crunch when you chew them. Pistachios have those shells that are so satisfying to snap apart. Use the sensory elements of food to satisfy boredom instead of just the flavor alone.

Sticking to a diet plan

Plan, plan, plan. I make batches of healthy snacks which need no refrigeration. Example : sugar free meringues, I change the flavouring often so I don't get bored ; meat crisps (put lean meat in the oven until it is crispy). I keep tupperwares at work and home, and refresh them regularly. That way if I have a pang for something sweet or salty I do not have excuses to make poor choices.