Although it may be tempting to reach for the late night bowl of ice cream or Oreo cookies, there are healthier options that will satisfy your sweet or salty craving.
Microwave popcorn is a great dorm room option for those craving something salty.
It is a naturally healthy, whole grain food.
Three cups of popcorn supplies a 1 oz serving of whole grains, providing fiber and complex carbohydrates.
However, not all microwave popcorn is healthy and you need to be sure to look for "light" in the title or smaller 100 calorie portions.
I recommend Jolly Time 100-Calorie Mini Bags since you can feel more satisfied by finishing the bag but still only consume 100 calories.
I also recommend Newman's Own Organics Pop's Corn, Light Butter since it is all organic with no hydrogenated oils as well as Smart Balance Light Butter.
It has a delicious butter flavor with only 100 calories per serving and 3.
5 grams of fat.
Another great snack is celery spread with peanut butter and topped with raisins, AKA "Ants on a Log".
I know you may think this snack is only for 5 year olds watching Sesame Street but it is actually a healthy, satisfying snack for people of all ages.
It contains protein, carbs and healthy fat for a balanced snack.
Raisins are a great source of iron and peanut butter is an excellent source for fiber and protein.
I would recommend trying natural peanut butter to eliminate the sugar and partially hydrogenated oils associated with regular peanut butter.
If you have a sweet tooth, like me, I love frozen yogurt.
It tastes like regular ice cream but has probiotics which aid in digestive health as well as lower sugar and fat content.
However, you must still practice portion control as well as avoid flavors that contain high calorie ingredients such as nuts, chocolate or caramel.
My favorite brand is Kemps Fat Free No Sugar Added Strawberry or Vanilla frozen yogurts.
They both taste delicious with only 70 calories per serving.
I also love adding fresh strawberries.
Yum! Finally, I would like to share with you one of my favorite snack recipes for homemade granola bars.
They are extremely high in fiber and whole grain which keeps you full and satisfied.
They are also very easy to make and if stored properly stay soft and delicious up to three weeks.
Enjoy! Homemade Granola Bars 2 c.
old fashioned oats 1 c.
sliced almonds 1 c.
shredded coconut 1/2 c.
flax, ground flax or wheat germ (I usually use a combination of flax and wheat germ) Toss all ingredients together and bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes 2/3 c.
honey or brown rice syrup 3 T butter 1/4 c.
light brown sugar or sucanat 1 1/2 t.
vanilla 1/4 t.
salt Place butter, honey, brown sugar, salt and vanilla in a saucepan and bring to boil.
Boil for 1 minute.
Pour over toasted mixture.
Add 1/2 c.
chopped dates, 1/2 c.
chopped apricots and 1/2 c.
raisins (or whatever combination of dried fruit you wish).
Mix together well and pour into a buttered 9x13 pan lined with parchment paper.
Wet fingers and lightly press the mixture into the pan.
Bake for 25 minutes at 300 degrees.
Cool for 2 to 3 hours before cutting.
I usually store the bars by wrapping each individually in saran wrap and placing them in a sealed container.
Some other quick ideas are 12 baked chips with salsa, a toasted whole wheat English muffin with jelly or peanut butter, string cheese with an apple or low fat pretzels.
The most important thing to keep in mind is portion control.
Even low fat or low calorie food can become unhealthy if you consume twice as much as you would if you were to have eaten the regular versions.
There are so many healthy snack options, experiment and find your favorites!