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We satisfy the munchies up to five times a day — 580 calories' worth. For most women, that's about a third of the day's needs. But you can slash that megacalorie tally and stay on friendly terms with your scale: Just limit yourself to one to two of these 115- to 125-calorie, taste-tested, nutritionist-approved snacks. How we tested: The Good Housekeeping Research Institute Nutrition Department checked out 235 products — tossing anything with trans fats or too much saturated fat or sodium. Our focus: healthy, nutritious nibbles with filling protein and fiber. (We also green-lighted treats like chips and chocolate). Then, dozens of hungry volunteers sampled them and commented.
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| Lara Robby/Studio D |
"Why didn't they think of this before?" sums up the response from our testers, who say the "crunchy balls" are the "perfect combo of salty and sweet." |
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| Lara Robby/Studio D |
1 package Q.bel Dark Chocolate Wafer Rolls With a dark chocolate center nestled in a crispy cookie and wrapped in more dark chocolate, these bars "would be perfect to have around for a chocolate fix."
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| Lara Robby/Studio D |
1 Deep Chocolate VitaTop VitaMuffin + 1/4 cup raspberries
A muffin that won't contribute to your muffin top. With a side of fruit, it packs 8 grams of fiber and more than half your daily vitamin C needs.
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| Lara Robby/Studio D |
1 pack Kellogg's Special K Fruit Crisps + iced chai tea + 1/4 cup fat-free milk Volunteers raved that these crisps "taste like Pop Tarts" — but with half the calories of one toaster pastry. Wash one down with a cool chai tea.
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| Lara Robby/Studio D |
1 Breyers Smooth & Dreamy Chocolate Covered Strawberry Bar
With more than 200 fewer calories than a competing bar, this ice cream novelty scored points for its "creamy" texture, "homemade flavor," and "rich chocolate dip."
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| Lara Robby/Studio D |
1/2 cup Edy's/Dreyer's Slow Churned Yogurt Blends in Tart Mango + 1/4 cup blackberries Tangy frozen-yogurt-shop taste without the parlor price tag. Summery fruit adds fiber and antioxidants to the fro-yo's calcium.
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Lara Robby/Studio D; yogurt:
Andy Crawford/Getty Images |
4 oz. light yogurt + 1/3 cup Nature's Path Crunchy Vanilla Sunrise cereal
Gluten-free, whole-grain organic cereal adds a satisfying crackle to yogurt. The pairing is a good source of calcium.
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| Lara Robby/Studio D |
1 Breyers Inspirations Natural Vanilla Bean Lowfat Yogurt + 1 Mini Nilla Wafer "Just the right amount of sweetness," a hint of vanilla, and probiotics that may boost your immune system. Plus: a cookie to munch on.
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| Lara Robby/Studio D |
1 Jell-O Caramel Creme Mousse Temptations + 1/2 large apple, sliced for dipping
This duo has about one-fifth the calories of a caramel apple, and mousse that was "amazing" and "fabulous" to boot.
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| Lara Robby/Studio D |
1 package Nabisco 100 Cal Fudge Petites, Mint Fudge + 1 cup iced coffee with 1/4 cup fat-free milk "Thin Mints reincarnated." Wash them down with an iced coffee — a grown-up way to get some calcium.
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| Lara Robby/Studio D |
1 Kozy Shack Chocolate Hazelnut pudding cup + 3 raspberries and 3 strawberries
"Divine, rich, creamy chocolate heaven" served with fresh berries for dipping. Bonus: You get 30 percent of the day's vitamin C, plus the pudding has 10 percent of your daily bone-building calcium.
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| Lara Robby/Studio D |
1/2 cup Yogi Granola Crisps (Fresh Strawberry Crunch or Baked Cinnamon Raisin) Perfect for munching straight up (no yogurt needed) and packed with whole grains — 20 grams, almost half your daily goal.
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| Lara Robby/Studio D |
A heart-healthy trail mix that's loaded with vitamin E.
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| Lara Robby/Studio D |
1/2 cup Blue Bunny Caramel Praline Crunch All-Natural Frozen Yogurt "Creamy and delicious," said a tester; some mistook this fro-yo for more fattening ice cream. It's a sweet way to get calcium!
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| Lara Robby/Studio D |
2 Blue Horizon Organic Indian-Style Vegetable Spring Rolls + 1/4 cup edamame
A vegetarian's delight, with almost 3 grams of fiber and more protein (6 grams) than a 6-ounce container of light yogurt.
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| Lara Robby/Studio D |
6 oz. Low Sodium V8 Juice + 1 large hard-boiled egg It's simple, sure, but this team boasts one and a half servings of veggies and 6 grams of hunger-satisfying protein.
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| Lara Robby/Studio D |
3 Daelia's Biscuits for Cheese, Hazelnut With Figs + 1 Tbsp. Chavrie Original Fresh Goat Cheese
This sophisticated low-salt snack pairs slightly sweet biscotti-style biscuits with tangy goat cheese.
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| Lara Robby/Studio D |
2 Tbsp. Wholly Guacamole Classic + 5 Food Should Taste Good Cheddar Chips "Cheesy," like "an upscale Dorito," and the ideal companion for all-natural, fresh-tasting guac (with its hint of healthy fat).
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| Lara Robby/Studio D |
3 Kitchen Table Bakers Sesame Parmesan Crisps + 1.5 oz. deli ham
Excellent, all-natural, low-carb crackers. With ham, they pack a protein punch.
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| Lara Robby/Studio D |
1 Cabot 50% Light Cheddar Snack Pack + 20 red grapes Forget the wine: Pair a perfectly portioned bar of Cheddar with antioxidant-rich red grapes instead.
Author of this article: Samantha Cassetty, M.S., R.D.
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