I don’t know about you, but I find it often difficult to follow any type of diet. Restricting, fasting or juicing– none of these is something I want to do for any length of time.

I’ve learned over the years, that the best approach to staying fit and lean is to just eat sensibly and in moderation. Everyone knows a donut is unhealthy, or having potato chips for a snack will just add inches to your waist. But it’s okay to indulge every once in a while, as long as you can nip it before you eat the entire tub of ice cream or the whole pan of brownies.

Recently, I learned of three common snack foods that are healthy but that also will keep your figure flattering. If you feel like dieting is a never ending battle, consider eating sensibly and trying to incorporate these three foods.

1. Tomatoes Are Your Italian Best Friend

Tomatoes are juicy, sweet and taste good, right? They’re probably in everyone’s refrigerator because they are easy to eat, chop up or bring with you to work.

Why should you eat tomatoes? Because they’re fat free, low in sodium, and low in calories. They also have great health benefits such as,

• They are loaded with antioxidants. The antioxidants, vitamins A and C, help protect us as we age by fighting free radicals that cause cell damage.
• Having lycopene, the pigment found in tomatoes, have been found to help against osteoporosis. It also helps fight cancer by reducing the likelihood of several types of cancers like ovarian, prostate and mouth cancer.
• They can help with improving your vision. They have been associated with reducing the risk of macular degeneration.

Tomatoes, while healthy for your body, are also healthy on your figure. Add them to salads, sandwiches or soups to bulk up your meals. Since they are low in calories, feel free to eat them every day.

2. Pass Me Some Sugar Snap Peas

Want something crunchy for a snack, try sugar snap peas. They’re tasty, low in calories and provides you with that crunch, crunch sensation that you would normally get from eating chips or crackers.

Just one cup of sugar snap peas has only 35 calories. They also have about 2 gms. of protein and 2 gms. of fiber, to help you feel fuller quicker and to reduce your need to snack again.

Whenever I know I have to eat a quick lunch at work, I pack a handful of sugar snap peas, a cheese stick, and a salad to help me feel full.

3. Drink More Ice Water

Okay, water isn’t a food and it isn’t a snack, so why is on my top list of figure friendly snacks?

Because everyone should be drinking more water, if they want to adopt a healthy lifestyle.

And, drinking ice water can help you lose weight. In fact, if you drink the recommended eight 8-oz. glasses of water, you could be burning around 70 calories a day. It may not seem like a lot, but over time,  you will notice a difference.

Drinking water also helps you feel fuller, lessening the chances of you over eating. I always have a big bottle of water that I fill up 2-3 times a day.

Now It’s Your Turn!

Do you have any other foods that are figure friendly? Let me know if the comments!