15 Best Gluten-Free Snacks for Weight Loss
While "gluten-free" has become an interchangeable buzzword for "healthy," most gluten-free foods taste bad for a reason: they're bad for you. "Ingredients such as cornstarch and brown rice flour, which are used by manufacturers to mimic the texture and taste of gluten, are more calorically dense than the ingredients they replace," explains Tanya Zuckerbrot, R.D. Eeesh. That's the last thing you want when you're looking to lose weight rapidly.
To help you navigate the waters of the gluten-free world, Eat This, Not That! has collected the tastiest gluten-free snacks out there. All are free of scary additives and chemicals, and have fewer than 250 calories and 12 grams of sugar per serving. Start munching today and watch that extra weight fly off!
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Mediterranean Snacks Roasted Garlic Hummus + Sea Salt Lentil Crackers Tapaz 2 Go, 1 pouch
Calories | 250 |
Fat | 12.5 g |
Saturated Fat | 2.5 g |
Sodium | 485 mg |
Carbs | 27 g |
Fiber | 3 g |
Sugar | 6 g |
Protein | 7 g |
This satiating, flavorful duo of olive-oil based hummus and lentil crisps serves up as much protein as an egg, and provides a crunchy texture reminiscent of a "normal" cracker that'll make even Triscuit lovers jealous.
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Pure Organic Ancient Grains Bar Vanilla Almond, 1 bar
Calories | 150 |
Fat | 7 g |
Saturated Fat | 0 g |
Sodium | 45 mg |
Carbs | 19 g |
Fiber | 2 g |
Sugar | 6 g |
Protein | 4 g |
This bar blends protein-packed nuts, quinoa, and amaranth with flax and hemp seeds, which both promote cardiovascular health. Plus, it's small enough to throw into a purse or briefcase, making it easy to be prepared with a healthy gluten-free snack whenever hunger strikes.
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Annie's Berry Patch Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks, 1 pouch
Calories | 70 |
Fat | 0 g |
Saturated Fat | 0 g |
Sodium | 45 mg |
Carbs | 18 g |
Fiber | 0 g |
Sugar | 10 g |
Protein | 0 g |
Although most gummy snacks are gluten-free, we're fans of the Annie's varieties because they are lower in sugar and calories than many competing brands. Most importantly, they're also free of artificial dyes and heart-harming hydrogenated oils.
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Food Should Taste Good Kimchi Tortilla Chips, 12 chips
Calories | 140 |
Fat | 7 g |
Saturated Fat | 0.5 g |
Sodium | 180 mg |
Carbs | 17 g |
Fiber | 1 g |
Sugar | less than 1 g |
Protein | 2 g |
Kimchi—Korean fermented cabbage—is all the rage right now, so we're not surprised to see Food Should Taste Good getting in on the trend. While the spicy, tangy flavor is sure to win you over, they don't have any probiotics like traditional kimchi, so you won't reap the same gut health benefits.
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Dr. Lucy's Oatmeal Cookies, 3 cookies
Calories | 120 |
Fat | 4.5 g |
Saturated Fat | 1 g |
Sodium | 170 mg |
Carbs | 18 g |
Fiber | 1 g |
Sugar | 9 g |
Protein | 2 g |
While many gluten-free cookies only look healthy, this chickpea and fava flour-based treat is low in sugar, fat, and calories. While you definitely shouldn't make these (or any cookie) part of your daily diet, they're a solid bet whenever you're looking longingly at other store-bought varieties.
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Blue Diamond Artisan Nut-Thins Sesame Seeds, 13 crackers
Calories | 130 |
Fat | 4 g |
Saturated Fat | 0 g |
Sodium | 140 mg |
Carbs | 21 g |
Fiber | 3 g |
Sugar | 1 g |
Protein | 3 g |
These nut and rice-based baked crackers make for a healthy, filling vehicle for your favorite snack-time spreads. Top with a natural bean dip or some low-fat cheese to fit even more muscle-building protein into your afternoon.
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SkinnyPop White Cheddar Popcorn, 3.5 cups
Calories | 150 |
Fat | 9 g |
Saturated Fat | 1 g |
Sodium | 95 mg |
Carbs | 15 g |
Fiber | 2 g |
Sugar | 0 g |
Protein | 2 g |
Although all popcorn is naturally gluten-free, not all varieties are safe bets if you have celiacs. Why? Many factories where popcorn is packaged shares equipment with wheat-based snacks. Yikes! Not only is SkinnyPop, well, skinny, it's also certified gluten-free, so fill a bowl and fire up the Kimmy Schmidt.
