3 Delicious, Easy Low-Calorie Mini-Meals

3 Delicious, Easy Low-Calorie Mini-Meals

Hungry? Got the munchies? Tummy growling? Eating mini-meals throughout the day can keep those hunger pangs at bay and give your metabolism a boost, too. Here are three mini-meals that are tasty, satisfying, and good for you, too!

Raw veggies (with or without non-fat dip)

If you're just dying for a crunchy snack, don't reach for potato chips or nacho chips, which are loaded with salt and fat. Instead, try some crunchy raw vegetables to satisfy your need for crunchies. Most raw veggies have negligible calories so you can eat a lot of them. And they're satisfying because they have so much fiber.

Try cucumber spears or slices, bell peppers of all colors cut into strips, carrot sticks, raw cauliflower or broccoli florets. A little sea salt may be all you want on them, but be careful not to overdo the salt.

If you're craving "crunchies and dip," try hummus, tomato-based salsa, or non-fat yogurt mixed with your choice of herbs and spices. Some good spices are a little onion or garlic powder, lemon pepper, chili powder, or dill. It may take some trial and error to find a blend you like, so start with 1/2 teaspoon in 6 ounces of non-fat plain yogurt. Let it sit for about half an hour to mellow the flavors, taste, and season with more spice, lemon juice, or even some pickle juice.

Fresh fruit (with or without non-fatm no sugar dip)

Fruit are a great way to satisfy a sweet tooth with natural sugars and plenty of fiber. The lowest calories choices are grapefruit, berries of all kinds, cantaloupe, peaches, and apples. Be sure to eat the peel of the peaches and apples, which have lots of fiber that slows absorption and reduces any spikes in blood sugar.

You can also enjoy your fruit with a non-fat dip made of 6 ounces of plain non-fat yogurt, half a teaspoon of vanilla extract, and a couple of individual packets of stevia, a natural sweetener made from the stevia plant. Or make a slushie-smoothie with non-fat yogurt, ice, and two packets of stevia.

Kabobs

You can make these on the outdoor grill or in the broiler... but however you cook them, they are delicious. Alternate chunks of boneless skinless chicken breast, deveined shrimp, or very lean beef with chunks of onion, firm tomato, and bell pepper. Grill gently until done, then enjoy! If you wish, you can marinate the protein in lemon juice, lime juice, or red wine plus some herbs and spices.

As you can see, it's not difficult to enjoy snacks and mini-meals that taste great and fill you up, too!