Zero kcal snacks
Need a snack? Try one of these virtually calorie-free snacks from Sanne Leenman. Most of them are very simple to make with only a few ingredients and are suitable for storage in the fridge or freezer.
3-Ingredient lime granita & ice pops
Ingredients
- 1 medium lime (this will also work with lemon juice)
- 300 ml / 10 fl oz. water
- Zero-kcal sweetener to taste: our preferred sweetener is sucralose, as it’s safe and tastes much like sugar
- Optional: a few mint leaves (~8)
Instructions (granita)
1. Squeeze the lime and mix it with the water.
2. Add zero kcal sweetener to taste.
3. Official version: Place the mixture in the freezer until it starts to form icy flakes (after ~30 minutes). Scrape the ice of the edges, stir everything well and place back in the freezer until every bit is frozen.
4. Lazy version (slightly less good structure): Let the mixture completely freeze (~2-3 h) and then thaw. As soon as it starts to thaw, place the ice chunks in your blender to speed up the process.
5. Add the (chopped) mint leaves, just before serving it.
Instructions (popsicles)
1. Mix the ingredients together. Add in the mint leaves and stir well.
2. Add the mixture to a popsicle mold and place it in the freezer until completely frozen.
Hot chocolate (25 kcal)
Ingredients
- 100 ml – 3.4 fl oz. almond milk
- 100 ml – 3.4 fl oz. water
- 1 tbsp. (5 g -0.18 oz.) cocoa powder, unsweetened
- Sweetener to taste
- Optional: 2 tbsps. Walden Farms chocolate syrup
Macros
- Protein: 1 g
- Fat: 2 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Energy: 25 kcal
Instructions
1. Mix the almond milk and water and heat it over very low heat in a (sauce) pan.
2. Mix in the cocoa powder and stir well, until it’s completely dissolved.
3. Add Walden Farms chocolate syrup and zero-kcal sweetener to taste.
Video instructions
Sparkling lemonade
Ingredients
- 1.5 Liter / 0.4 gallons sparkling water
- 5-6 tbsp. lemon juice
- Zero-kcal sweetener to taste
Instructions
1. Mix the sparkling water with lemon juice.
2. Add zero kcal sweetener to taste.
3. Add ice cubes.
Iced coffee
Ingredients
- 75 g / 2.6 oz. filter coffee (decaf works fine: the caffeine content racks up quickly otherwise)
- 2 liter / 0.5 gallon water
- Sweetener to taste
Instructions
1. Use the cold brew method described here (method 1). If you like strong coffee you can add more coffee.
2. Add zero-kcal sweetener to taste.
3. Serve with ice cubes.
Tip: you can add (almond) milk to it if you don’t like black coffee, this will add some calories.
Watermelon granita (55 kcal)
Ingredients
- 500 g / 1.1 lb. watermelon, preferably seedless
- Zero-kcal sweetener to taste
Macros (1/3 of total)
- Protein: 2 g
- Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Energy: 55 kcal
Instructions
1. Scoop out the water melon and remove any seeds if needed.
2. Blend the watermelon and sweetener to taste into a smooth mixture.
3. Official version: Place the mixture in the freezer, until it starts to form icy flakes (after ~30 minutes). Scrape the ice of the edges, stir everything well and place back in the freezer until every bit is frozen.
4. Lazy version (slightly less good structure): Let the mixture completely freeze (~2-3 h) and then thaw. As soon as it starts to thaw, place the ice chunks in your blender to speed up the process.
Hot cinnamon ginger tea
Ingredients
- 1 liter / 0.3 gallon water
- 1.5 tbsp. fresh ginger (peeled and roughly chopped into small bits)
- 0.5 tsp. cinnamon
- Sweetener to taste
Instructions
1.Bring the water to a boil.
2. Add the (chopped) ginger and cinnamon.
3. Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 5-10 minutes.
4. Serve warm.
Recipes by Sanne Leenman.
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About the author
Menno Henselmans
Formerly a business consultant, I've traded my company car to follow my passion in strength training. I'm now an online physique coach, scientist and international public speaker with the mission to help serious trainees master their physique.
Sanne Leenman
Online physique and nutrition coach, international public speaker, WBFF competitor and sushi-lover, Sanne Leenman turns evidence-based knowledge into practice. She provides easy-to-follow meal plans, nutrition coaching and online personal training. In her spare times she loves to experiment in the kitchen, to turn macros into tasty meals.