I’m trying to hold to a 1500 calorie diet. It’s up from the 1200 calories I’ve been on for the last year, but it’s still hard. To keep my blood sugar and blood pressure at good levels, I eat every 2-3 hours or 6 small meals a day. I aim for a 250 calorie breakfast, 200 calorie snack, 300 calorie lunch, 200 calorie snack, 450 calorie dinner, and a 100 calorie snack before bed. I also try for a good amount of protein in each meal, between 10 and 20 grams. I know there is a controversy about how much protein is necessary, but after 10 years of pregnancy and nursing I found myself severly deficient. I am more comfortable getting plenty of protein and taking extra calcium and doing some weight training to help my body use it than dealing with the symptoms of low protein.
Here are some 200 calorie snacks that I love:
1 cup of skim milk and 2 full rectangle graham crackers
1 ounce of colby jack cheese and 4 wheat crackers
1 medium apple and a tablespoon of peanut butter as a dip
A long stalk of celery filled with 1.5 tablespoons of peanut butter and dotted with 10 raisins
1 ounce baked pita chips and 2 tablespoons of hummus
3 ounces of water packed tuna, drained and mixed with a teaspoon each of pickle relish and plain yogurt, spread on 5 wheat crackers
1 mozzarella cheese stick cut into cubes mixed with 10 almonds, 10 fresh sugar snap peas, and 2 Tablespoons of craisins
3 baby bell pepers sliced and sauted with 1/2 cup egg whites and a sprinkling of parmesean cheese. (This one only has 85 calories!)
Okay, that’s all I have and I’m ready to try some new things. Do you have any other ideas for me?
Thank you for sharing your snack ideas! I have been on 1200 calorie plan, too for the past 10 months. I have lost 30 lbs. but seem to be stuck now! I’m just going to keep on going and realize this in not about “looks” at this stage in my life, but now it is about my health!
I love your website and all your great info. You are so right when you said that most of us have some great information, but we only see a difference when we actually put it into practice.
I read once,” if diet information could make you skinny then I would be as skinny as a coffee stirrer”—so true!
Have a blessed day!
ashley
I’m enjoying your information so much! I agree with you and the previous commenter – we know what to do, we just need to decide to do it. Thank you for the snack posting. I need to deal with my diet, but suffer from information overload on how and where to start. These snacks are practical, affordable and usually on hand. Thanks again, much needed!
These are such great ideas. I’m also trying to lose the last of the baby weight and trying to squeeze in serious cardio is really hard. I know I have to cut back on my calories but keeping up my energy while nursing has been hard. But these snacks look really do-able. Thanks!
(P.S.- I’m new-ish to your blog and I have to say, it’s a huge breath of fresh air. I can’t tell you how nice it is to hear you can cut back on your grocery bills without using coupons. Keep up the good work! )
We are currently loving vanilla yogurt parfaits with granola and various fruits and also cucumbers with cottage cheese….mmm
Love you site!