Low Point Afternoon Snacks

[anna]

Hi- I'm looking for ideas for very healthy quick snacks for around 4pm when I become absolutely ravenous and start talking myself out of exercising after work because I just want to head to the nearest junk food I can reach. I need to stop this attack before it gets to me, by eating something healthy - Any ideas for low point (on Wt. Watcher's plan), say 1 to 3 points that would get me through the afternoon? Thanks~! PS- pretzels and I are over each other...

[Susann]

The blueberry yogurt muffins are really good and they freeze well. I don't know how many points they are worth, though. The recipe is posted on the BB-I think the muffin post. If you can't find it, let me know.

[tammy/MN]

sometimes i have a slimfast shake, & it is 4 pts, satisfies my cravings for a mocha or something chocolate.

this probably isn't do-able at work, but i get filled up on a sliced cucumber w/ a pinch of kosher salt, or a fresh tomato, either alone or as a sandwich w/ lite mayo.

good luck, tammy

[JodiL]

I have the same problem: the 3-4:00 slump at work! I try to stay healthy by eating fruit (usually 2 points). But sometimes I get low-fat peanut-butter crackers from the vending machines (4 points for 6 crackers). You could also try yogurt, which is only 2 points.

Hmmm...Now I'm interested in everyone else's ideas.

[Dawn G]

I always keep a power bar at my desk. I find them very satisfying, and they ususally hold me over through the end of the day and my workout until dinner.

[RunnerKim]

Hi Anna,

I don't know how you figure points, but guess that the lower fat & calorie the lower the points.

The main suggestion I have is to make sure you vary your snack or you'll just keep getting bored with it. Also since you're triyng to give yourself energy to workout - think about something that provides both carbs and protein.

Here's my thoughts:
Graham crackers
raisons
nuts (too fatty?)
Gorp - a traditional hiking snack - make a mix of things like nuts, granola, raisons, m&ms, sunflower seeds, cherrios/chex, etc.
fat-free tortilla spread with hummus
pickles
popcorn
Half bagel with peanut butter
applesauce
smoothie (I know you're at work - I have a co-worker who brings them in)

Kim

[Mamasue]

anna,

I don't know if you have Trader Joe's in your area or maybe your local supermarket may carry this product. They are called French Twists and come in regular flavor which is cinnamon and the other flavor is Wild Raspberry. They have no cholesterol, no butter, no eggs or yeast and very low in sodium. They look like a puff pastry stick that is twisted. These babies are only one point a piece. I keep a bag of them in my desk and when I need something sweet I have one or sometimes two with a cup of tea.
The back of the bag states that they are distributed by The Source, San Diego, California, telephone 1-800-TWIST-US. Not only can I purchase these at Trader Joe's but my local supermarket carries them also.

[Jen]

I made the Peanut Butter Crisp Bars (not sure if that's the real name or not) from the Sept issue last night and they're great - and my quick calculation was 2 pts. OK, so they're not really a HEALTHY snack...but they do have peanut butter, which is good for energy, right? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Plus, they really satisfy a sweet tooth! I halved the recipe and put it in an 8x8 pan. (The portion sizes are fairly generous as well).

[LynnSC]

One thing I like to "snack" on is a YooHoo Lite. It is a chocolate drink that tastes sort of like chocolate milk. The bottle is only 1 point. It fills me up for a little while.
Lynn

[JJeannette]

Anna, how about carrot or celery sticks and a couple of rye krisp crackers? The rye krisp is high enough in fiber that one serving is only one point. Have you tried the Kashi "To Good Friends" cereal? it is so high in fiber that most people consider 1 cup of that as 1 point(actual serving size is 3/4 cup) or add 1/4 cup of dried fruit to the kashi and you have a "trail mix" for 3 points. Can you get the Baker's Breakfast Cookies? A half on one of those would be 1-1.5 points and with a big glass of water would fill you up.

BTW, for anyone who is interested the formula for figuring "points" is: (calories divided by 50)+ (fat grams divided by 12)- (fiber grams divided by 5)= points

[Ralph]

For something commercially made, we just came across some new Kellogg NutriGrain Bars and Twists. They're really good & a few of them even come w/the American Heart Association seal. Couldn't tell you the WW point value, though.

[Jeanne G]

My reply sounds similar to Jjeannette's, what helps me is something crunchy like carrot sticks and crackers. I love reduced fat triscuits and wheat thins. Also I love snacking on tiny cut-up bits of pepper jack cheese. This gives you a little ZING! and the crackers help it to fill you up. Plus a big glass of water. Hope this helps.... http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

oops edited to correct spelling!!

[This message has been edited by Jeanne G (edited 08-29-2000).]

[BarbaraL]

I get the late afternoon munchies too! Unfortunately at work, there's usually lots of junk food around. I try to keep a piece of fruit and/or a yogurt. Axelrod's has a low-fat, low-cal yogurt that's only 1 Weight Watchers point, plus it supplies calcium.

