Key Takeaways
- If you’re trying to lose weight, it’s recommended that you follow a sustainable meal plan, which can accommodate some sweet treats.
- Protein bars, low-sugar smoothies, fruit and nut mixes are some sweet snacks you can enjoy while trying to lose weight.
- Consider working with a dietitian specializing in weight management for personalized guidance and meal plans.
Weight loss plans can include snacks.
Snacks help people stay full between meals, meet their nutrient goals, and feel energized throughout the day.
Including snacks can also make it easier to satisfy hunger cues (your body’s way of telling you it needs more food) with foods that align with your weight loss plan.
This also reduces the chances of overeating later on, which could contribute to unwanted weight gain.
Keep reading to discover 20 sweet snacks for weight loss you can pick up at your local store, and learn why working with a registered dietitian can yield more significant results.
Book an appointment with a weight management dietitian
Covered by insurance.
Book an appointment with a weight management dietitian
Covered by insurance.
Book an appointment with a weight management dietitian
Covered by insurance.
What Are the Best Snacks for Weight Loss?
Snacks for weight loss should have satiating nutrients like protein, fiber, and healthy fats.
They should also contain ingredients and flavors that make you feel excited to eat.
Sweet treats can fit into a nutritious weight loss plan.
An occasional cookie is OK, but try to choose naturally sweet foods more often, such as fruits and baked starchy vegetables like sweet potatoes.
These foods contain other essential nutrients and are more nutritionally balanced.
If you’re feeling guilty or unsure about eating sweets while trying to lose weight, consider speaking with a dietitian to learn how to address these concerns.
Having trouble losing weight? Take the weight loss quiz to understand your next steps and reach your goals.
20 Healthy Sweet Snacks for Weight Loss
Ready for some mouth-watering snacks you can find at the store? Below are 20 dietitian-approved sweet treats that can align with your weight loss meal plan and enhance joyful eating.
1. Kind Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew Bar
This bar has 4g of protein per serving and 6g of fiber. It’s a comforting, sweet, crunchy bar that pairs perfectly with a mid-afternoon tea or coffee.
This product is also gluten-free and kosher.
2. Kind Chocolate Nut Protein Bar
If you like the Kind product line but want something with more protein, try its chocolate nut protein bar.
It offers 12g of protein per serving, 5g of fiber, and is gluten-free and kosher.
3. Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt has more protein than other yogurts, making it a filling snack.
Flavored yogurts can be high in added sugar, but if a vanilla or fruit-based yogurt is the only sweet treat you plan to eat that day, you can probably include it in your meal plan.
If you prefer to satisfy your sweet tooth with something else, or if you’re trying to manage your blood sugars, choose plain Greek yogurt instead and decorate it with cinnamon, nuts, and fresh or frozen fruits.
The CDC recommends choosing lower-fat dairy products, but your doctor can tell you what milk-fat percentage is best for you (e.g., 1%, 2%, etc.).
4. Rind Skin-On Dried Fruit
Dried fruit has a longer shelf life than fresh options, and it’s so easy to store in your car, bag, or office.
They’re also low in calories and should fit into your weight-loss meal plan.
RIND keeps the peel on their dried fruits, adding some fiber (their Straw-Peary mix ½ cup offers 5g) to their products.
To make this a more balanced snack, pair it with nuts or add dried fruits to plain Greek yogurt.
5. That’s It Fruit Bars
These fruit bars contain apples and blueberries—and that’s it.
They’re great when you crave something sweet (and they offer 4g of fiber per serving) and don’t have much time to eat.
However, they aren’t incredibly filling on their own, and you might feel more satisfied if you pair them with a protein-rich food, like a hard-boiled egg.
6. Good Culture Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese is a high-protein dairy product often used in sweet and savory recipes.
Good Culture products are conveniently packaged in single-serve portions (similar to an individual yogurt cup) and are a great snack choice.
They also contain live bacterial cultures, which may benefit gut health.
7. Trail Mix
Most grocery stores offer premade trail mix, which is convenient but more expensive than if you made it home.
Try choosing unsalted mixes whenever possible because many people already get enough sodium from other dietary sources.
8. Nut Butter with Fruit
Nut butter is a convenient way to eat nuts, and there are endless varieties to choose from (almond, peanut, cashew, etc.)
Consider buying a jar and leaving it at work.
It pairs perfectly with fresh apple slices or whole-grain crackers if you’re craving something sweet and savory that day.
9. Frozen Greek Yogurt Bar by Clio
These tasty zero-sugar frozen bars are low in added sugars and contain 9g of protein per serving. They come in vanilla, strawberry, or chocolate and can be a great option on a hot day.
10. Tru Fru Frozen Bananas with Chocolate and Peanut Butter
Tru Fru has a line of chocolate-covered frozen fruits.
Their peanut butter banana product has 3g of protein from the nuts, a classic flavor combination.
It’s a light, refreshing snack that will satisfy your sweet tooth and help you stay on track with your weight loss meal plan.
