Smart snacking may help you lose weight. Here's how it works: downsize your breakfast, lunch, and dinner by half, then add a small snack between each meal. Eating less at mealtime could help you lower your cholesterol and better manage your diabetes (see this month's Diabetes Forecast for more information). Plus, grabbing a few healthy snacks-emphasis on healthy-will prevent hunger pangs.

We served up some great, keep-you-satisfied snacks in the October issue of Forecast, but most weren't portable enough to travel with you. And since you're most tempted to indulge when healthy food isn't at hand (ahem, as you pass Chick-Fil-A's drive through), being prepared with healthy snacks is essential. So read on for convenient snacks you can stash in your car, purse, backpack, or gym bag.

1. Almonds. Keep a bag of almonds in your glove compartment for nibbling on the go. A handful of about 23 nuts-only about 160 calories-packs in 7.3 milligrams of vitamin E, 76 milligrams of magnesium, 6 grams of protein, 200 milligrams of potassium, and 75 milligrams of calcium. Plus, the 3.5 grams of fiber will keep you full until your next meal. For variety, mix in a few pieces of dried fruit. Five dried plums will give you another 2.8 grams of dietary fiber and 293 milligrams of potassium.

Almonds

Serving size: 1 oz. (about 23 nuts)
Calories: 163
Calories From Fat: 129
Total Fat: 14 grams
Saturated Fat: 1 gram
Cholesterol: 0 milligrams
Sodium: 0 milligrams
Total Carbohydrate: 6 grams
Dietary Fiber: 3.5 grams
Sugars: 1 gram
Protein: 6 grams

Dried Plums

Serving Size: 40 grams (about 5 dried plums)
Calories: 96
Calories From Fat: 0
Total Fat: 0 grams
Saturated Fat: 0 grams
Cholesterol: 0 milligrams
Sodium: 1 milligram
Total Carbohydrate: 25.5 grams
Dietary Fiber: 3 grams
Sugars: 15 grams
Protein: 0 grams

2. Fruit. It's easy to store and quick to grab when you're in a rush but need a healthy snack. Grab an apple for its 5 grams of fiber to fill up in a pinch. The fruit is fat free, cholesterol free, and has 130 calories. Don't have an apple at home? Drive through Burger King for some Apple Fries. The pack has 25 calories and 6 grams of carbs. Or pack a handful of blueberries-a cup has only 100 calories but is high in antioxidants and a good source of vitamin C.

Apple

Serving Size: 1 large apple
Calories: 130
Calories From Fat: 0
Total Fat: 0 grams
Saturated Fat: 0 grams
Cholesterol: 0 milligrams
Sodium: 0 milligrams
Total Carbohydrate: 34 grams
Dietary Fiber: 5 grams
Sugars: 25 grams
Protein: 1 grams

Burger King Apple Fries

Serving Size: 1 order (57 grams)
Calories: 25
Calories From Fat: 0
Total Fat: 0 grams
Saturated Fat: 0 grams
Cholesterol: 0 milligrams
Sodium: 0 milligrams
Total Carbohydrate: 6 grams
Dietary Fiber: 1 grams
Sugars: 5 grams
Protein: 0 grams

Blueberries

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 100
Calories From Fat: 0
Total Fat: 1 gram
Saturated Fat: 0 grams
Cholesterol: 0 milligrams
Sodium: 0 milligrams
Total Carbohydrate: 27 grams
Dietary Fiber: 3 grams
Sugars: 11 grams
Protein: 1 gram

3. Whole Grain Cereal. A bowl of cereal and milk is doable at the office, but sloshing the meal around in transit could get messy. So skip the liquid and pack yourself a Ziplock of dry whole grain cereal. Pre-sort bags of your favorite cereal (we love Kashi's honey Heart to Heart or Barbara's Bakery's Puffins) and place them in a basket by your door. When you head out in a hurry next time, you'll be able to grab a healthy snack before Cinnabun cravings have a chance to kick in.

Puffins

Serving Size: 3/4 cup
Calories: 90
Calories From Fat: 10
Total Fat: 1 gram
Saturated Fat: 0 grams
Cholesterol: 0 milligrams
Sodium: 190 milligrams
Total Carbohydrate: 23 grams
Dietary Fiber: 5 grams
Sugars: 5 grams
Protein: 2 grams

Heart to Heart

Serving Size: 3/4 cup
Calories: 110
Calories From Fat: 15
Total Fat: 1.5 grams
Saturated Fat: 0 grams
Cholesterol: 0 milligrams
Sodium: 90 milligrams
Total Carbohydrate: 25 grams
Dietary Fiber: 5 grams
Sugars: 5 grams
Protein: 4 grams

4. Eggs. Hardboiled eggs are great portable snack-as long as you don't make them your new diet staple. Because of their relatively high cholesterol levels (212 milligrams in one large egg), you shouldn't indulge daily, especially if you have high cholesterol. But eggs eaten in moderation are a great way to get protein, choline, and vitamin D. Try Eggland's Best eggs, which are lower in fat and cholesterol and contain omega 3 fatty acids.

 Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 large Eggland's Best egg
Calories: 70
Calories From Fat: less than 0.5 grams
Total Fat: 4 grams
Saturated Fat: 1.2 grams
Cholesterol: 175 milligrams
Sodium: 60 milligrams
Total Carbohydrate: 0 grams
Dietary Fiber: 0 grams
Sugars: 0.4 grams
Protein: 6 grams

5. Nutrition bar. If you eat these like candy bars, you'll pile on pounds. But if you consider them between-meal snacks that carry a decent number of calories, you'll satisfy your sweet tooth while sating your hunger. Try Luna's Berry Almond bar for a mouthful of berries and crunchy nuts. Remember: Check the nutrition label before you scarf down a bar like this; some varieties are really candy bars masquerading as a healthy food.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Luna Berry Almond Bar (48 grams)
Calories: 180
Calories From Fat: 35
Total Fat: 4 grams
Saturated Fat: 0.5 grams
Cholesterol: 0 milligrams
Sodium: 150 milligrams
Total Carbohydrate: 27 grams
Dietary Fiber: 3 grams
Sugars: 11 grams
Protein: 9 grams

6. Animal Crackers. The preschool snack is low in calories and fat, which means you get good number of animals per serving. Opt for the lower-sugar variety (like Stauffers), and place them in plastic bags you can carry in your purse.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 16 crackers
Calories: 120
Calories From Fat: 15
Total Fat: 2 grams
Saturated Fat: 0 grams
Cholesterol: 0 milligrams
Sodium: 105 milligrams
Total Carbohydrate: 24 grams
Dietary Fiber: less than 1 gram
Sugars: 7 grams
Protein: 2 grams