[MrsReber]

I bring crackers for the afternoon low. I find if I eat anything sweet, I crash soon afterwards. I bring 8 lowfat tricuits or a snack bag of goldfish crackers. I have no idea how many points anything is, though. I was on another program, which just gave me some guidelines for healthy eating. They suggested lowfat string cheese and crackers. You should have someting with a little fat so that you aren't starving again 1/2 an hour later. I eat 4 small light meals at work so that I am never starving at any point. Plus, eating like that keeps your metabolism working!

[Beth H]

A small bag of pretzels is relatively healthy and low fat. I also like to snack on black olives -- I'll just eat 2 or 3. Of course, both of those "snacks" are quite high in salt if not calories.

[MelissaAS]

I (now) lowfat cottage cheese- I think it's Breakstone's- it comes with the fruit on the side. It's a little pricey but then you can control how much flavor you add. I remember hating cottage cheese from diets years ago, but now I like the texture and I find the little bit of fat holds me over better than fat-free snacks. I also use: animal crackers, low fat granola bars, and graham crackers with peanut butter for the afternoon lows.

[Denise]

My Favorite afternoon snack is carrots dipped in the feta spinach dip from Jan 00. VERY healthy (carrots AND spinach) plus a little protein and calcium with the feta and cream cheese.

[CATHIEA]

Anna- I echo the advice to try and vary your snacks so you don't get bored and into a food rut. I find that something with some texture (as opposed to a liquid) does the trick for me. I eat carrots or sugar snap peas or celery at lunch and keep some back for mid-afternoon. Veggies don't always do the trick though. When I need something more filling, I love WW 2 point bars. The chocolate is my favorite. String cheese is good and so is yogurt. I've been on a Forelle pears kick lately. Don't know why they taste so good to me, they just do. Micro popcorn is also a good choice. You might want to plan to have your snack a couple of hours after lunch, before you become ravenous and see if that helps you get over the endless munching craving.
CathieA- Been there-eaten that

[Wendy w]

When I am "good" (disciplined & organized), I like to make low fat dips w/yogurt cheese (adding 2 tablespoons salsa to 1/2 cup yogurt, or a little chopped spinach & garlic, etc.)and bring some carrots.

[This message has been edited by Wendy w (edited 08-29-2000).]

[CrystalB]

I usually have a V8 juice and some saltines to tide me over until dinner. Sometimes it works, sometimes I get cookies from the vending machine too. It balances out.

[MrsReber]

One word on the microwave popcorn- I just have to put my 2 cents in here- although it may be incredibly convenient and low in fat, it may be harmful to your health. Apparently the glue they use on the bags, when heated up in a microwave, can get into your popcorn. The bags are also not biodegradable, from what I understand, and were never approved for use by the FDA. My husband and I gave up microwave popcorn a few years ago. Not that I have ever heard of anyone getting sick from eating micro popcorn, but I still pop mine the old fashioned way on the stove.

As far as snacks go, yes, try to eat something with a little bit of fat in it so that it gives you a more "full" feeling, since fat takes longer to digest. That way you won't get hungry again so soon!

[Zinnia]

I love to drink V-8, iced tea w/ lemon, or cranberry juice cocktail mixed w/ club soda; they tend to curbe my cravings,(starvation http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif) when I don't have time to eat food snacks-basically when I know dinner is too close and I don't need all that much to tide me over.
I love triscuits & spicy pepper-jack cheese, or an apple w/ a sharp cheddar slice.
A sliced tomato sprinkled w/ salt & pepper, and a two-pack of saltines. I could go on forever!
TY MrsReber-I didn't know that about micro-popcorn! I really never have cared for it but only because I still cook Jolly Time popcorn over my electric burner. That kinda makes ya wonder how many other things they aren't telling us, http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif

[KDHeuer]

One snack that I keep going back to is the Quaker Chewy granola bars. Most varieties are only 2 points (even the chocolate chunk & graham slam kinds!), although there are a few that are 3 pts. (I think the new "candy bar" flavors are higher).

I like them because they taste great, fill me up for a while, satisfy my sweet tooth, and can go anywhere (backpack, desk drawer, etc,).

Kathleen

[anna]

Hi - I actually did try to post this sooner, but couldn't because of board probs, but I still wanted to say thanks (even though this is an old post) to all of you who gave me such great ideas! Now, I look forward to what I'll take each day as a late aft. snack thanks to all your help - Plus, you made me feel normal for being hungry at that time, when previously I had been hard on myself about it thinking it was a lack of discipline that I couldn't make it until dinner time. Mamasue, I'm still searching for the French Twists - they're not in GA yet, but I'm working on it - thanks for info. I appreciate all of everyone's input!