You can have chips, cookies, and cake—and still lose weight with these 2010 Shape healthy snack award winners.
We've been nibbling our way through the newest low-calorie snacks to unearth the most delectable and nutritious picks. Not only did our winners meet our rigorous nutrition standards (see them below), but they scored points for flavor, texture, and satisfaction. With 30 treats to choose from, the real winners are your taste buds—and your waistline. Let the munching begin!
Low-Calorie Snacks: Tasty Treats Under 100 Calories
Low-Calorie Snacks: Filling Finds Under 150 Calories
Low-Calorie Snacks: Best Bites Under 200 Calories
WHAT MAKES A HEALTHY SNACK SHAPE-WORTHY? Every snack winner had to meet these rigorous nutrition requirements (in addition to tasting great):
•200 calories or less •0 grams of trans fat and no more than 3.5 grams of saturated fat •No more than 400 milligrams of sodium •No high-fructose corn syrup •Calorie-controlled portions, whole grains, little added sugar, gluten-free, and extra vitamins or minerals all got special consideration
Snacks Under 100 CALORIES
snacks Annie Chun's All Natural Asian Cuisine Mini Wontons in Chicken & Garlic (50 CALORIES, 1 G FAT FOR 4 PIECES)
Made with cabbage, cilantro, and soy sauce, these bite-size dumplings “taste like the kind I get from my favorite Chinese restaurant, without the MSG,” said one tester.
snacks Mousse Temptations by Jell-O in Chocolate Indulgence (60 CALORIES, 3 G FAT PER 2 OZ. CUP)
You'll save more than 7 grams of fat by opting for this creamy sugar-free treat instead of the same serving of mousse. Declared a fan: "For chocoholics like me, this is bliss!" ($3 for 6)
snacks Dannon Light & Fit 60 Calorie Packs in Strawberry & Blueberry (60 CALORIES, 0 G FAT PER 4 OZ. CUP)
This nonfat yogurt is a scaled-down version of the original. "If I have to work late, I'll have one," said a taster. "It's the perfect size to fill me up—without spoiling my appetite for dinner." ($3 for 6)
snacks Edy's Antioxidant Fruit Bars in Pomegranate (70 CALORIES, 0 G FAT PER BAR)
Our reviewers raved about this fruit-filled treat. "You can see the flecks of pomegranate throughout the entire thing," said one. In western states, look for them sold under the Dreyer's label. ($4 for 6)
snacks Quaker True Delights Rice Snacks in Sea Salt & Cracked Black Pepper (70 CALORIES, 2 G FAT FOR 9 PIECES)
Rice cakes can kick their bland reputation to the curb, thanks to this spiced-up version. These deliver a peppery punch—plus, they're made with brown rice. ($3 for a 6 oz. bag)
snacks Musselman's Healthy Picks Apple Sauce in Raspberry Açaí (70 CALORIES, 0 G FAT PER 4 OZ. CUP)
This no-sugar-added applesauce is blended with raspberry and açaí berry purée for an extra dose of antioxidants. "Tastes fresh, not processed and super sweet," said one tester. ($2 for 4)
snack Weight Watchers snack cakes in Chocolate Crème Cake (80 CALORIES, 4 G FAT PER 1 OZ. CAKE)
With a cream-filled center and a layer of fudgy icing, this cake reminded our staffers of the cupcakes they ate as kids. And with 4 grams of fiber in each treat, even Mom would approve. ($3 for 6)
snack LUNA Minis in White Chocolate Macadamia, Peanut Butter Cookie, and LemonZest (80 CALORIES, 2 TO 3 G FAT PER BAR)
