Contrary to popular belief, snacks are actually very beneficial. It helps refuel your body, maintain blood sugar and energy levels, and control your appetite.

Healthy snacks will help your body get the nutrients it needs and help you avoid overeating at mealtimes.

Enjoy these guilt-free snacks. Remember that we encourage an anti-inflammatory, low-glycemic, paleo-style diet for weight loss and wellness. A body must be healthy before it can lose weight.

1. Fruit and yogurt parfait. The best is natural organic yogurt. Yogurts with added flavors are higher in sugar. Instead, flavor your yogurt with fruit. Blueberries are a great choice as they have a lower glycemic content that will help balance blood glucose and insulin levels.

2. Romaine lettuce wrap with organic turkey and a slice of raw or skim milk mozzarella cheese.

Romaine lettuce contains the highest nutritional and fiber content of all lettuces. Turkey is 94% protein which helps you lose weight by boosting your metabolism and decreasing hunger. Adding raw, grass-fed milk cheese not only adds flavor, it also adds calcium without harmful hormones or preservatives. A great source for grass-fed wild meats, game, and poultry is US Wellness Meats.

3. Vegetable sticks with cottage cheese sauce. Non-starchy vegetables contain nearly eight times the amount of fiber found in whole grains. Fiber is essential for a healthy digestive system. Organic Fat Free Cottage Cheese is a great low calorie snack.

4. Shrimp Cocktail Shrimp is 90% protein. Try dipping it in some cocktail sauce for a high-protein, low-calorie snack.

5. A handful of nuts. Walnuts are the best choice as they are high in protein and fiber, but also contain a high dose of omega 3 fatty acids (good fats) compared to other nuts. Healthy fats help reduce the risk of disease. Omega-3s are anti-inflammatory, which means they help prevent inflammatory diseases like stroke or heart disease. People who are overweight actually suffer from an inflammatory condition.

6. Celery sticks and almond butter. This is a great combination of protein, monounsaturated fat, and energy. Almond butter is a healthier alternative to peanut butter as it contains no added ingredients or preservatives and better fats. (peanuts are a vegetable, not a nut)

7. Deviled eggs. Eggs are very high in protein, which makes them a great snack. My Guacamole Deviled Eggs are a great high protein healthy snack with good fats.

8. Herring wraps. Buy some containers canned in a few different flavored sauces like tomato or hot mustard, the herring fillets are high in omega 3 fish oils. No but they are in soybean oil. Try wrapping them in some romaine lettuce leaves.

9. Banana Walnut Pop. Dip a banana in plain organic yogurt and roll it in nuts or coconut. Freeze. Delicious!

Bananas are a great source of fiber and potassium. They are high in sugar, so eat them in moderation. Coconuts have antimicrobial, antiviral and antibacterial properties and are one of the world’s best sources of MCFA (Medium Chain Triglyceride Fatty Acids).

10. Avocado, tuna and lemon snack. Cut an avocado in half and scoop out the pulp. Mix with lemon juice and tuna. Serve in the shells. Good protein, good fat.

Avocados are high in monounsaturated fat and potassium. Tuna is a great source of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and is very rich in nutrients. Protein builds muscle which in turn burns more calories to help you lose weight.

And here’s your BONUS snack idea….

***Smoked salmon.

Don’t buy brown sugar coated salmon. Salmon is one of the best sources of protein and healthy fats on earth. Always try to buy grains that are wild-caught and not farm-raised (grain-fed).