Diet-Friendly Snacks

When it comes to dieting, most people don't fail during their actual meal times, but in those frustrating in-between times, on the commute home from work or during a late-night Netflix binge, when hunger cravings strike and the only snacks on hand are cookies or chips or chocolate bars. Sure, you could tough it out with sheer willpower, but we have a finite amount of that, and on a long enough timeline, most of us crack. We've got a better idea. Instead of resisting your food cravings every time, stock up on some healthy, high-protein, low-calorie snack options. Some of these can be fruits and vegetables, like strawberries and cucumbers and carrots, but in 2024, you can also find some sweet-tasting snacks that, when eaten in moderation, can easily fit into most diets while still helping to curb your cravings. RELATED: High-Protein Food Swaps Better still, have a variety of these snacks on hand, allowing you to mix things up and keep your taste buds guessing. When you're deep into a diet and struggling to find spare calories, these healthy snacks can make all the difference, both for your diet and your sanity. FitButters Fruity PEBBLES™ Cashew Butter Cashew butter has been used as a healthy PB alternative in fitness circles for a long time, but FitButters have managed to create a higher protein variant packed with flavor. Their latest collaboration with Post has resulted in a Fruity PEBBLES™-infused cereal butter that delivers 7 grams of protein per serving. Eat it straight off the spoon or smear it on a piece of high-protein bread or a rice cake for a delicious, macro-friendly dessert. $14.99 at FitButters.com  Quaker Large Rice Cakes, Variety Pack Okay, full disclaimer: if you’re not dieting, rice cakes probably aren’t going to be very appealing to you, but if you’re deep into a diet and looking for something tasty and still low in calories, rice cakes are an absolute godsend. Quaker’s variety pack comes with three delicious flavor options (White Cheddar, Caramel and Apple Cinnamon), all ranging between 45 and 50 calories per serving, making them extremely easy to fit into even the most restrictive of diet plans. $17.78 at Amazon.com  SkinnyPop Original Popcorn, Pack of 30 Popcorn is a diet superfood. Alright, granted, you can’t slather it in butter or other movie theater-style toppings (that defeats the purpose, unfortunately), but if you doubt us, check out the macros on these SkinnyPop Original bags: just 100 calories in the entire package, with 2 grams of fiber and no sugar. Furthermore, there are no trans fats, no GMOs and no gluten in these bags, just delicious and filling, diet-friendly popcorn. We’re sold. $15.30 at Amazon.com  365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Roasted Unsalted Sunflower Kernels Sunflower seeds are a classic healthy snack, both filling and packed with nutrients, especially zinc, iron and vitamin E, and we especially love this organic, roasted and unsalted pack from 365 by Whole Foods for its low cost and high quality. You can nibble on these by hand, by all means, but they’re also a great way to add volume and crunch to a salad. $5.49 at Amazon.com  Quaker Instant Oatmeal Express Protein Cups, Pack of 12 Oatmeal is a staple breakfast of fit people everywhere, but thanks to these single-serving cups from Quaker, you can enjoy it as a fast snack as well. They’re available in a wide variety of flavors, including Honey & Almonds, Cinnamon Pecan, Cranberry Almond, Apples & Cranberries and Strawberries & Cream, but our go-to is the Maple & Brown Sugar with 10 grams of protein and just 220 calories per serving. $19.49 at Amazon.com  Think Jerky, Classic Beef Jerky, Pack of 8 Beef jerky is a classic on-the-go healthy snack, and not just because it’s a better option than chocolate bars at your nearest gas station. Being pure meat, jerky is also high in protein, but Think Jerky offers a nitrate-free option that’s simultaneously low in calories and delicious. We love their Classic flavoring, but check out their Sweet Chipotle, Sesame Teriyaki, Ginger Orange and Sriracha Honey options as well. $43.99 at Amazon.com  Kodiak Cakes Bear Bites Graham Crackers, Variety Pack If you’ve tried Kodiak Cakes before, it’s probably in their popular protein pancake offering, but if you want an easier on-the-go option that’s equally delicious, pick up their Bear Bites, made from 100% whole wheat flour. We’ve sampled all three of their flavor offerings (Honey, Chocolate & Cinnamon) and we can confirm that they’re all equally delicious, though you will have to exercise some portion control here as these are very easy to over-consume. $21.31 at Amazon.com  SkinnyDipped Dark Chocolate Cocoa Almonds, Pack of 24 Chocolate lovers know two things with absolute certainty: the taste of chocolate is one of life’s great pleasures and can’t be sacrificed for any reason, and chocolate is extremely easy to overeat and a common cause of failure when it comes to dieting. Thankfully, you can opt for these chocolate-dipped almonds from SkinnyDipped. Each pack contains just 60 calories, with two grams of protein, which makes it easy to consume guilt-free while still satisfying your chocolate craving. $32.95 at Amazon.com  You Might Also Dig: Best Electrolyte Drinks and PowdersBest Greens Powders to Supercharge Your HealthFitness Awards 2024: Best Supplements