Each of these treats, which fit in the palm of your hand, is packed with 4 grams of protein. "A few bites of a regular bar fill me up, so this size is just right," said one fan. ($12 for 18)
snack Gardein Seven Grain Crispy Tenders (90 CALORIES, 2 G FAT FOR 2 PIECES)
"No way these can be meatless!" said one reviewer. "They have all of the flavor of chicken strips, minus the grease." Made with soy and whole grains, each serving of tenders supplies 15 percent of your daily iron needs. ($5 for a 9 oz. pouch)
snack Fiber One 90 Calorie Chewy Bars in Chocolate Peanut Butter (90 CALORIES, 3 G FAT PER BAR)
You could easily mistake this concoction for a candy bar, with its peanut butter layer and chunks of real chocolate. But each is packed with 5 grams of fiber—20 percent of what's recommended daily. ($4 for 5)
Snacks Under 150 CALORIES
snacks StarKist Tuna Salad Sandwich-Ready Pouch (100 CALORIES, 4 G FAT PER 3 OZ. BAG)
No draining or chopping necessary: Rip open the pouch and scoop up a mix of chunk light tuna, celery, water chestnuts, and dill relish. "It's the ideal amount to put onto a few crackers," said one fan. ($2 each)
snacks Nestle Cranberry Raisinets 100 Calorie Pack (100 CALORIES, 4 G FAT PER 1 OZ. BAG)
These chocolate-covered cranberries provide a boost of antioxidants. "I've been known to demolish an entire box of candy at the movies," confessed a panelist. "So these are my new theater snack." ($1 each)
snacks The Skinny Cow Truffle Bars in White Mint (100 CALORIES, 3 G FAT PER BAR)
You can almost hear the ice cream truck's jingle every time you take a lick of this truffle bar, which is drizzled in chocolate. "The mint was so refreshing, and the rich texture felt indulgent," said a staffer. ($5 for 6)
snacks Yoplait Delights Parfait in Lemon Torte (100 CALORIES, 2 G FAT PER 4 OZ. CUP)
This container serves up two layers—creamy vanilla and tangy lemon yogurt—plus 15 percent of the vitamin D you need in a day. "It tastes like lemon meringue pie," said one tester. ($3 for 4)
snacks Edy's Antioxidant Fruit Bars in Pomegranate (70 CALORIES, 0 G FAT PER BAR)
Our reviewers raved about this fruit-filled treat. "You can see the flecks of pomegranate throughout the entire thing," said one. In western states, look for them sold under the Dreyer's label. ($4 for 6)
snacks Kellogg's Special K Fruit Crisps in Strawberry (100 CALORIES, 2 G FAT FOR 2 CRISPS)
The strawberry-filled treat is reminiscent of a toaster pastry, but you'll save 9 grams of fat. "When I microwaved them, the icing melted to perfection," said a snacker. ($3 for 10)
snacks Popchips Potato Chips in Cheddar (100 CALORIES, 4 G FAT PER 1 OZ. BAG)
These crisps have popped up on our awards list for two years in a row because our tasters can't get enough of the crunchy texture. "The new cheddar flavor was so intense that I needed only a small handful to get my fix," said one panelist. ($1 each)
snack Kashi Heart to Heart Warm Cinnamon Oat Cereal (110 CALORIES, 2 G FAT FOR 3?4 CUP)
Although plenty of B vitamins and 5 grams of fiber make this cereal super healthy, it was the cinnamon that won the hearts of our testers. "I ate this snack straight out of the box for dessert," said one. ($4 for a 12 oz. box)
snack Potato Flyers Baked Potato Chips in Sour Cream & Onion (120 CALORIES, 5 G FAT FOR 1.5 OZ.)
