100 snacks under 100 calories
Need a midday pick-me-up that won't add inches to your waistline? We have ideas.
Looking for ways to sneak a snack into your day without loading up on calories? Good news: each of these 100 foods is under 100 calories. Plus, they're filled with valuable nutrients.
What are you waiting for? Let's get noshing.
1. Mixed berries
Mix a 1/2 cup of blueberries, a 1/2 cup of blackberries and 4 medium strawberries for a blast of antioxidants clocking in just under 100 calories.
2. Baked potato with salsa
Instead of heavy sour cream or butter, top half of a small baked potato accompanied with a light garden salsa. To make the salsa, dice up a tomato, add a little bit of chopped onion, garnish with cilantro and season with a bit of salt and pepper.
3. Smoked salmon pinwheel
On a thin, 1-ounce slice of lox, spread 1 tablespoon of cream cheese. Roll up and get chomping.
4. Egg and cheddar omelet
Mix three egg whites with 1 tablespoon of whole milk and cook over medium-low heat in a sauté pan coated with nonstick spray or a light misting of olive oil. Add a tablespoon of light shredded cheddar cheese for what will feel like a full meal.
5. Peaches, honey and cinnamon
To satisfy your sweet tooth, take a small peach, drizzle with 1 teaspoon honey and sprinkle with cinnamon. To really satisfy your sweet tooth, cut the peach up into pieces and grill it before adding the other ingredients.
6. Lemonade ice pop
Freeze 1 cup of lemonade for a sweet summer treat. Try to select lemonades that are low in sugar and artificial flavors. Or make it yourself by adding lemon juice to a simple syrup of water and your choice of sweetener.
7. Turkey and cheese wrap
Here’s a fast, low-carb and low-calorie snack: take one slice of low-sodium turkey breast from the deli of your grocery store and a thin, 1-ounce slice of low-fat mozzarella cheese. Roll them together and enjoy! Add a veggie, like sliced tomatoes or spinach, to get more veggies into your diet.
8. Watermelon salad
Combine 1 cup of raw spinach and 3/4 cup of diced watermelon. Mix with a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar.
9. Boiled egg stuffed with guacamole
Slice a hard-boiled egg in half and replace the yolk with 1 tablespoon of your favorite guacamole.
10. Cucumber salad
Thinly slice a large cucumber and toss it with 2 tablespoons of chopped red onion. Add a tablespoon of white or red wine vinegar for taste.
11. Beef Jerky
Craving something savory and salty, but don't want to binge on calories or carbs? Chew on a large piece of beef jerky. Don’t go overboard, because jerky is often loaded with sodium.
12. Baked sweet potato
Bake a medium-small sweet potato for a filling, simple snack packed with vitamin A.
13. Dragon fruit
Eat half the juicy flesh of one of these beautiful fruits, also called a pitaya, for about 80 calories. They're a great source of vitamin C, too.
14. Oatmeal with scallions and soy sauce
Try this tasty, congee-inspired snack when you're craving something salty: Take a 1/2 cup of plain, cooked oatmeal and add a chopped scallion and 1 or 2 teaspoons of soy sauce.
15. Grapes
One cup of this portable fruit is only 62 calories. You can enjoy grapes fresh from the store, or freeze them for half an hour for a tasty treat on a hot summer day.
16. Toasted Chickpeas
Looking for an alternative to salty chips or nuts? Drain, rinse and dry a can of chickpeas. Then drizzle them with 1-1/2 tablespoons of olive oil, some cumin and a pinch of salt. Roast them in the oven at 350 degrees F until toasted, or for about 15 minutes or longer if you want them extra crispy. Enjoy 2 ounces to stay under 100 calories.
17. Fortune cookies
Three fortune cookies from a Chinese restaurant clock in around 90 calories. It's a light snack that'll satisfy your cookie craving without going overboard.
18. Baked apple with cinnamon
Craving apple pie? Skip the carbs and try this healthy alternative: slice a small apple, bake until golden brown and enjoy with a sprinkling of cinnamon.
