Fruit-based healthy snacks for weight loss.

 

When all you want is something sweet, it can be tough to stick with eating healthy snacks for weight loss. But if your goal is to trim down, cutting empty calories and excess sugar is key. It's important to find healthy snacks for your sweet tooth cravings foods that satisfy your desire to snack, and also deliver nutritional value.

Fresh fruit is great for this, providing sweet flavor along with fiber, antioxidants, and other key nutrients. A piece of fresh fruit is always a good option for anyone looking for healthy snacks for weight loss. But sometimes fruit alone can be boring. If your snack fails to satisfy, you're more likely to reach for something else to curb your craving something far less healthy.

 

To mix things up, try these eight ideas for healthy fruit-based food to satisfy a sweet tooth. They're easy to prepare and they're a bit more interesting than a basic banana or apple.

 

1. Smoothies

Smoothies are a great way to get a taste of sweetness, along with protein and healthy fat, depending on the additions you choose. Protein powder, non-fat yogurt, unsweetened almond milk, skim milk, peanut butter, and avocado are all ingredients that can boost the nutritional value of your shake. The fruit you use will provide all the sweetness you need.

 

A few of our favorite fruity protein smoothie recipes include Blueberry Bananza, Peanut Butter Apple, and Lemon Berry Crush. You can make them all in your favorite BlenderBottle shaker, no electric blender required. Try the BlenderBottle Radian shaker, the latest addition to our product line, if you're looking for something new.

 

2. Fruit Chips

Baked, roasted, or dehydrated fruit chips are another way to enjoy fruit's natural sweetness, while satisfying your snack craving. Try Oven Baked Apple Chips for pure fruit flavor, or Roasted Cinnamon and Honey Pear Chips if you prefer a little extra sweetness. You can also easily dehydrate many fruits in a home dehydrator; strawberries are especially good this way.

 

3. Frozen Yogurt-Covered Fruit

A tasty and nutritious summertime treat is frozen yogurt-covered fruit, and it's a cinch to make. Go for something basic like these easy-as-can-be Frozen Yogurt-Covered Blueberries, or try a slightly more advanced yet still simple recipe with these Frozen Yogurt-Covered Fruit Pops.

 

4. Nut Butter-Dipped Fruit

Nut butters pair wonderfully with fruit, and they're a great way to add protein, healthy fat, and even additional sweetness to your snack. Apple or pear slices dipped in peanut butter or almond butter are delicious and healthy snacks for your sweet tooth.

 

To make this snack even more interesting, try topping the nut butter with a sprinkling of coconut, slivered almonds, raisins, or a few dark chocolate chips. Or, mix non-fat Greek yogurt in with the nut butter for a slightly different taste and added calcium.

 

5. Dark Chocolate-Dipped Fruit

Chocolate as a healthy snack? No complaints here! Dark chocolate has been shown to have antioxidant attributes. A small amount of dark chocolate is a good choice to include in an "everything in moderation" nutrition plan, as diets that are completely restrictive tend to backfire.

 

Dark chocolate makes a perfect partner for many fruits, including apples, apricots, nectarines, strawberries, bananas, and clementines. Here's a how-to for dipping and enjoying this delectable treat, with or without optional toppings.

 

6. Greek Yogurt and Fruit Parfait

Want a nutritious breakfast or a substantial treat with plenty of natural sweetness? Try a Greek yogurt and fresh fruit parfait. You can create any combo you like for your parfait, according to your personal taste. If you're looking for a recipe to get started, two worth trying are this recipe with fruit and granola, and this one, which includes fruit, nuts, and almond butter.

 

7. Fruit-Filled Energy Bites

Energy bites (also called energy balls) are all the rage. They're easy to make at home with any ingredients you like, and fruit figures prominently in many recipes. A few delicious and nutritious options include Peach Pie Energy Bites and Cranberry Almond Energy Bites. Don't be afraid to experiment and also create recipes of your own!

 

8. Frozen Fruit

Freezing fruit is another way to take nature's treat from standard to outstanding especially on a hot summer day. Frozen grapes and frozen cherries are incredibly refreshing and easy to make. Just pop them in the freezer for a few hours and your antioxidant-rich snack will be ready to enjoy.

 

You can also make your own fresh fruit popsicles with just a few minutes of prep time. Puree your favorite fruit (berries, peaches and nectarines, and melons all work well) with a small amount of apple juice, then freeze the mix in ice cube trays with a popsicle stick or toothpick in each cube.