As I might have mentioned here once or twice (okay… a dozen times) before, I have been following Dr Ian Smith’s “Shred” diet since returning home from a very decadent spring break week with my family in Florida. Some weeks I have been more dedicated to following the details of the diet and exercise plan than others…. but one of the things that I have learned from this process is that I really need to re-think the way that I “snack”…. both in terms of how often to eat as well as what constitutes a good snack that will both satisfy my need to eat as well as hold me over until the next meal/snack time comes along!

Key to Success: 4 Small Meals and 3 Snacks a Day!

I know that I have heard this recommendation before, but this is the first time that I ever actually tried it. My meal/snack schedule looks like this:

8:30am- Breakfast (and this is my most substantial meal of the day)

10:00am- Snack 1

11:30am- Lunch

1:00pm- Snack 2

3:00pm- Mid-Day Meal

6:00pm- Dinner

8:00pm- Snack 3

Of course the best part is that it does feel as if you are either eating or approaching a time to eat all day long. The tough part is that each individual meal or snack is meant to be small- so you are never filling your tummy- it’s more like you are eating just to keep hunger at bay. And for me, that’s a whole new way of eating.

Snacks Should be 100-150 calories in Size!

And let me tell you…. that’s not a lot of calories to work with if you like donuts, cupcakes, and cookies! So I made it my mission to “stretch” those calories- and get the most taste, and most tummy-filling quantity for the lowest number of calories. The Shred book is packed with lots of ideas for 100- calorie and 150-calorie snacks, and I’ve rounded up a dozen of my favorite low calorie snacks here for you:

Starting from the top left and working around clockwise:

#1: 15 Kashi Wheat Thin crackers and a wedge of Laughing Cow cheese (approx. 150 calories)

#2: 3/4 cup of sliced strawberries and 2 Tablespoons fat-free Cool Whip (approx. 150 calories)

#3: 5 Turkey rollups and 2 teaspoons honey-mustard sauce (approx. 100 calories)

#4: 2 Graham crackers squares with a thin smear of peanut butter topped with a generous sprinkle of cinnamon (approx. 100 calories)

#5: 35 Whole Wheat Cheddar Goldfish crackers (approx. 100 calories)

#6: 1 cup of Cheerios (approx., 150 calories)

#7: 4 Nabisco Ginger Snap cookies (approx. 150 calories)

#8: 30 thin pretzel sticks and 2 teaspoons of fat-free cream cheese (approx. 100 calories)

#9: 2 tablespoons dry roasted peanuts mixed with 1 Tablespoon dried cranberries (approx. 100 calories)

#10: 1 small apple and 1 fat free string cheese stick (approx. 100 calories)

#11: Whole Wheat English Muffin Pizza- made with 1 tablespoon of sauce and 2 teaspoons of shredded mozzarella (approx 150 calories)

#12: 1 cup raspberries and 2 teaspoons fat-free yogurt (approx. 100 calories)

I asked Momof6 Facebook fans to share some of their favorite low-calories snacks today, and received these ideas:

Now it’s your turn! What’s your favorite low-calorie snack? Please leave a comment below!

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