19. Cheese and crackers
Snack on three or four multigrain crackers (depending on the brand) with one large slice of cheddar cheese. It feels significant, but stays under 100 calories.
20. Egg whites and toast
Looking for a fast morning snack or a light breakfast? Try two scrambled egg whites and half a slice of toasted whole wheat bread. Add salt and pepper to taste.
21. Cucumbers and hummus
Enjoy a sliced cucumber with 1 tablespoon of hummus for a great snack under 100 calories.
22. Pear slices
One cup of pear slices is only 80 calories and provides lots of nutrients, like potassium and vitamin C. Leave the skin on to maximize fiber.
23. Chicken noodle soup
On a sick day or cold, wintry evening, 1/2 to 1 cup of homemade chicken soup with assorted veggies and chicken broth makes for a great low-calorie snack. To be sure you come in under the 100-calorie mark, check your recipe's nutritional breakdown before cooking up a pot.
24. Black beans and brown rice
Mix together 1/4 cup of black beans and a 1/2 cup of instant brown rice for a filling nosh that's also a great source of fiber and iron.
25. Blueberry smoothie
Blend 1/3 cup of nonfat yogurt, 2/3 cup of frozen blueberries and ice for a quick and easy cold treat.
26. Sunflower seeds
Sunflower seeds are a good source of vitamin B and phosphorus. To stay under 100 calories, nosh on 1/3 cup of seeds with hulls.
27. Avocado
Enjoy 1/3 of a small avocado. The hard outer shell conveniently serves as a bowl.
28. Hard-boiled egg
Eating one hard-boiled egg with some salt and black pepper is a great source of protein. For extra flavor, dab on a bit of Dijon mustard.
29. An orange
This juicy, 69-calorie treat can be eaten any time of the day; it makes for a great breakfast accompaniment, a light midday snack, or even a refreshing dessert after dinner.
30. Baked chicken drumstick
One small baked chicken drumstick, without skin or fat, is a satisfying low-calorie snack that will help reach your daily protein goals.
31. Lychee
Find lychee at your local Asian grocery store. These small, spiky fruits can be enjoyed by gently peeling away the tough exterior shell. Try the sweet, white flesh chilled, but be careful of the seed in the middle. Sixteen lychees come in at 96 calories.
32. Avocado smoothie
A fun addition to a smoothie is creamy avocado. Simply take a third of a ripe fruit, a few ice cubes, a sprinkling of sugar, and blend for 20 seconds, or until the mixture reaches a smooth consistency.
33. Almonds
Craving something crunchy? Noshing 13 whole almonds will keep snack time under 100 calories. The nuts are a great source of vitamin E.
34. Cucumber and cream cheese
Craving cream cheese but want to avoid the calories of a bagel? Slice up a small cucumber and enjoy dipped in 2 tablespoons of low fat cream cheese.
35. Chocolate-covered strawberries
Dip 7 strawberries in 1 tablespoon of melted dark chocolate for a low-calorie treat that feels indulgent.
36. Watermelon super smoothie
This smoothie is guaranteed to hit the spot on a hot day: blend 3 cups watermelon, 1/4 cup organic nonfat milk and 2 tablespoons chia seeds for a healthy drink. It makes four servings; 2/3 cup comes in under 100 calories.
37. Sweet potato fries
Slice half a small sweet potato into french fry-shaped strips. Lightly drizzle 1 teaspoon of olive oil and bake them at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes.
38. Spinach and egg white scramble
Scramble 3 egg whites with a 1/2 cup of raw spinach in 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Add salt, pepper and red pepper flakes to taste.
39. Tom Yum Soup
Offered in most Thai restaurants, Tom Yum Soup is a traditional dish featuring mushrooms, tofu, lemongrass and kaffir lime; it lacks coconut milk, which raises the calorie count in many other Thai soups. About 3/4 cup comes in around 90 calories.
40. Dried cranberries
Enjoy 1/4 cup of low-sugar dried cranberries for a light snack in the office or on the go.
