Its two hours before lunch and your stomach begins to growl like a hungry lion. You look around to see if anybody heard it and yes, everybody knows you're starving. It's something we have all gone through, so don't feel bad.

What do you usually reach for when your stomach starts to growl? More than likely it's one of the quick choices that everyone makes - you grab for the bag of chips, the candy bar or even those jelly filled donuts. These items will fill your stomach but they'll also fill your thighs, abdomen and stomach with fat!

There are plenty of alternatives to sweets and such; you just have to know what they are. Here I will list a few for you to choose from next time your stomach gives you a growl.

1)There is nothing worse than your 104 pound co-worker who stops at the bakery on her way to work and brings in two dozen fresh donuts. It's cruel and should be company policy that if somebody is dieting, it is against the rules to do such a thing. Never fear; dried fruits are there to save the day. Trust me; I'm a huge fan of dried fruits; they've never let me down yet.

2.) Candy bars are nice ways to take a bite out of your hunger, but it's full of calories. If you're on a limited caloric intake each day, a candy bar will eat up most of those allotted calories, leaving you with little left for the rest of the day. Instead of biting a candy bar, how about trying some of those low-fat, low-calorie granola bars? You'll satisfy your hunger, stick to your diet and give your body some needed nutrients as well.

3.) Almost everyone likes a good chocolate chip cookie (or 2 or 3 or possibly more) when they're hungry. Again, they taste good, but they can pack on the calories. Instead of those tasty cookies, how about going for rice cakes or low- fat, sugar-free cookies to squash your hunger?

4.) What about those jelly-filled donuts or other popular pastries? They're good for taste (and a quick sugar high) but not good for your waistline. Maybe you can consider some sugar free Fig Newton's instead. They don't have as much fat as the pastries and they can satisfy your fruit craving that you may be suffering from when you reach for the jelly-filled donuts.

Just because you are dieting doesn't mean you have to starve yourself or go without snacks; you just have to make the right choices in the snacks you choose. Just watch your calories and don't let the lion roar