Are you looking for healthy alternatives to chips, chocolate, cookies and similar things that you can eat in the evening? No problem! You are definitely not putting on weight from these 10 snacks.
1. Green and black olives
Instead of chips or nachos with cheese dip, you’d better go with green and black olives. These taste best pure or in olive oil. The fruits of the olive tree are rich in unsaturated fatty acids, vitamin A, sodium, calcium and iron – and are even said to protect against cardiovascular diseases. Black olives have about 185 calories, green olives about 140 calories per 100 grams. For comparison: 100 grams of potato chips have about 535 calories.
2. Pickled gherkins
Cucumbers, which you pickle yourself, are a wonderfully spicy and healthy snack for in-between – and low in calories to boot. There are only 15 calories per 100 grams of gherkins, but even pickled honey cucumbers are still a light snack with 70 calories. The same applies to mixed pickles, which you can enjoy all evening without hesitation.
3. Mixed nuts
Although nuts contain a relatively high amount of fat, you can still eat them without a guilty conscience. This is because unsalted (!) nuts contain unsaturated fatty acids, which are healthy and good for your body – and also provide you with protein, potassium and magnesium. However, almonds, cashews and peanuts are quite high in energy, so a handful of nuts is enough to get you full.
4. Popcorn
In general, popcorn is notorious as a candy – and yet the classic movie is healthier than you might think. At least if it is not drowned in fat, salt and sugar. Studies have also shown that popcorn is rich in antioxidants and fibre. One portion covers two thirds of your whole grain daily requirement.
5. Roasted chick peas
Roasted chick peas are a great substitute for greasy snacks or sweets. Not only do they contain plenty of protein, but also a lot of fibre, vitamins and minerals. Chickpeas contain six milligrams of iron and more protein than some meats, so the snack should be especially interesting for vegans and vegetarians. Plus point: Thanks to their high fibre content, pulses are quick and filling for a long time.
6. Guacamole
Guacamole is a healthy alternative to sauces like mayo or ketchup. The green dip, which translates as “avocado sauce”, consists of crushed, ripe avocado, lemon or lime juice, salt, pepper and fresh coriander. Despite their fat content, avocados are true slimmers because the enzyme lipase contained in them controls the melting of fat during digestion. The low-carbohydrate dip is also rich in unsaturated fatty acids and vitamins.
7. Cocktail Onions
Granted, there are probably not many people who would eat cocktail onions all evening. However, if you have a penchant for pickled onion balls, then you can pick them without hesitation. One teaspoon of cocktail onions has five painful calories. Just don’t forget the gum afterwards.
8. Papaya
With 43 calories per 100 grams, papaya is a real flyweight among snacks – and healthy to boot. But the advantage of the exotic tropical fruit is not the number of calories, but the fact that it is considered to be a food that aids digestion. The papaya contains enzymes that stimulate digestion, so you lose calories overnight.
9. Greek yoghurt
Admittedly, Greek yogurt, with a fat content of 10 percent and a calorie content of 133 per 100 grams, is not necessarily intended for people who want to lose weight. Nevertheless, it is lower in carbohydrates and higher in protein than normal yoghurt, and helps to keep the intestinal flora in balance.
10. Berries
If you like to snack all evening long, you should definitely prepare a bowl of berries – which, by the way, go perfectly with Greek yoghurt. Whether raspberries, blueberries, gooseberries or strawberries: They contain hardly any calories, lots of water and lots of vitamins that strengthen the immune system. Well then, bon appetit!