Plan your next munchy binge! Cut calories and satisfy cravings.

You are doing well with your diet, and you are finally losing unwanted pounds, but you hit that moment when you just want to snack, munch, crunch, chew, whatever you want to call it... you want to eat.  You want a snack while watching tv.  You know you shouldn't mindlessly eat, but you are really being tempted as your family sits happily around you crunching their way through tasty snacks on movie night.  Denying yourself at this moment may make it harder to use self-control later.  Do yourself a favor and have a treat.  But be smart about it.

We've all heard and seen the "eat this not that" thing.  I have a few quick suggestions of my own:

1. Laughing Cow Lite cheese.  One wedge is only 35 calories, vs. approx 100 calories in 1 oz. of cream cheese.  Eat it with veggies instead of crackers.  If you need a cracker, consider Special K crackers...hugely reduced calories, and they taste GREAT!  Instead of mayo, use a wedge on a sandwich, and save yourself a bunch of calories! Hellman's Mayo is about 180 calories for 2 Tablespoons, and Miracle Whip is about 80 calories for 2 Tablespoons, while a wedge, again, only 35 calories.
2. Air-popped Popcorn.  If you have the munchies...not really hungry but need something to munch, you can hardly beat air-popped popcorn.  Admittedly, its bland...nearly tasteless...but it crunches for far less calories than potato chips!  You can munch your way through 3 cups for under 100 calories.  So, fill that bowl with 3 cups of potato chips, and munch yourself fatter with about 525 calories for the rippled kind, or discipline your munching to air-popped popcorn and save yourself 425 calories!
3. Good old-fashioned pretzel sticks.  You can have 57 Rold Gold pretzel sticks for about 100 calories.  Think ahead, though...don't just grab a bag and count on self-control to stop the binge.  Get a bowl and count out the pretzels you will allow yourself.  Eat them one at a time, not a handful at a time.  You'll be happily munching for a good long while.
4. Picante Sauce!  I count this stuff practically calorie free, as on my diet I do not count the calories in fresh veggies.  They are often-timed called negative calories, anyway, as it takes more energy to chew and digest them than they contain (debated by some, but they don't know how hard I work to get them all chewed up.)  And let me suggest Salsa Sensations "packed fresh" Salsa found in a plastic tub in the Hispanic foods section of the refrigerated area in Walmart.  (A way down from the refrigerated biscuits and margarine - don't buy those!)  Salsa Sensations is cheaper than other premium salsas, only $1.98 at my store, and tastes just nearly as good as homemade.  And it only has 10 calories in 2 Tablespoons.  I like to enjoy it on fresh veggies, like zucchini or mushroom slices, or for those times when I must have a chip, I love Special K Sea Salt cracker chips.  You can have 30 of those chips (a bowl-full) for only 110 calories.  Another suggestion: Make your own corn chips by cutting a couple of yellow corn tortillas into 6 wedges each and toasting them until slightly browned and crisp. Spritz them with Parkay spray and sprinkle with salt.  Enjoy them warm for only approx 110 calories in 12 chips.
5. Fresh veggies with fat free Great Value Italian Dressing.  As mentioned above, I allow myself all the fresh veggies I want to eat.  They are rich sources of important nutrients. Organic is all the better for you.  And their calorie content is negligible in light of their capacity to fill you up.  The fat free dressing is only 15 calories in 2 Tablespoons.

With a little forethought and planning, you can avoid ruining your daily calorie count while satisfying those terrible munchy cravings.  Denying the craving rarely works in the long term.  Make a plan for indulgence that your fitness goals can afford.  Keep these and other low-cal, low-fat snacks readily available.