Dieting and changing your eating habits is difficult. Cravings, hunger, and the stress of managing the diet can lead to snacking mistakes. However, if you’re prepared for these potential challenges you can keep your diet on track. The key is to snack right – and to snack right, you need to plan ahead. When you’re prepared for snack attacks and have a healthy snack on hand, you’re in control of your diet and your weight loss.

Here are seven quick healthy snack ideas that won’t sabotage your weight loss:

1. Nuts – A bag of nuts is a great snack. They’re full of protein and fiber. They also contain the kind of healthy fat your body needs. Grab small snack bags and fill them with a handful of nuts. Almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios and even walnuts are all a fantastic and delicious snack.

2. Peanut butter or nut butters – Peanut butter goes with almost everything. Use it on top of celery, apples, rice cakes or even whole grain crackers.

3. Yogurt – Greek yogurt is high in protein and low in fat and calories. It comes in small packages which make it perfect for snacking. Add a tablespoon of granola and some fresh berries for a well-rounded and delicious snack.

4. Fruit – Fruit is a healthy way to get natural sugars, fiber and many of the nutrients your body needs. Pack an apple, peach, pear or banana for easy snacking. You don’t have to store them in a container. Simply carry, wash and eat. Also consider grapes, berries, or melon for a healthy snack.

5. Chips and guacamole – Sounds like a real diet buster, right? Baked tortilla chips and homemade guacamole are not the diet busters you might think they are. Avocados, like nuts, are rich in healthy fats. A dollop of guacamole and five or six low-fat, baked, tortilla chips is a perfectly healthy snack.

6. Veggies and hummus – Hummus is a dip made from chick peas and sesame seed paste. It’s very healthy and delicious. Add celery sticks, carrots and other sliced vegetables and you have a super tasty snack.

7. Tuna or sardines – Fish is full of omega fatty acids and it’s high in protein. Tuna and sardines with crackers is a healthy snack. Tuna and sardines also come in handy snack packs, which makes them an easy snack to take on the go.

When planning your snacks for the week, focus on what would make it easiest for you. Place snacks in all the locations you might need them. Consider placing them in your desk drawer, your purse, and your glove box and anywhere else you might have a snack attack. Snacks are a healthy part of a diet. They help maintain even blood sugar levels. They help you stave off cravings and they help you get all the nutrients you need to get and stay healthy.

Don’t skip snacks – embrace them and plan ahead.

Everyone gets hungry, especially on a family road trip. But what snacks can you pack? Here are some ideas to keep the fun high and the mess low.

You have included the entertainment for the kids, but they will get hungry. If you are on a budget, bring food along with you to cut down on costs. Visiting every drive-thru window can sap your money before you know it’s gone.

Here are some tips for bringing nibbles in the car.

* Keep them accessible – There is nothing worse than packing the cooler in the back under the luggage and then hearing your child ask for something to drink. Avoid constant stops by keeping a smaller cooler with essentials between your seat and a larger one in the back, but also in an accessible place.

* Avoid messy snacks – Candy bars and Gummi snacks can be sticky and messy. Kids like to hold things in their hands for long periods of time. Melted chocolate can end up on their clothing, the seats and the windows.

* Bring filling foods – Kids will constantly snack if you let them. Choosing snacks that are going to fill them will have them concentrating on their activities and not on their stomachs. Besides, too many snacks can lead to tummy aches and no one wants that on a road trip.

* Keep it simple – Bringing foods that have to be kept cold or hot can pose problems. Ice can melt and foods can get warm. You don’t want your food to cause stomach aches. Stick to spoil-proof snacks.

So now that we know how to police those nibbles, what types of nibble should you bring to keep everyone happy?

# Pre-packaged snacks – These already come in their own bags so all you have to do is open them for the kids. Choose 100-calorie snacks and those that are filled with fiber.

# Chopped veggies – Raw is nutritious and also less messy. Travel with carrot sticks, celery sticks and some dip. It takes longer to chew these root vegetables which can tire the jaws and limit snacking.

# Sweet fruits – Instead of sugar-laden candy, try naturally sweet treats. Fruit provides just the right amount of sweetness without the hyperactivity in tow. Try strawberries, apple slices, grapes, raisins and other dried fruits.

# Trail mix – Make your own and include ingredients that the entire family likes. Pretzels, dried fruit, nuts and even small chocolate chips are good choices. Using dark chocolate cuts the sweetness and keeps the chocolate taste. Serve it in small snack bags to avoid mess.

Are you planning on a road trip? Car snacks are a must. Use the guidelines above for choosing snacks and also the snack ideas to help make eating fun and easy.