About 100 Calories or Less
- 1 medium size apple - 72 calories
- 1 medium size banana - 105 calories
- 1 cup steamed green beans - 44 calories
- 1 cup blueberries - 83 calories
- 1 cup grapes - 100 calories
- 1 cup carrots - 45 calories, or broccoli - 30 calories, or bell peppers - 30 calories with 2 tbsp. hummus - 46 calories
Instead of a high-calorie snack from a vending machine, bring some cut-up vegetables or fruit from home.
One snack-sized bag of corn chips (1 ounce) has the same number of calories as a small apple, 1 cup of whole strawberries, AND 1 cup of carrots with 1/4 cup of low-calorie dip. Substitute one or two of these options for the chips, and you will have a satisfying snack with fewer calories.
Remember: Substitution is the Key
It's true that fruits and vegetables are lower in calories than many other foods, but they do contain some calories. If you start eating fruits and vegetables in addition to what you usually eat, you are adding calories and may gain weight. The key is substitution. Eat fruits and vegetables instead of some other higher-calorie food.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention