When the craving for something salty hits and you want to stick with your healthy diet, you don't have to settle for unhealthy treats and junk food to satisfy your cravings. There are dozens of low-calorie, low fat and healthful salty snacks available, and you can stock up on these diet-friendly treats to keep hunger at bay and avoid depriving yourself between meals. Here are 10 salty snacks that will help you stick with your healthy diet plan:
Enjoy a handful of pretzels. Pretzels are every dieter's best friend, a light and crunchy snack food that will keep those cravings under control. If you want to prevent bloating, try a low-sodium or salt-free variety so that your body doesn't retain water from the extra salt.
Eat some nuts. Most nuts are high in fat, but eating just a small serving of walnuts, peanuts and almonds can keep your cravings under control and even serves as a source of healthy fat.
Load up on popcorn. Low-fat buttered popcorn is a great way to steer clear of unhealthy foods and get your salty-food fix. Snacking on popcorn is a great replacement for potato chips or other unhealthy food and is a good source of fiber.
Try soy crisps. Soy crisps are very low in calories and available in a variety of flavors. You can eat these just like regular potato chips and do it without the guilt!
Eat some edamame. Edamame are whole green soybeans that are rich in fiber, potassium and other essential vitamins and minerals. These are a great low-calorie snack food that can take care of those salty cravings in a snap.
Stock up on low-fat crackers. Enjoy a handful of Triscuits, Wheat Thins or other low-fat crackers that contain less than 150 calories per serving. These crackers are also great with salsa and other fat-free dips if you want more flavor.
Enjoy some chips and salsa. A small serving of blue tortilla chips with fresh salsa can easily curb those salty cravings. Enjoy a handful of chips with salsa on days when salt cravings are really strong!
Eat some roasted pumpkin seeds. Roasted pumpkin seeds are a great source of fiber, and also contain a significant amount of iron, magnesium and protein. Add these to your daily menu to enjoy a low-calorie, guilt-free snack and get through any diet day with ease.
Reach for the string cheese. When you're having strong cravings for cheese, reach for some low-fat string cheese to get your fix. String cheese is packed with protein and can take care of almost any salty craving; plus, most types of low-fat string cheese contain less than 100 calories per serving.
Go for the baked chips. Many brands of potato chips now come in a baked version where the fat is virtually eliminated but you can still enjoy the salty flavor and crunch factor. Pick up a bag of baked potato chips next time you're having a serious salt craving.