10 Healthy Snacking Tips to Fuel Smarter and Lose Weight

It can be so easy to start snacking . . . and then never stop snacking. To make them more waistline-friendly, keep your snacks light, portioned, and between meal times (i.e., don't start snacking at your regular lunchtime). Need some calorie guidance? Try to keep them around 150 calories (unless you need more — definitely consult with a nutritionist or dietitian to figure out your caloric needs).

Step one: why are you snacking? Are you bored, or really hungry? Listen to your body — don't deprive yourself if you're hungry, just choose a healthy snack. But also don't snack out of boredom or because you think you have to eat at a certain time. Also make time to focus on your food and the process of eating, as it can be easy to overeat (and oversnack) while you're doing other things, like working, watching TV, or even driving.

When you're hungry, your brain typically tricks you into thinking you need sugar — don't listen! It might be easy to grab a candy bar, but it's only going to sate you temporarily (and you'll likely have a crash feeling not too shortly after you eat it). Opt for something that's more nutritionally complex like yogurt or a hard-boiled egg, or a piece of fruit (with some peanut butter!) if you're really craving sweets. The fiber in fruit keeps you fuller longer, too.

The key to staying full is a combo of protein, fat, and fiber, according to celeb trainer Harley Pasternak, who told POPSUGAR this is "the Holy Trinity of satiety." Snack on almonds or walnuts, or spread some almond butter on a piece of fruit to balance the right macro and micronutritients that help you stay full and healthy.

In line with the protein and fat combo, make sure your snacks align with your macronutrient goals. If your goal is weight loss, you'll want a 20-45-35 split of fat, carbohydrates, and protein (20 percent of your calories from fat, 45 percent from carbs, 35 percent from protein). If it sounds confusing, don't sweat it — use our cheat sheet of macro-balanced snacks for weight loss.

Sometimes the sensation of hunger comes from dehydration. Ensure you're drinking lots of water before you start snacking. A glass of H2O could do the trick — and it's calorie-free.

Grabbing a healthy packaged snack? Opting for high protein is usually your best bet. Rule of thumb: try to make sure your snack has more grams of protein than grams of sugar.

Don't want packaged food? Good call — you can make snacks yourself for the office, school, traveling, or the gym. One of our favorites: protein balls. With a few simple ingredients and a little mixing, you've got yourself a tasty, nutritionally balanced snack that you can take anywhere.

They're not just for breakfast! With healthy protein and fats to keep you full between meals, you can scramble one if you're at home, or grab a hard-boiled egg on the go. Whenever you can, choose pasture-raised eggs to up your nutrition exponentially.

Yogurt makes an excellent snack, and there are ways to make your favorite yogurt even healthier than it already is with nutritional enhancements! Add flax seeds or chia seeds for fiber, and mash up some fruit to give it natural sweetness. Don't forget anti-inflammatory and flavorful spices like cinnamon and turmeric!