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Mary's Gone Crackers Everything Pretzels, 15 pretzels
Calories | 150 |
Fat | 5 g |
Saturated Fat | 0.5 g |
Sodium | 190 mg |
Carbs | 23 g |
Fiber | 3.5 g |
Sugar | 0 g |
Protein | 4 g |
Most GF pretzels don't have the crunch or taste of the traditional varieties, but Mary doesn't disappoint in either department. Plus, we love that these are made from a blend of high-protein grains like quinoa, amaranth, and millet.
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I Heart Keenwah Quinoa Puffs Sweet Chili, 1/8 cup
Calories | 120 |
Fat | 4 G |
Saturated Fat | 0.5 G |
Sodium | 170 MG |
Carbs | 16 G |
Fiber | 1 G |
Sugar | 1 G |
Protein | 5 G |
Sure, most Cheetos flavors are gluten free, but opting for these spicy quinoa puffs will save you six grams of fat per serving. They also have twice the amount of protein as the artificially-colored competition, which will keep you fuller longer. There's more good news: The habaneros and jalapeños used to spice this snack can also make you skinny. How? Chillies are loaded with capsaicin, a metabolism-revving compound responsible for giving the peppers their fire.
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Earth Balance P.B. Popps, 1/3 cup
Calories | 130 |
Fat | 6 g |
Saturated Fat | 1 g |
Sodium | 80 mg |
Carbs | 16 g |
Fiber | 2 g |
Sugar | 8 g |
Protein | 3 g |
What do you get when you roll popcorn in creamy peanut butter and a sprinkling of oats? One of most addicting snacks of all time. They taste like peanut butter-covered Cracker Jacks, which, we have to say, is beyond amazing. They're also filled with monounsaturated fats, a nutrient that can help improve blood cholesterol levels and decrease the risk of heart disease. It's a win-win.
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Organic Valley Mozzarella Stringles, 1 unit
Calories | 80 |
Fat | 6 g |
Saturated Fat | 3.5 g |
Sodium | 210 mg |
Carbs | 0 g |
Fiber | 0 g |
Sugar | 0 g |
Protein | 7 g |
Besides being a good source of hunger-busting protein, each cheese stick has a fifth of your day's calcium intake. Paired with a piece of fruit, this naturally gluten-snack is a perfect, portable, post-workout snack.
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Enjoy Life Plentils Garlic & Parmesan, 1 personal sized bag
Calories | 140 |
Fat | 4.5 g |
Saturated Fat | 0 g |
Sodium | 330 mg |
Carbs | 14 g |
Fiber | 0 g |
Sugar | 2 g |
Protein | 1 g |
This better-for-you chip is made from a host of spices and lentil powder—an ingredient not typically used to make processed food. The result is a crispy, airy snack that's low in sodium and serves up a savory, satisfying flavor.
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Harvest Snaps Lightly Salted Snapea Crisps, 1/8 cup
Calories | 110 |
Fat | 4.5 g |
Saturated Fat | 0.5 g |
Sodium | 50 mg |
Carbs | 17 g |
Fiber | 4 g |
Sugar | 1 g |
Protein | 5 g |
Calorie for calorie, this natural snack packs more protein and fiber than nearly everything else on the supermarket snack shelf. This mighty duo can help lower cholesterol levels and fill you up without filling you out.
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Straw Propeller Gourmet Foods Maple Oats Natural Gourmet Oatmeal, 1 container
Calories | 198 |
Fat | 3 g |
Saturated Fat | 0 g |
Sodium | 140 mg |
Carbs | 34 g |
Fiber | 5 g |
Sugar | 6 g |
Protein | 7 g |
Oatmeal is a great snack to stash in your desk drawer. Not only is it better than everything in the break room vending machine, it also helps soothe that nine to five stress by boosting levels of the feel-good hormone serotonin.
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Clif Organic Trail Mix Bar Wild Blueberry Almond, 1 bar
Calories | 180 |
Fat | 9 g |
Saturated Fat | 1 g |
Sodium | 110 mg |
Carbs | 22 g |
Fiber | 11 g |
Sugar | 5 g |
Protein | 4 g |
This on-the-go snack bar can help you get skinny. How? The almonds contain healthy fats that slow the body's absorption of sugar and carbs, which keeps blood sugar levels stable and wards off hunger. The blueberries play a role, too. According to University of Michigan researchers, consuming the fruit may help burn stubborn belly fat. A snack that's both tasty and productive is definitely something we can endorse. If you're having trouble finding these bars in your local store, KIND Blueberry Pecan + Fiber is an alternative we love.