snacks

In honor of National Cereal Day, we at DietsInReview, are giving you a rundown of five of the best cereals on the market today and a few that fall way short of meeting the nutritional guidelines for the day’s most important meal.

1) Kashi Go Lean: We love the folks at Kashi, particularly because their cereals are filled with whole grains, fiber and protein. One cup of Kashi Go Lean contains 140 calories, 10 grams of fiber and 13 grams of protein.

2) Special K Red Berries: Crunchy, sweet and lo-cal – you can’t ask for more in a cereal. Coming in at just 110 calories per cup, Special K is a great way to start your day.

3) Post Total: It’s a crunchy, sweet and satisfying way to get in 100% of your daily vitamins and minerals.

This week, we are head-over-heels in love with Kashi’s TLC Fruit and Grain Bars. These scrumptious bars come in three decadent flavors like dark chocolate coconut, pumpkin pie and chocolate raspberry.

Each one packs Kashi’s signature Seven Whole Grains and protein mix and they contain no high fructose corn syrup, sugar or trans-fats.

Our favorite is the pumpkin pie. It tastes exactly like the smoothness of a slice of the real thing with just the perfect combination of cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg.

Each bar contains about 120 calories, 4 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein.

These delish bars are perfect for a pre- or post-workout snack or when the need for something sweet (but not naughty) arises.

This week, we love Greek Yogurt. For breakfast, a mid-afternoon snack or even as a dessert, this creamy and super nutritious snack is one of our trusted go-to foods.

Greek yogurt has a tangier and richer texture than most other yogurts. Sorry Dannon and Yoplait, but when it comes to nutrition, Greek yogurt has you beat. With 15 to 20 grams of protein, 25% of your calcium needs, immune-boosting live bacteria and 120 to 150 calories per serving, it is no wonder that Greek yogurt has become a staple food for health devotees and nutrition connoisseurs.

Greek yogurt has a heaven-sent texture of being super rich and yet also light and fluffy at the same time. The most popular brands are FAGE (pronounced “fa-yeh”) and Oikos, but specialty stores like Trader Joe’s have their own brands as well. Most varieties come in full-fat, reduced-fat and fat-free versions. Trust us: They are all divinely decadent!

While the possibilities of eating Greek Yogurt are endless, we like ours best topped with crushed almonds, fresh berries and drizzled with honey.

Seem to have a sweet tooth that isn’t satisfied unless you dive into a bowl of ice cream or candy?  Well below is a list of easy and healthier alternatives to making your sweet tooth happy without adding the extra bulge in your waistline.

• There’s a product out that I personally buy and enjoy.  It’s called “No Pudge! Fudge Brownie Mix.”  It comes in a variety of flavors: Regular, Cappuccino, Mint, and Raspberry.  All you have to do is mix the powder mix with the amount of vanilla flavored yogurt it says in the directions, heat, cool, cut, and enjoy.  Or you can check out the product’s website and see a big listing of different recipe ideas.

• An easy and good dessert are the Jello pudding mixes. Simply add skim milk, chill, and enjoy.
  

Each week, DietsInReview.com is going to highlight one food, snack, exercise or gadget that has made our lives a bit more happy and a lot more healthy. We welcome your suggestions, too, as we scope out grocery store shelves for new products or reconnect with a tried-and-true favorite.

This week, We Love Emerald Almonds 100-Calorie Packs. These heart-healthy snack packs come in three flavors: natural almonds, cocoa almonds and a walnut-almond mix. Best of all, they are individually-packed and they don’t contain salt or added flavorings (except the cocoa almonds), so you’re not too tempted to eat the entire box of seven pouches.

Almonds and walnuts provide you with a heart healthy dose of healthy fats, muscle-building protein and satiating fiber. This is one snack that you can feel super good about noshing on!