41. 2 Medium kiwis
To eat a ripe kiwi, simply slice the fruit in half, and with a metal spoon, scoop out the flesh. Kiwis are a great source of calcium and potassium, and two pieces of fruit total just 84 calories.
42. Baked tofu
Take a 4-ounce package of tofu and cut into bite sized cubes. Dry cubes on paper towels and season them with a 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil and a 1/2 tablespoon of rice vinegar. Bake them at 400 degrees F in the oven for 10 minutes. Tofu makes for a great source of protein.
43. Apple slices with peanut butter
Cut half a medium apple into slices and enjoy with a 1/2 tablespoon of peanut butter for about 100 calories.
44. Watermelon chunks
Enjoy 2 cups of this refreshing summer fruit—a good source of vitamins A and C—for just 92 calories. Add a shake of Himalayan sea salt for an outside-the-box treat.
45. Dark chocolate
Have no fear, chocolate lovers—a 1/2-ounce piece of dark chocolate is right under the 100-calorie mark.
46. Popcorn
Three cups of unbuttered, air-popped popcorn is just 93 calories. For a bit more flavor, add a sprinkle of salt and a bunch of your favorite herbs.
47. Mango cubes
A sweet tropical snack that can be enjoyed frozen or fresh from the grocery store, 1 cup of mango cubes is also a great source of vitamins A and C. The best part? It’s only 99 calories.
48. Animal crackers
For a fun and easy-to-portion snack, treat yourself to six animal crackers.
49. Chocolate-covered banana
Chop half a frozen banana into chunks, melt 2 teaspoons of dark chocolate and dip the chunks in the chocolate. Then, place everything in the freezer. Let sit until firm and enjoy.
50. Pistachios
Portion out 25 pistachios and take them to-go in a plastic bag. The nuts have a satisfying crunch and are a great source of potassium and phosphorus.
51. Shrimp cocktail
Here’s a surprising snack under 100 calories: 8 large boiled shrimp with 2 tablespoons of cocktail sauce.
52. Grilled pineapple
Enjoy 1 cup of pineapple chunks grilled on skewers for a fun, light snack that's ideal for summer barbecues and outdoor parties.
53. Edamame
Boil a 1/2 cup of edamame beans and eat with a light sprinkling of salt for a nice dose of iron and vitamin C.
54. Oatmeal with cinnamon, brown sugar and honey
Enjoy a 1/2 cup of unsweetened oatmeal with cinnamon, a sprinkling of brown sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of honey for a warm snack in the morning.
55. Cherries
One cup of cherries (without the pit or the stem, of course) is 97 calories. These little red fruits are great sources of vitamins A, C and K.
56. Apple and string cheese
Believe it or not, a juicy apple can taste great with savory string cheese. For a quick and easy snack under 100 calories, enjoy half of an apple with half of a string cheese.
57. Corn on the cob with garlic and olive oil
Grilled or steamed, half an ear of corn on the cob tastes great with a pinch of minced garlic and a spritz of olive oil.
58. Banana and peanut butter
Try half of a banana dipped in a 1/2 tablespoon of peanut butter for an easy pick-me-up snack that’s high in potassium.
59. Strawberry salad
Want a light snack that requires no cooking? Check out this sweet strawberry salad. All you need is 2 cups of raw spinach, 1 cup of sliced strawberries and 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar.
60. Cheese-stuffed pita pocket
Take half of a small whole wheat pita pocket and fill it with 1 ounce of skim ricotta cheese for a simple snack to hold you over until dinner.
61. Applesauce with cinnamon
For a great midday snack in the office, simply stir a light sprinkling of cinnamon into 1 cup of unsweetened applesauce.
62. Low-calorie pancake
These fabulous Orange-Buttermilk Pancakes only have 101 calories per flapjack. (Yes, it's over 100. Cut off a few crumbs to split the difference.) Whip up a batch and save the rest for breakfast through the week.
