We all have times when we just have a taste for something, a little snack to munch on but it's important to choose these snacks wisely. Making healthy snacks is simpler than you think. It just takes a little planning and stocking up on some simple essentials so you are always ready for those snack attacks.
Here are some quick recipes for snacks that won't make you feel guilty when you eat them and are good choices for a healthy diet.
- Fresh fruit:
This is an obvious choice and placing bowls of fresh fruit out where they are visible and easy to grab and eat is a simple idea.
Choose fruit like apples, bananas, grapes, plums, nectarines and peaches. Just be sure to check on them often for spoilage.
You can also prepare ripe fruit by cutting into bite-sized pieces and place in individual containers in the refrigerator so they are always ready for snacking. You can also peel and section oranges and grapefruit and place in individual containers so they can just be popped in your mouth anytime.
Frozen grapes are a great treat too especially on really hot days in the summer months. It's like a bite-sized popsicle.
- Raw Vegetables:
A simple idea is to make vegetable sticks or chunks using celery, carrots, peeled jicama, sweet bell peppers, cucumbers, cauliflower, broccoli, zucchini, mushrooms and green beans and serve with a low-fat dip.
Here are some quick dip ideas for your vegetables. Just mix the ingredients and serve.
Yogurt Dips: use low-fat or non-fat plain yogurt (non-fat plain Greek style yogurt works well in these dips because it has a thicker and richer consistency) with any of the following additions:
chopped onions or
chopped parsley with a squeeze of lemon juice or
chopped chives or
finely diced celery and carrots with a sprinkling of dried dill or
sun-dried tomatoes in oil (drained and chopped) or
marinated artichoke hearts (drained and finely chopped) or
chopped black or green olives
Salsa Dip: use your favorite variety alone or mixed with either some non-fat or low-fat yogurt or sour cream and serve
Salad Dressing: use your favorite low-fat dressing
Hummus: use any variety of hummus you like. There are so many to choose from in the grocery stores these days so you will never be bored.
Nut Butter Dip:
Mix some peanut or almond butter with chunky applesauce until you reach the desired consistency
and add a little cinnamon if you like. This is a good dip for celery, carrot or peeled jicama sticks as well as apple and pear slices.
- Other Quick and Easy Snack Ideas:
A small serving of nuts or
A small serving of dried fruit or
A small container of unsweetened applesauce or
A low-fat cheese stick or
Small serving of low-fat cereal (low-fat granolas make flavorful and crunchy snacks) or
Shelf-stable box of milk, soy milk or rice milk or
Air-popped popcorn or
Rice cakes - plain or flavored (eaten plain or topped with a slice of low-fat cheese or a thin layer of your favorite nut butter) or
Make your own snack mixes: (try a combination of any of the ingredients below)
Low-fat or baked pretzels, air-popped popcorn, dried fruit of your own choice (like apricots, raisins, cranberries, cherries, etc.) and nuts (go easy on the nuts because of their fat content)
Whenever you have a taste for a little something try these easy ideas for healthy and quick snacks.
