You might think that snacking would be considered a cardinal sin to anyone conscious about his or her weight.

But ask any doctor, nutritionist or personal trainer, and they’ll tell you that it’s not just important; it’s crucial to maintaining a healthy weight range.

Salsa If there is a tastier way to get your fill of antioxidants, I haven’t found it. Loaded with peppers, tomatoes, and onions, having some salsa every day will fill you full of vitamins and minerals that lower your risk of heart disease, cancers, and macular degeneration.

Fresh salsa is also low in calories and it is just a great way to give your diet a flavorful boost. And what’s more, you can make a batch of fresh salsa in a few minutes, so it’s up to you to decide how badly you want to burn your mouth at the same time.

String Cheese I’m skeptical about this, but a recent study conducted in Sweden reported that women who ate at least one serving of whole milk or cheese a day actually lost weight over a nine-year period.

Doctors based their findings on linoleic acid, which supposedly helps people lose weight. Snacking on cheese received a boost when single-serve string cheeses appeared in the late 1980s.

Many people quickly figured out that string cheese is probably more nutritious than empty calories in fried or baked snacks. [source: Your Health]