For most people, the hardest time to stick to a diet plan isn’t during the day. It's past 7:30 pm when those late-night, pre-bedtime cravings start kicking in. You want a snack, and you want it now.
Despite what some diet blogs may say, the urge to snack is completely natural and healthy. There are plenty of delicious zero-calorie options that won’t destroy your diet plan, including a variety of veggies, fruits, and salty snacks. The key is to understand what it means for a food to be “zero calories.”
Scientific studies have proven that a healthy, successful diet is one that doesn’t involve feeling starved. Read on to understand what it means for a food to be “zero-calorie” and learn some healthy, versatile options that anyone can grow to love.
What Exactly Does “Zero Calorie” Mean?
If you get down to the science of it, no food is truly zero calories. What’s more, it shouldn’t be. When people talk about “calories,” what they mean is “energy.” All food is designed to provide your body with the energy it needs to kick a ball, clean the house, or even have the ability to process water and oxygen. Every function your body performs, from the automatic ones to the most complex, requires some level of energy to complete.
Zero-calorie foods are those that take as much energy to completely digest as they take into the body. These foods provide your body with nutrients while not adding more “energy” into your body than the average person is expelling. This means that, while no zero-calorie food truly exists, you can absolutely find healthy snack options that don’t need to send you running for a treadmill.
Before beginning an intense diet plan, it's important to understand that setting yourself up to fear calories is setting yourself up to fail. Your body needs calories and nutrition to function properly. When you feel a craving, you absolutely should allow yourself to snack. The key is understanding what foods can give your body those vital nutrients while burning up as much energy as they take in.
Veggies
Just because you’re on a diet, that doesn’t mean you should feel the need to starve yourself. In doing so, you’re actually costing your body the nutrients it needs to lose that stubborn weight. Enjoy the thrill ofsnacking while not giving into nutritionally bland options.
Tomato
You could waste time arguing about whether a tomato is truly a fruit or a vegetable, or you could use that time to wash, dice, and begin snacking.
A medium-sized tomato is only 25 calories and is full of nutrients, making it a fantastic addition to any daily routine. One snack idea is a tomato sandwich. Just cut a tomato into thin slices, layer those slices over a piece of crusty bread, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and enjoy.
Tomatoes shouldn’t be limited to snack time, either. Remember while you’re cooking to incorporate tomatoes into mealtime to keep your family feeling full without adding to their caloric intake. Try swapping that alfredo for a healthy tomato marinara.
Carrots
Carrots are one of our personal favorites, dating from way back to our kindergarten days. The great thing about carrots is their versatility. You can have them plain, dipped in a light ranch sauce or hummus, or even caramelized in a cooking pan with soft, sweet onions. Yum!
One full-sized carrot only contains thirty calories, meaning that you can enjoy this snack guilt-free. Just be careful with how much you eat. The rumor is true: eating too many carrots might actually give your skin an orange glow.
Celery
Is celery a cliche, low-calorie option? Perhaps. Does it have to be boring? Absolutely not.
If you’re tired of munching on plain, bitter celery sticks, liven up your meals with peanut butter, cottage cheese, or any other dip. Celery can take the punch without adding a bunch of unnecessary calories to your diet. Throw on some peanut butter, hummus, or cheese. Two large stalks of celery contain thirteen calories. Don’t feel the need to eat it plain; enjoy yourself!
Fruits
Fruit is a delicious and nutritionally sound snack. You can enjoy fruits guilt-free, especially citrus ones.
Citrus
Did you know that citrus fruits were once a vital part ofoverseas travel? All citrus fruits (including oranges, limes, lemons, and tangerines) contain massive amounts of vitamin C, making them invaluable in boosting your immune system. Not only that, but they’re also a fantastic addition to a low-calorie diet.
Citrus fruits are high in that sweet, tart flavor most of us enjoy in candy. For a fun alternative to skittles, try dicing up a tangerine and sticking it in the freezer for a few minutes. The result is a tangy, slushy delight that will hydrate your body while providing an additional boost of vitamin C.
Cucumber
If you’ve spent any time at all on the internet, it's very likely that you’ve heard the advice to “drink a glass of water if you’re hungry.”
We don’t know about you, but we’ve never known a glass of water to do the trick. Thankfully, cucumbers offer a similarly high-water content with the added benefit of vital nutrients and fiber to actually keep you full. Like citrus fruits, cucumbers contain high levels of vitamin C, as well as vitamins K, silica, and potassium, all vital in keeping you feeling full.
Salty Snacks
Salt…now we’re talking! It’s understandable if the idea of a month filled with fruits and veggies seems a little bland or boring. After all, these are the kinds of foods you likely grew up rolling your eyes at (what kid wants to sit down after an afternoon of playtime to a big bowl of celery?). Enjoying zero-calorie snacks doesn’t have to mean giving up those salty snacks most of us enjoy so much.
Popcorn
Granted, a big bowl of movie theater popcorn dripping in fake, oily butter likely isn’t going to be great for your diet, but a bowl of air-popped popcorn can be just as satisfying for only around thirty calories a cup. Try spicing up your snack with some rosemary and thyme, sea salt, or even a little Cajun seasoning for a treat that will keep you reaching for your glass of water.
Veggie Chips
If you find yourself reaching for the potato chips, look the other way. Veggie chips offer a delicious, low-calorie alternative that fills that same salty desire. Making your own kale chips is as easy as tossing some cheap bagged kale in olive oil, then baking for twenty minutes at 375 degrees. In no time, you’ll have a snack that won’t break your diet (or the bank).
Canned Fish
Canned fish has made a bit of a reputation for itself. However, this snack is definitely one worth taking a second look at. Canned tuna and sardines are some of the highest protein snacks you can get for the calories, and with some seasoning, taste absolutely delicious. One of our personal favorite summer lunches involves mixing sardines with a bit of lemon juice and salt as a dip for crackers.
Edamame
Zero-calorie foods don’t always have to feel like eating air; no better snack demonstrates the filling aspect of snack foods quite like edamame.
Edamame, also known as “those little green beans you get at sushi restaurants,” are actually boiled and salted soybeans. Like most beans, edamame is jam-packed with protein and fiber to keep you feeling full for longer. While the average serving does contain 90 calories, those are 90 delicious, salty calories designed to keep you from wanting to reach for the potato chips later.
In Conclusion
Dieting isn’t always easy, but it doesn’t have to mean depriving yourself of nutrition or happiness. The old adage is true: a diet really does start in the kitchen. While you exercise, don’t forget all the tools in your arsenal. Look up what other people are doing, learn healthy cooking techniques, and never let yourself view food as the enemy! If you need help, My Fit Foods has got you covered.
Sources:
20 Salty Snacks that can Actually Help you Lose Weight | Women’s Health Mag
Why Did Sailors Eat Citrus Fruits? | Best Food Facts
24 Zero Calorie Snack Ideas that will Help you Lose Weight | Beautifully Alive