If you're like me, you struggle with figuring out what to eat and most of the time, it's so much easier to grab fast food and handy carbs than it is to eat a grilled chicken salad or make something really healthy at home. Here is a list of the foods that are on the healthier side that I tend to gravitate towards, which are easy to make and have also helped me to lost 15 pounds this year.
1. Quaker Oats Lower Sugar Oatmeal
Only 120 calories per serving and has 4 grams of sugar as compared to regular oatmeal, which has 12 grams of sugar. I like to add a little bit of honey and sliced banana on top of mine.
2. Dannon Light & Fit Greek Yogurt
Strawberry is definitely my favorite flavor, but they have a huge variety to choose from! A few other flavors that taste great are strawberry cheesecake, toasted coconut vanilla, cherry, banana cream, key lime, blueberry, and peach. There are plenty more to choose from, though. These babies are packed with only 80 calories, but 12 grams of protein and no fat. You can't go wrong with these!
3. Lean 1 Protein Shakes
These are by far my absolute favorite protein shakes because they taste amazing! A lot of the time, chocolate protein shakes taste a bit artificial to me. I can assure you that this one tastes like a chocolate milkshake. I find mine at Smoothie King. One serving is 2 scoops, but you can even cut that in half. I use 2 scoops if it is going to be a meal replacement, but I only use 1 scoop if it's just a little pick-me-up before or after going to the gym. One serving of 2 scoops has 230 calories, 20 grams of protein, 25 carbs, and 9 grams of sugar. It makes the perfect meal replacement and has a ton of vitamins added in!
4. Jimmy Dean Sausage Links
This is my favorite thing to pair with that lower-sugar oatmeal to really make it a meal. Despite what you may be thinking, these actually aren't too bad for you! One serving is 3 sausage links, and that has 170 calories and 10 grams of protein. It is extremely filling. It is a little more on the fattening side, with 13 grams of fat, but it is still a better alternative to fast-food breakfast!
5. Natures Own Life Bread
I discovered this bread this year and was absolutely amazed by it! My favorite is the honey wheat, and that only has 40 calories per slice! Other bread has 100 calories or more per slice, so in my mind, this bread is pretty much revolutionary. It makes a perfect sandwich.
6. Deli Meat
I pretty much live off of this stuff, and the Oscar Mayer brand is my favorite. One serving is 2 ounces, but I usually double that up to feel more full and get more protein! I have found that 2 ounces is approximately 4-6 slices, depending on the thickness and size of the slice. Luckily, I have a food weigher at my apartment to make sure I hit this exactly. With only 50 calories per serving, it makes a perfect part of a meal or even a small snack.
7. Sargento Ultra Thin Cheese
Being "ultra thin" means it's 40 calories instead of 80. It pairs well with the Oscar Meyer turkey and Natures Own Life bread!
8. Pistachios
I got tired of eating almonds, and I discovered that these tasted so great! They are also fun to crack open. One ounce has approximately 158 calories, and is around 49 kernels. One pistachio is around 4 calories. It's packed with good fats and a decent amount of protein.
9. Skinny Pop
Popcorn has always been a favorite of mine, and I love Skinny Pop because it's already popped for you and so convenient. One cup is only 39 calories, so its a great alternative snack to something else, like potato chips!
10. Lean Cuisines
I love Lean Cuisines because there is such a variety for them, and you can pretty much find something for ay craving you may have! They are already portioned out, so you don't have to worry about over-eating. They're easy to make by just putting them in the microwave for a few minutes, and there is very little clean up. It's a great meal for a broke college student who just doesn't have time to cook!
11. Halo Top Ice Cream
Because of course, we have to have a dessert option! If you haven't tried this ice cream yet, you are definitely missing out. It is a very low calorie option for ice cream, and the amount of calories you see on the front of the tub is for the entire pint. You can eat this stuff guilt free!