63. Banana ice cream
Instead of a pint of store-brought ice cream crammed with sugars and preservatives, try this super-simple recipe: First, cut a medium-small banana into chunks and freeze them. A few hours later, let them thaw for about ten minutes, until they're not rock-solid. Finally, give the chunks a whirl in a food processor until they reach an ice cream-like consistency.
64. Ants on a log
For a fun snack just under 100 calories, top three 4-inch celery sticks each with a 1/2 teaspoon of peanut butter and three raisins.
65. Cherry tomatoes
A great source of vitamins A and C, cherry tomatoes are great as part of a salad or on their own. To stay under 100 calories, enjoy 32 of them in the office or on the go.
66. Banana and peanut butter on toast
Take half a piece of toasted, 40-calorie whole wheat bread, thinly spread 1 teaspoon of peanut butter and top with half a small banana, sliced.
67. Carrot sticks and peanut butter
Not a fan of hummus? Try dipping 8 carrot sticks into 1/2 tablespoon of this creamy alternative.
68. Tomato, mozzarella and balsamic vinegar
Two tomatoes, one thin slice of mozzarella cheese and a light drizzle of balsamic vinegar is a low-calorie snack that's also a great source of calcium!
69. Ham, cheese and lettuce
For a low-calorie and low-carb sandwich, roll two slices of your favorite ham from the local deli with a slice of cheese and a lettuce leaf. Add in carrots or bell peppers if you have them.
70. Egg spinach muffin
A low-carb, easy way to incorporate protein into your diet is to eat muffins made of egg and spinach. Simply beat an egg and add some salt, pepper, and a handful of spinach leaves. Pour the mixture into a muffin tray, bake at 350 degrees F until set, let cool and enjoy.
71. Frozen blueberry smoothie ice pop
Blend 1/3 cup of nonfat yogurt and 2/3 cup of frozen blueberries. Then, pour the mix into an ice pop mold and freeze into a healthy, low-calorie summer treat.
72. Grilled chicken slices
Enjoy 1/4 cup of grilled chicken slices for a savory snack that's high in protein. Marinate the chicken with your favorite seasoning to taste.
73. Peanut butter toast
On half a piece of whole wheat toast, slather 1 teaspoon of peanut butter for a fast snack.
74. Fruit salad
Mix a 1/2 cup of diced cantaloupe, a 1/2 cup of diced honeydew and half of an orange to make a very simple yet refreshing fruit salad that can be enjoyed at home or on the go.
75. Lox and cream cheese crackers
Instead of chowing down on a giant bagel, split 1 teaspoon of cream cheese and 1 ounce of lox among three crackers.
76. Peaches
One extra-large peach comes in under 100 calories, and is a great source of potassium.
77. Strawberry and banana smoothie
Blend a 1/2 cup of strawberries, half a banana and a 1/4 cup of soymilk for a delicious, simple smoothie that can be enjoyed for breakfast or as a refreshing snack.
78. Peanut butter on rice cake
Want to add more flavor to a typical rice cake? Spread a 1/2 teaspoon of peanut butter on the top. Two of these will keep you under 100 calories.
79. Trail mix
For a fast snack, grab a pack of store-brand trail mix and eat only part of it—usually less than half. This will generally keep you under 100 calories, but be sure to check the brand’s nutrition label.
80. Apple chips
Slice a medium apple into thin chips, sprinkle some cinnamon and scant amounts of white sugar on the pieces and bake in the oven for 45 minutes at 225 degrees F. Remember to mist the baking sheet with nonstick spray beforehand.
81. Mini cheese quesadilla
For a quick snack to hold you over, cut a small whole wheat tortilla in half, and then fold it over and fill with 1/8 cup of shredded low-fat cheddar cheese. Microwave for 20 seconds and enjoy!
82. Honey and yogurt
Try mixing 4 ounces of plain, nonfat Greek yogurt with 1 dash of cinnamon and 1 teaspoon of honey for a subtly sweet and satisfying treat.