"I preferred these baked chips over regular versions because they're much less greasy," said one snacker. And since they have fewer calories and about half the fat, "I munched on them guilt-free!" ($2 for a 2 oz. bag)
snack Sunsweet Antioxidant Blend (130 CALORIES, 0 G FAT FOR 1/4 CUP)
The combination of dried blueberries, cherries, cranberries, and plums was "sweet and juicy—like candy," said one taster. "I substituted this snack for my usual pack of gummy bears." The resealable bag also got a thumbs-up. ($4 for a 5 oz. bag)
snack Stacy's Pita Chips in Garden Veggie Medley (130 CALORIES, 5 G FAT FOR 9 CHIPS)
These thick pieces are the antidote for even the fiercest carb craving. "Tastes homemade," said one reviewer. "There were herbs, tomato, and onion in every bite." Another said the twice-baked crisps were satisfyingly crunchy. ($3 for a 7 oz. bag)
snacks Popcorn, Indiana Gourmet Kettlecorn in Cinnamon Sugar (130 CALORIES, 5 G FAT FOR 2 1/2 CUPS)
Testers raved about this salty-sweet popcorn. When asked if she'd recommend the treat, one replied: "Only if I can stop eating it long enough to talk." We took that as a yes. ($4 for an 8 oz. bag)
snacks Bear Naked 100% Pure & Natural Granola in Peak Flax Oats and Honey With Blueberries (130 CALORIES, 4 G FAT FOR 1/4 CUP)
"A handful of this granola is the ideal post-workout snack," said a fan. Honey clusters add a hint of sweetness for only 7 grams of sugar per serving. ($5 for a 12 oz. bag)
snacks Snyder's of Hanover Eatsmart Naturals MultiGrain Tortilla Chips (140 CALORIES, 7 G FAT FOR 9 CHIPS)
Made with quinoa and flax, sesame, and chia seeds, these chips deliver 16 grams of whole grains in each serving. Said one taster: "They didn't break apart when I dug into my chili." ($4 for a 10 oz. bag)
snacks Annie's Organic Snack Mix Bunnies in Cheddar (140 CALORIES, 5 G FAT FOR 45 PIECES)
Even after the testing period was over, our staffers kept asking for samples of this mix of cheddar-covered pretzels and crackers. "The cheesy pieces were so addictive," said one. ($5 for a 9 oz. box)
snacks Nature's Path Organic Chewy Granola Bars in Pumpkin-N-Spice (140 CALORIES, 5 G FAT PER BAR)
If you don't pay attention, noshing on trail mix can put you in a dietary danger zone. That's why our panel loved this portion-controlled bar, made with pumpkin seeds and flax. ($4 for 6)
Under 200 CALORIES
snacks Dole Fruit Crisp in Apple Cinnamon (160 CALORIES, 4 G FAT PER 4 OZ. BOWL)
Heat up these cinnamon-spiced apples in the microwave, then sprinkle with the container of oats and brown sugar. One tester claimed, "Reminds me of my mom's apple pie!" ($2 for 2)
snacks Planters Nut-rition Omega-3 Mix (160 CALORIES, 10 G FAT FOR 1/4 CUP)
Dried cranberries, walnuts, and dark chocolate–covered soy nuts deliver 960 milligrams of heart-healthy omega-3s per serving. "My kids hate nuts," said a staffer. "But they couldn't stop nibbling on this mix." ($6 for a 9 oz. can)
snacks Haagen-Dazs All Natural Low Fat Frozen Yogurt in Peach (170 CALORIES, 2 G OF FAT FOR 1/2 CUP)
A serving of this frozen treat delivers 20 percent of your daily calcium needs. "I loved the chunks of ripe peach," said a taster. "I honestly couldn't tell it was lowfat." ($4 for a 13 oz. carton)
snacks Amy's Gluten Free & Non-Dairy Cake in Chocolate (180 CALORIES, 7 G FAT PER 2 OZ. SLICE)
You'd never guess that this vegan cake comes from a box, not from a gourmet bakery. "It's so moist and fudgy, I was shocked to discover it wasn't made with any dairy or eggs!" said a snacker. ($6 for an 11 oz. cake)
snacks Atkins Advantage Sweet & Salty Almond Crunch Bar (180 CALORIES, 14 G FAT PER BAR)
Studded with almonds, peanuts, and sunflower seeds, this snack contains only 1 gram of sugar. "Instead of a cookie, I had one of these during my coffee break," said a panelist. ($8 for 5)
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