Hungry Girl Goes… In Search of Guilt-Free Gas Station Goodies!

Granola bars and snack bars!

Bars with good amounts of fiber and protein are an easy way to curb your hunger. Steer clear of any that pack in more than 300 calories... In fact, my limit for a snack bar hovers at around 200 or so. My favorites are listed below:

Nature Valley Oats 'N Honey Crunchy Granola Bars (The single-serve packs include two bars!)

Each 2-bar serving has 190 calories, 6g fat, 29g carbs, 2g fiber, 4g protein, and a PointsPlus™ value of 5.

Kind Fruit & Nut Bars

Each bar has 180 calories, 11g fat, 20g carbs, 4g fiber, 5g protein, and a PointsPlus value of 5.

Jerky!

This is another great snack. (If you're watching your sodium intake, be sure to check the labels.) There are lots of great options for jerky, and I am an equal opportunity jerky lover — I enjoy beef, turkey, and even soy jerky! Just check the nutritional stats on all of the packages and pick the best one. Single-serve sticks will keep you from going overboard, but multi-serving packs are okay too.

Beverage blunders & best bets!

If you're tired of water and soda, but you need some liquid to go with your snack, be careful! Gas stations usually have an incredible selection to choose from, but one over-caloried drink can throw off your entire day. Beware of the bottled Starbucks coffee drinks and sugary energy drinks. Instead, go for low-calorie finds like these:

Diet Snapple Trop-A-Rocka Tea. The entire bottle of fruity fun is only 5 calories (PointsPlus value 0).

Activate Drinks. I also enjoy these stevia-sweetened beverages. Another 5-calorie bargain (PointsPlus value 0).

Fruit finds...

Some gas stations have fresh fruit on hand, so if you spot some, grab it quick! Your work is over. I know, that Snickers bar is calling your name, but a banana is way more filling, and it's a total freebie! (All fresh fruit has a PointsPlus value of 0. Hooray!)

Candy alert!

If you really want candy and refuse to avoid it, go for one with light and airy filling, like 3 Musketeers. The Truffle Crisp Bars have only 170 calories and 9g fat for a 2-bar serving (PointsPlus value 5). Lollipops won't fill you up, but they are portion-controlled treats, they last a long time, and they'll definitely satisfy your sweet tooth.

Where will Hungry Girl go next week? Check back Monday to find out!

More About Hungry Girl
Learn how Hungry Girl came to be — and more!

Hungry Girl, aka Lisa Lillien, distributes her tips, tricks and takes on new food products through her daily emails and Web site. Check out www.Hungry-Girl.com.