So-called Snack Bars can be full of sugar and not that healthy.

 We look at how to snack for weight loss, making your own snacks is so easy and tastier, healthy and costs less than snack bars.

For people who are trying to lose or maintain weight, one of the biggest challenges is finding snacks that make you feel full and satisfied. Fibre is key to providing this feeling and looking for snacks that provide at least three grams of fibre per serving is a great place to start, if you can have a high-fibre snack with protein and healthy fat, that’s a great combination. 

When you’re thinking about snacks to help you lose weight, you may be tempted to pick the lowest-calorie option, but opting for a snack that helps you feel full and provides you with the necessary nutrients is the key to a healthy lifestyle. 

Start by putting your snacks on a plate or in a bowl, it helps you slow down and makes you mindful about what you’re about to eat. Even though it’s tempting to be on your phone or iPad scrolling and snacking at the same time, putting them away will help you focus on and enjoy what you’re eating not just snacks but any food that you are eating, dinner, breakfast etc. Instead of buying protein or health bars which sometimes may not be as healthy as you think they are, here are some great suggestions for snacks that you can make yourself, you will know what ingredients go into them and which will put more fibre and protein in your diet.

This classic pairing has a lot going for it, two medium celery stalks provide fibre, plus potassium for heart health, and then add some peanut butter for an additional amount of fibre and protein for a crunchy snack anytime.

If you like apples this is a great snack, slice up your apple which will give you fibre dip the sliced apple into some almond butter, and add a drizzle of honey, which will give you fibre and protein in a delicious snack.

Creamy and thick, Greek Yoghurt is known for its satisfying texture. One container of five ounces of non-fat plain Greek yoghurt has 80 calories, fifteen grams of protein, six grams of carbohydrates, zero fat and 150 milligrams of calcium (15 % daily value). Add one small cup of sliced strawberries to add fibre, which will give you vitamin C and potassium

With plenty of fibre, pears are a delicious and juicy way to make you feel full add them to creamy cottage cheese which has a huge amount of protein per serving, with this combination you’ve got a balanced snack. 

Here is the classic combination of a snack, you can buy snack packs of carrots (batons). Put them into a bowl or cup and then your hummus dip with this combination there is plenty of fibre, protein, and plenty of crunch. This is ideal for entertaining guests at a dinner party or just sitting down looking at a movie instead of crisps or popcorn. You can do this with cheese sticks and add a mandarin squeeze over the carrots or cheese.

A  sweet potato contains fibre, magnesium, potassium and beta-carotene. Top it up with diced avocado, and melt some cheese on top and you’ve got a tasty mini meal with plenty of fibre. 

Eggs are an excellent protein source of essential nutrients and make a smart snack, toast a multigrain bagel add some almond butter, slice the hardboiled egg, sprinkle some seasoning to boost the flavour and enjoy with refreshing sliced cherry tomatoes. 

Grapefruit is a brilliant fruit and here’s some evidence that this citrus fruit can help shrink your waist. A study has found that when eaten daily, grapefruit modestly helped with shedding pounds, and it also helped to significantly reduce your waist size and is instrumental in lowering your blood pressure and total cholesterol. Try it one-half broiled with a sprinkle of brown sugar on top and enjoy some cheddar on the side for protein and calcium

Egg-based wraps are great because you can use them just like a tortilla, but they have protein and just 30 calories. Fill them with whatever you like, from shredded cheese and salsa to leftover chicken and roasted veggies, delicious.

It can be easy to make and eat balanced meals and snacks at home, but when you are travelling or very busy, it can be difficult to make healthy choices. The key is to keep tasty, filling snacks with you that you can reach for when you are hungry, this is great for people who travel for a living, like sales reps, truck and van drivers, or people who are on the go travelling by bus, plane train etc.

Bring a bag of roasted chickpeas with you, which will give you fibre and protein, which helps to stabilize blood sugar.

You have to be careful when choosing trail mixes as some of them can contain a lot of sugar, so look for ones that are individually packaged and have a nice mix of nuts and dried fruit. Adding a little bit of dark chocolate can vary the taste and make it interesting. 

The fresh crunch of an apple and the creamy goodness of peanut butter is a great snack, you can buy apples sliced in a small pack and add the peanut butter in or use it as a dip will provide you with protein and fibre. 

This is a crunchy and tasty mix and a study has shown that a reduced-calorie diet that includes almonds is helpful for both weight loss and the health of your heart. Combine the popcorn with almonds and some dark chocolate, now there’s a great combination. 

Look for a bar made with egg whites, nuts and dates for satisfying sweetness and protein to help you recover after a workout. The refreshing mandarin orange adds vitamin C and other antioxidants.

I hope that these great suggestions will inspire you to look at snacks differently. It just takes a bit of imagination and a small amount of time to get organised and avoid convenience foods as a lot of them seem like healthy bars but are filled with salt and sugar. Always read the ingredients and how much salt, sugar and fats are contained in them, as well as using these snack ideas, you can make and bake your protein bars and granola. Check out the Happy Pear App for recipes and suggestions on your path to a more enjoyable healthy life.

Edited by David Earley.