Easy snacks that actually are 50 calories or less

A polka dot (white dots on red background) carton of popcorn on bright background of three coloured diagonal stripes which are turquoise, yellow and pink. Getty Images
Sophie Whitbread

Trigger warning: This article details information on calories and mentions low-calorie diets. This could be triggering to those at risk of disordered eating.

When it comes to healthy eating and low-calorie diets, planning snacks as well as meals is a smart idea.

Portioning snacks can be tricky – who knows what 50 or 100 calories worth of different foods even looks like?

That's why we've put a pretty comprehensive list together of snacks, each portioned as 50 calories so you can scale up as needed.

Lots of them will count towards our protein, fibre or plant point goals, while others are more for curbing a craving, so you can still include some favourites in a low-calorie diet (hello, dark chocolate).

Savoury light snacks

Sometimes only something savoury will do, and these light snacks are just the ticket to satisfy those umami cravings.

From salty popcorn to crunchy oatcakes and sour pickles, if you're after an alternative to crisps, we've got you covered.

  • 1 rye crisp bread topped with 2 tbsp tomato salsa

  • 1 oatcake

  • 15g air-popped popcorn

  • 10 olives, in brine not oil

  • 1 dill pickle

  • 15 cherry tomatoes

  • 35g light soft cheese and celery

  • 1 light cheese triangle or 30g light mozzarella ball

Homemade dill pickles in a jar with more in a bowl and short skewer sticks next to them for people to pick them up BBC Food

Dill pickles recipe | Save to My Food now

Making your own dill pickles is easier than you'd think

Fresh fruit snacks that are easy to portion

Fruit is high in nutrients and fibre – win, win! Shop for a variety of fruit, portion them up and you're good to go!

  • 1 small apple

  • 80g blueberries

  • 1 medium orange

  • 1 kiwi fruit

  • 1 large plum

  • 200g melon cubes

  • 150g strawberries

  • 10 cherries

  • 17 grapes

  • ½ grapefruit

  • 80g 0% fat Greek-style yoghurt with 10 blueberries

Chilled fresh fruit salad in a large serving bowl with a small dish of yoghurt next to it. There is also a chopping board in the background with two pieces of melon and a knife on it. Getty Images

Chilled fresh fruit salad recipe | Save to My Food

This can be made in advance and chilled, without the fruit going brown. So it's a good option if you want to divide it into portions.

Sweet light snacks

If you're looking for a sweet treat there are plenty that count as a low-calorie snack as part of a balanced, healthy diet.

  • 1 square dark chocolate

  • 1 rich tea biscuit

  • 1 small milk ice lolly

  • 115g pot sugar-free jelly

  • 80ml fruit juice ice lolly (no added sugar)

Related stories:

Orange and mango ice lollies BBC Food

Orange and mango ice lollies recipe | Save to My Food

There are just two ingredients in these ice lollies, so they're quick and easy to prep.

Drinkable snacks

Whether you're looking for a snack to warm you up or fancy something refreshing, they can come in liquid form too!

  • 1 sachet sugar-free hot chocolate (with an optional sprinkle of ground cinnamon or ginger)

  • 1 miso soup sachet

  • 250ml low-sodium tomato juice

A saucepan of miso soup and a small bowl of it (right). There's a ladel adding soup to the bowl. BBC Food

Spring miso soup recipe | Save to My Food now

Want to turn the light snack into something more filling? With a few additions, your miso soup becomes a light meal. This soup comes with 5.5g protein and just 68 kcal per serving.

Originally published March 2018. Updated March 2026.

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