Diet

7 Snacks That Taste Fatty But Keep You Skinny

These quick and delicious snack foods are finger-lickin' good for you

by Anna Jimenez

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There's no denying it: Snacking is fun. Look at Pringles. "Once you pop, the fun don't stop." Oreos provide endless entertainment with all that cookie twisting. And Chester the Cheetah? Such an exciting guy.

When is snacking not fun? When you reach the bottom of an empty bag. When you wipe a greasy hand down your pants and feel immediate guilt and regret. When you notice you've mindlessly eaten so much that the top button of your jeans has made a distinct red indent above your belly button.

Skip to see 7 tasty -- yet healthy -- snack recipes now.

Unfortunately, many of the snacks we love so much -- chips, popcorn, cookies, the list goes on -- are anything but healthy. And the result of overindulging in these foods is showing up in our ever-growing waistlines.

This doesn't mean that snacking is inherently evil. Many scientific studies actually prove that people who snack regularly eat less at mealtimes, helping to maintain a healthy weight. Snacking, or eating several small, balanced meals a day instead of three large ones, keeps your metabolism revved because your stomach and body have to continually work to digest food, says Alyse Brennecke, RD, regional director in the nutrition division of MenuTrinfo. That means you'll burn more calories throughout the day.

It's the salt-laced, carb-heavy, "empty calorie" snacks we all typically eat that are busting our seams.

So, what's the best way to keep snacking without the sad side effects and subsequent guilt? Make your own.

And before you utter that "Puh-lease! Impossible!" hear us out. Healthy snacks can be delectable -- you just have to know what to make. Enter Canyon Ranch's "Nourish" by Scott Uehlein and his "indulgently healthy cuisine" philosophy. These seven easy recipes fill you up with fiber, keep added sugar and salt to a minimum, balance portions of protein and carbs, and keep healthy fats in moderation. So go ahead -- snack on these.

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