Our body craves food when it is really cold outside because our body wants us to warm up and feel comfortable. Food cravings are a pretty common symptom of the cold weather and are nothing to be ashamed of. Not only does snacking help us keep warm during winter but it also makes us happy. However, excessive snacking, especially snacking on fried, oily, sugary, and just generally junk food is detrimental to our physical health and can negatively impact our mental health.
If you are struggling with controlling your snacking, you can try consuming more hot water and hot drinks. Your cravings can be connected to your lowered consumption of water during winter. This is extremely common. Therefore, if you still feel hungry after having a meal, then instead of snacking, drink a glass of green tea, jasmine tea, or plain hot water. You should also keep your body warm by wearing warm clothes and exercising regularly throughout the week.
Now, let’s take a look at some low-calorie snacks that you can munch on to subside winter cravings.
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Makhana- Makhana should be a staple ingredient in your pantry this winter. This low-calorie crunchy savoury snack is easy to prepare at home and is also very delicious. You can sprinkle your Makhana with some salt, red chili powder, oregano, chat masala, etc for some spice as well.
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Popcorn- It might be weird to see popcorn on a list of healthy foods but popcorns are delicious, low in calories, and rich in fibre. Popcorns are a great snack to munch on and are also extremely easy to make. However, you mustn’t indulge in topics such as butter and caramel because they are unhealthy.
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Strawberries- Strawberries are readily available in markets all across the country during winter. This sweet and tangy fruit is not only low in calories but also rich in antioxidants and vitamin C.
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Almonds- It is good to eat a bunch of nuts during winter because they keep us warm and are also a powerhouse of nutrients and good fat. Almonds make for amazing crunchy snacks. They are low in calories and high in fibre and protein. Regularly consuming almonds help lower blood pressure, improve bone density, and also assist with blood sugar control.
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Toasted pumpkin seeds- Salted and unsalted roasted pumpkin seeds are an incredibly rich source of protein and nutrients. Pumpkin seeds are packed with antioxidants and exhibit anti-inflammatory properties that protect our cells from disease-causing damage and reduce inflammation in our bodies. It also facilitated healthy heart function and is a rich source of zinc, copper, selenium, and tryptophan. Therefore, regularly eating pumpkin seeds will also improve the quality and duration of our sleep.
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Raw carrots- 1 serving of raw carrots has just 25 calories. Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A (204% of Daily Value), vitamin C, beta carotene, potassium, and antioxidants. Eating a cup of carrots increases the feeling of fullness because carrots are rich in fibre. Therefore, it not only supports a healthy diet but also weight loss. Carrots also help strengthen bones and constipation, improve the immune system, and are good for our eyes.
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Apples- Apples are nutrient-dense fruits that are low in calories. They are an excellent source of vitamin B1, vitamin B6, vitamin C, Copper, Potassium, vitamin K, fibre, and antioxidants. Since apples are rich in fibre and have high water content, they support weight loss, help manage our appetite, and even increase feelings of fullness. They also improve gut health and even provide protection against heart disease, obesity, cancer, and type 2 diabetes.
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Tomato soup- One large cup of warm tomato soup has only 33 calories. It is also rich in vitamins C, K, A, potassium, protein, fibre, and carotenoids. Tomato soup promotes healthy skin as beta carotene and lycopene present in tomato soup protect the skin against sunburn. They also benefit eye health as it reduces the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration.