11. Larabar Blueberry Muffin Bar
Larabars have been in the snack scene since 2000 and have strived to create convenient, nutritious bars with simple ingredients.
Their blueberry muffin bar contains 3g of fiber and 3g of protein per serving.
Larabar products are easy to find, made with high-quality ingredients, and come in various delicious flavors.
12. Nature Valley Protein Granola
Nature Valley adds soy protein to its honey-oat-flavored granola; a half-cup serving has 11g of protein.
Many granola products contain added sugar, but enjoying these sweet snacks in moderation can help them fit into your weight loss plan. Serve it over high-protein plain Greek yogurt for a balanced treat.
13. Strawberry Spoonable Smoothies by Sweet Nothings
A store-bought smoothie can be a convenient snack, and Sweet Nothings has loaded its individual frozen smoothies with nutritious strawberries, bananas, cashews, chia seeds, flax seeds, and dates.
It has an ice cream texture, and each serving has 2g of protein. You could enhance the store-bought snack by adding nuts or some high-protein granola.
14. Good to Go Double Chocolate Brownies
Chocolate lovers, this snack is for you.
Good to Go has made a protein-rich brownie-like bar that people love.
Two brownies offer 8g of fiber, 5g of protein, and just 1g of sugar.
The convenient packaging means you can take them anywhere.
15. RXBar Protein Bars
The mixed berry protein bar has distinct pink packaging that’s easy to spot on shelves.
It contains strawberries, cranberries, raspberries, cashews, almonds, and egg whites and offers 12g of protein and 5g of fiber per bar.
16. Simple Elizabeth Oats Pack
Craving something warm for a snack? Simple Elizabeth makes cups of oatmeal you can quickly heat in the microwave.
They carry a variety of flavors, like apple cinnamon pecan and blueberry walnut.
The nutritional values are slightly different between products, but they average 6g of fiber per cup and 7g of protein (not accounting for milk.)
17. LundenBerg Apple Pie Puffed Rice Cakes
These crunchy rice cakes taste just like apple pie sprinkled with cinnamon.
They’re made from brown rice (a natural whole grain) and offer 2g of fiber and 2g of protein.
Optional: Add light cream cheese or cottage cheese to each cracker for protein and a creamy texture.
18. Frozen Fruits
There are so many frozen fruit blends, and there’s usually always one mix on sale.
In summer, adding frozen fruits to your cereal or yogurt can enhance the flavor while keeping you cool.
They’re also usually peeled and ready to eat, so you don’t need to worry about washing and prepping them first.
19. Whole Grain Cheerios
Cheerios are a staple and can usually be found in most grocery stores.
They’re made with whole grains, fortified with iron, and a great emergency snack option to keep on hand.
You can add cereal to your yogurt or drink it with milk.
Your dietitian can recommend other cereals to try as well.
20. Fresh Fruit with Cheese
Many stores offer trays or plates with fruits and cheeses.
Fruits are naturally sweet and contain fiber, antioxidants, and other nutrients your body needs to stay healthy.
Pairing fruits with cheese slices will help balance the meal so you stay full longer.
Book an appointment with a weight management dietitian
Covered by insurance.
Book an appointment with a weight management dietitian
Covered by insurance.
Book an appointment with a weight management dietitian
Covered by insurance.
Takeaway
A modern weight-loss approach suggests following a calorie deficit while making sustainable food choices.
That means finding ways to meet your energy goals while including your favorite foods.
Our list shows 20 different sweet treats in many grocery stores.
How a Dietitian Can Help
A registered dietitian is a nutrition expert and licensed healthcare professional.
They provide comprehensive counseling to help you achieve your weight loss goals.
During virtual sessions, your dietitian will review your food intake, calculate a target energy goal, and help you build a meal and lifestyle plan tailored to your needs.
You may not know what to expect if you’ve never met a dietitian. Here are questions to ask:
- What are some healthy dinner ideas for weight loss?
- Why does my weight fluctuate so much?
- Is tuna good for weight loss?
- Will I gain weight if I skip a day of exercising?
Find a dietitian who accepts insurance through Nourish.
Do you have any of these insurances?
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re on the go, try to find a protein, fruit, and nut bar with low amounts of added sugars.
Popular brands include Larabar, RxBar, and Kind.
Ditch the belief that you can’t have anything sweet while trying to lose weight.
Modern weight loss guidelines include your favorite foods in moderation.
So, if you’re craving a cookie, enjoy the cookie! If you want to balance the snack, add fruits or vegetables or some light cottage cheese for protein.
A registered dietitian can help you enjoy sweet treats while dieting (without feeling guilty).
A nutritious, sweet snack has protein, fiber, and other nutrients like healthy fats.
Your body needs these nutrients to stay healthy and function.
Top recommendations include baked fruits with a dollop of Greek yogurt and dark chocolate trail mix.
Your dietitian can review more healthy sweet snacks with you.
