Weight management may be the toughest task in today’s world. With a busy routine and unhealthy eating, it becomes very difficult to control unwanted weight gain. Apart from working out, a healthy diet is also crucial to managing weight. It is very important to keep track of what you are eating. From counting calories to setting up meal times, everything needs to be done right to achieve your desired goal.
Another vital aspect of weight loss is snacking, which is often taken lightly. Besides the three meals of the day, snacking also has a direct impact on our weight loss journey. Most of us very strictly follow the diet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner but fail to control our cravings for snacks. This leads us to consume a lot of junk and unhealthy foods.
But is it necessary to control your snack cravings for weight loss? Not really. There are many healthy options available that can curb your untimely hunger and cravings without adding any weight to your body. All you need to do is eat them in moderate quantities. Here are ten tasty snacks that can become a part of your weight loss journey:
Bhel Puri
If you are looking for something spicy and flavourful that can be prepared in no time, then make bhel puri. This Indian street food is loaded with sweet, spicy, salty, and tangy flavours. It is low in calories and can be easily prepared at home. All you need to do is combine puffed rice, onion, cucumber, chaat masala, lemon, coriander chutney, tomato, and pomegranate seeds together, and you are good to go.
Mixed Nuts
Mixed nuts are perfect for your untimely hunger pangs, even when you are outside your home. According to Healthline, nuts are a great source of nutrients, including antioxidants. They not only aid weight loss but also lower cholesterol levels and reduce inflammation. Almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, pistachios, and walnuts are some of the best nuts for weight loss.
Popcorn
This common movie-time snack is perfect to add to your weight-loss diet. According to WebMD, popcorn is high in fibre and antioxidants while being low in calories. Easy to prepare at home, they not only contribute to weight loss but also lower the risk of heart disease. As it is prepared from whole grains, popcorn reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes as well. Just make sure not to add any butter or too much salt to it.
Sprouted Moong Chaat
Moong sprouts are rich in amino acids, antioxidants, proteins, and various other nutrients. They are known to lower bad LDL cholesterol and manage blood pressure, which reduces the risk of heart disease. According to Healthline, sprouted moong beans contain fewer calories, which do not contribute to weight gain. For preparing this snack, you need to combine sprouted moong beans with your favourite vegetables like tomatoes and onions, then season with flavourful spices like chaat masala.
Khakhra
Gujarati cuisine is gifted with a lot of yummy snacks, and one of them is khakhra. It is rich in fibre, vitamins, and iron and is perfect to curb your untimely cravings. The fibre present in khakhra improves digestion and keeps you full for a long time. This thin and crispy wafer-like snack is made with just four ingredients: wheat flour, oil, salt, and water. There are also many variations available, like methi, garlic, and pudina khakhra.
Rajma Kebab
Rajma or kidney beans are rich in various nutrients including protein, fibres and various minerals. According to PharmEasy, they help in lowering blood pressure, controlling blood sugar and improve digestion along with weight management. Made with kidney beans, chillies, onions, gram flour and ginger-garlic paste, this kebab is best served with green or tomato chutney.
Baked Whole Wheat Samosa
Samosa is one of the most popular snacks in India. Served with tomato ketchup or any other chutney, this filling dish is extremely delicious. However, due to the process of deep frying in oil, this beloved snack becomes unfit for your weight loss diet. But baking it instead of frying can make this treat healthy. Choose whole wheat flour instead of maida and use a lot of vegetables for stuffing. Eat baked samosa in moderation as it still has higher calories as compared to other weight loss snacks.
Dhokla
This is another Gujarati delight apart from khakhra which can become your friend in the weight loss journey. Made with a fermented batter of rice and chana dal, this dish is high in protein and fibre. Dhokla is also enjoyed as a breakfast across the country. Tempered with curry leaves and mustard seeds, it is best served with coriander or any other green chutney.
Hara Bhara Kebab
This is another vegetarian version of kebab. If you want to eat something filling and flavourful, then try hara bhara kebab. They are basically patties which are made with plenty of green and leafy vegetables. It is traditionally prepared by frying but you can also bake it to reduce its calorie count. The main ingredients of hara bhara kebabs are chana dal, green peas, paneer, spinach and wheat flour. It can be enjoyed with any of your favourite chutneys.
Masala Corn
During the monsoon, corn is in huge demand. Enjoyed in a variety of ways, like corn on the cob, salads, and pakoras, this is another healthy food item to add to your weight loss diet. According to HealthifyMe, they are high in fibre content, which promotes digestion and aids weight loss. To prepare this snack, combine boiled corn with garam masala powder, lemon juice, chaat masala, salt, and chilli, and your healthy and tasty snack is ready to serve.