When you're trying to lose weight, it might seem like hunger pangs are par for the course. Because you need to burn more calories than you consume in order to lose weight, you might think you have to go hungry or, in the very least, sacrifice tasty food until you reach your ideal weight.
But in order to maintain your weight loss, you need to embrace your new exercise and eating habits for life. This means you can't feel deprived all the time—this would make you lead a boring and unhappy life. Forget that. You can eat delicious, filling foods and snacks, and become a healthier version of yourself if you make smart choices. We're not promising you 100-calorie snacks because, seriously, these tiny portions would barely satisfy the appetite of a child. Instead, eat snacks that contain good amounts of either protein, healthy fats and fiber—or all three—instead of store-bought, reduced-calorie snacks filled with sugar substitutes and other processed ingredients, and you'll feel satisfied with less.
The following snack recipes deliver the nutrition and flavors you crave (hello chocolate and peanut butter, and Chex snack mix) so you can embrace your healthy eating plan without feeling deprived.
More: 13 Ways to Maintain Your Weight Loss
Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie Recipe
by Ryan Wood
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 scoop chocolate protein powder*
- 1 tablespoon powdered peanut butter**
- 1 tablespoon butterscotch pudding powder
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds, optional
- 1 handful ice cubes
Combine all ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth.
*Calorie content varies per protein powder; we used 100% Chocolate Whey Protein Powder, which has 130 calories per scoop.
**There are several powdered peanut butter products available; this recipe uses PB2, which contains 45 calories per 2-tablespoon serving.
Makes 1 smoothie.
Calories per serving: 278
More: 10 High-Protein Snacks
