Sam Howells and Ben Jones have the answers to all your diet and nutrition questions. They are directors at diet, weightloss and holistic health provider BlueSkies and have over 20 years of experience in the health, fitness and nutrition industry- helping people make healthy food choices, manage their weight and become fitter and healthier.

Kerry Asks:

Hi Sam and Ben. Apart from fruit and seed bars, are there any low calorie snacks that are not so boring to eat?

The Nutritionists’ Answer:

Thanks for your question Kerry – you’ll be pleased to know that not all low calories snacks are boring! 

Before we get into answering this question, we’d just like to point out that food like nuts and seeds aren’t really ‘low calorie’ snack options. They are ‘healthy’ foods but in fact they contain quite a lot of fat; even though it’s mostly healthy unsaturated fat, this makes them pretty high calorie snacks.

As you have identified, fruit is often the food of choice when you are trying to find low calorie snacks which is great if you like fruit but, as you are finding, a lot of people do get bored of it after a while! Do try to eat at least 3 servings of different fruits every day and make fruit more interesting by choosing different types and presentations.

Here are some ideas for more interesting low calorie snacks, at or below 100 calories!

• 1 medium slice of toast with a thin spread of jam or low fat spread & Marmite
• 2 Babybel light cheese portions
• 1 Skinny Cow ice cream
• 1 packet of Walkers Baked crisps
• 1 packet of ‘French Fries’ crisps
• 2 Jaffa cakes
• 1 Special K, Alpen Light or Ryvita Goodness cereal bar
• 2 Nairn’s Stem Ginger/Fruit & Spice oat biscuits
• 1 Muller Light yoghurt
• Sugar free jelly – it has less than 10 calories per pot!
• 1 pot of low calorie Ambrosia custard – try it with a pot of sugar free jelly!
• 1 snack size Mars Bar/Twix/Snickers/Milky Way/Maltesers

Remember though that these aren’t necessarily the healthiest choices even though they are low calorie – fruit & veg are!

Sam Howells, pictured. Sam is an accredited Sports Physiologist with a Masters in Sports Science. Sam says, 'My passion is to see as many people as possible leading healthy, active lives in ways that suit them - eating well and being active is not necessarily hard, doesn’t have to cost a fortune and doesn’t need to take up 90% of your time!'

Ben Jones, pictured. Ben is a personal trainer with a BSC in Physiology. Ben has a ‘practice what you preach’ attitude and follows a regular training programme - currently a mix of running, cycling and weight training.

Wouldn’t it be better to learn to eat healthily and enjoy delicious, lower calorie, nutritious food, rather than living on junk food, milkshakes, supplements or meal replacement bars? Find out how from our resident nutrition experts!

If you have a question about making your diet healthy and balanced, losing weight sensibly, the latest food and performance supplements, fad diets or whether your diet meets your body’s requirements, all you have to do is send them your question using the Comment on this Article box below. And remember – sign up to our monthly health and fitness newsletter to receive your expert answer direct in your in-box.

For more information on diet, nutrition, holistic health and the simple changes you can make to look and feel fantastic, visit www.blueskiesfitness.co.uk