83. Avocado egg bake
Try this low-calorie, low-carb snack! Cut an avocado in half. Remove the seed and about 2 tablespoons of avocado flesh. Afterwards, crack an egg and remove the yolk. Place the raw egg whites in the center of the hollowed avocado. Bake at 425 degrees F for 15 to 20 minutes. Top with a tablespoon of chopped chives and/or sprinkle salt and pepper to taste.
84. Baked sweet potato chips
Thinly slice half of a small sweet potato. Then spread the slices out on a baking sheet. Drizzle 1 teaspoon of olive oil and sprinkle sea salt. Bake at 250 degrees F until golden brown and edges are crisp.
85. Zucchini fries
These veggie fries are a great way to sneak vegetables into your diet. Cut a zucchini into 8 strips. Dip the strips into 2 beaten egg whites, and then coat in a fine layer of breadcrumbs. Place them on a baking sheet and bake in the oven at 425 degrees F for 20 minutes.
86. Sautéed spinach with olive oil and garlic
Combining 2 cups of spinach with 1 teaspoon of minced garlic and stir frying it in 1/2 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil makes for a yummy, savory midday snack.
87. Egg-stuffed bell pepper
Spray a baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Then, slice a pepper in half and remove the seeds and core. Finally, crack an egg into the center of the pepper and bake in the oven at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes.
88. Grilled asparagus
Grilled asparagus is a great snack or barbecue appetizer. Marinate 20 medium spears of asparagus with 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar and grill for 15 minutes to stay under 100 calories.
89. Dry seaweed
One exotic and yummy treat that's also a great substitute for potato chips is dried and salted seaweed. You can definitely buy this at your local Asian grocer but it also could be available at supermarket. One individually wrapped package of dried seaweed is under 100 calories.
90. Sharp cheddar
Nibbling a 3/4-ounce chunk of cheddar will satisfy cheese lovers and help keep you under your daily caloric limit.
91. Baby carrots and celery sticks with hummus
For a quick grab-and-go snack or a light lunch accompaniment, pack 2 tablespoons of hummus with 10 baby carrots or celery sticks. Sub in cucumbers or bell pepper strips to add some variation to this snack.
92. Cottage cheese and tomato
Hollow out a large tomato and fill it with a 1/2 cup of fat-free cottage cheese for a high-protein snack that will hold you over until your next meal.
93. Greek tomatoes
Here’s a great light, mid-afternoon snack: mix 1 tablespoon of feta cheese with two small chopped tomatoes and add a squeeze of lemon.
94. Kale chips
Do you crave crunchy, salty potato chips? Here’s a healthier alternative: try baking 2 cups raw kale, tossed with 1 teaspoon olive oil and a sprinkling of sea salt, at 400 degrees F until crispy.
95. Grilled balsamic peppers
Take 3 cups of raw peppers, slice them into strips, and marinate them with 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar. Then, grill for 20 minutes and enjoy!
96. Rosemary potatoes
Thinly slice half a medium potato into 1/2-inch wedges. Coat with 1/2 teaspoon olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and a few sprigs of rosemary. Then, bake in the oven at 400 degrees until browned and easily pierced with a knife.
97. Vegetable soup
One cup of simple vegetable soup is ideal for a snack. Buy it at the store, or make it yourself. Bring 6 cups of low sodium vegetable broth to a boil and add any vegetables of your choosing, like cabbage, broccoli, carrots, celery, chard, zucchini, red bell pepper or onion. Boil the mixture in a covered pot for 15 minutes. Add lemon juice, salt, black pepper and parsley to taste.
98. Berries and yogurt
Enjoy 4 ounces of nonfat Greek yogurt with a handful of mixed berries.
99. Avocado toast
This trendy breakfast food can also be enjoyed as a light snack. Simply spread 1/4 of an avocado on half a piece of toasted light whole wheat bread. Add salt and pepper to taste.
100. Saltine crackers
For some fast fuel, munch on five low-sodium Saltine crackers. (Try to have some water nearby for when you're finished. You know why.)
More On
video
article
slideshow
video
video