Snack attacks

I love snacks. Even when I am eating a terrific, good-for-you one, snacks make me feel less deprived. They also keep me from over-eating a meals.

The past few weeks I have started eating two little breakfasts, which easily get me through to 1 p.m. before I even start thinking about lunch. Right after I exercise in the morning, I scramble an egg white with a tiny bit of low-fat cheese. On my hour drive to work, I drink a cup of coffee and a smoothie: 8 ounces of unsweetened almond milk, mixed with 1 scoop Jay Robb's whey protein, and about a cup of frozen fruit.

Lunch is always a salad, with some black beans added for protein. It's a 4 p.m. snack that's in need of some help. I've tried a stick of string cheese, but it's too soft, and goes down way to fast. I also tried 1/4 cup of almonds, but my daily nut allowance is better spent tossed into my new nightly dessert: sliced strawberries, a touch of balsamic, and a dollop of nonfat Cool Whip.

Vegetables really do work best, especially super crunchy ones such as celery, carrots or fennel. But that can get boring. So I think I'll add a yogurt-based dip with lots of dill and garlic. Or even some salsa, to spice things up.

Obviously, I need some help, and am open to suggestions. I'm trying to keep my snack at about 100 calories, which if low in fat, translates into 2 Weight Watchers Points.