Are you someone who is hungry most of the time but has to stop yourself most of the time because you are calorie-conscious? Most quick-bites and junk snacks may satisfy your hunger but are high in carbs, sodium, and fat. 

A study by Journal of the American Dietetic Association says that normal-weight people snack more and eat an average of five times a day compared to overweight people, who only eat about four times a day. Many dieticians also agree that snacking actually helps in keeping your metabolism up, preventing bingeing which results in weight loss. Here are five perfect go-to snacks that you can reach for whenever cravings strike, and go guilt-free. 

Makhana (lotus seeds)

Makhana, also known as fox seeds or lotus seeds, is a white-coloured dry snack that is low in calories which health experts agree   makes for a healthy snack. You can air fry makhana adding peri peri spice or any other spice of your choice. This will satisfy your spicy cravings in a healthy way. It is rich in calcium, magnesium, iron, and phosphorus. The rich amount of protein and fibre helps reduce hunger and keep the calorie count intact.

Fruits and roasted dry fruits

Whenever you want something sweet, grab fruits like peaches, apples, kiwis, oranges, melons, and berries. These fruits are high in vitamin C, fibre, and antioxidants. They are low in calories, which will boost your immune system. You can also have roasted and salted almonds and cashew nuts for munching, fistful of raisins, and other dry fruits.

Dark chocolate

Yes, you read it right! Dark chocolate is a good way to enjoy chocolate without guilt. Experts say that dark chocolates are full of chemicals which make you feel happy. It also has antioxidants and minerals in it. These are   good for your heart, too. However, you always need to check the quantity of sugar in the dark chocolate before going for one.

Popcorns

Popcorn is the best snack to satisfy your salty and crunchy cravings. Make popcorn at home with corn kernels instead of buying ready-made popcorn. This way you can make it your way by restricting the amount of ingredients. One cup of plain salted popcorn contains just 32 calories! Buy raw corn kernels, pop it with olive oil or butter in a pressure cooker and sprinkle some pink Himalayan/black salt.

Okra chips

It is basically bhindi/lady's fingers chips. Okra chips are a handy way to boost your dietary fibre intake without their stickiness. To make okra chips at home, slice okra/lady’s fingers and season it with olive oil and a little salt. You can add in other flavours too, such as paprika, black pepper, chilli powder, or amchur (dry mango) powder. Dunk it in a batter using all-purpose flour seasoned with fresh coriander, oregano, salt, black pepper, peri peri spice, or any other spices of your choice. To make chips, you can fry, dehydrate, bake, or air-fry the prepared okra.

Munch on these five low-calorie snacks during movie night, office hours and even as late-night bites!

For more such updates and news on the go, follow us on

Instagram | YouTube | Facebook