Healthy Living: Surprisingly Awesome Snacks

I love food. I try to eat conscientiously and healthily. I have moments of weakness when I want nothing more than something ridiculously bad for me. Sometimes I cave. Then I feel bad about. Thankfully, most of the time, I'm prepared and rely on a healthy alternative snack to kill the craving. Since the weather is shifting to gloomy and gray, and that tends to lead to more time indoors... which leads to more opportunities for snack time, I thought I'd share some of the best healthy snacks I've come across over the last few years. 

Craving Creamy?

♦ Sophisticated Strawberries: Halve strawberries and smear with soft chevre {goat cheese}. Drizzle with Balsamic vinegar and a bit of honey.

♦ Banana Softserve: Freeze some banana slices, then pulse in a food processor with some toasted cashews and a splash of almond milk

♦ Make your own Edamame Hummus: Combine 1/2 cup cooked edamame, 1/2 tsp olive oil, 1 tsp tahini, and a squeeze of lemon juice in a food processor, pulsing until smooth. Serve with mini carrots.

♦ Mini Polenta Melts: Slice a few thin slices of store bought polenta. Top with each with 1/2 a slice roasted red pepper and a bit of italian cheese blend. Microwave about 20 seconds, until warm.

♦ Radiccio Wraps: Mash 1/2 cup canned white beans with 1/2 tsp olive oil, a bit of chopped rosemary and a dash of salt and pepper. Pile onto radiccio leaves. 

♦Easy Cali Rolls: Nuke a package of pre-cooked brown rice. Drizzle 1/2 cup rice with 1 Tsp rice wine vinegar. Combine 1/4 ripe chopped avocado, 1/4 cup chopped cucumber, and 1/4 cup chopped imitation crab with 1 Tsp grapeseed veganaise. Scoop rice and a bit of filling onto a nori sheet and roll up. Looks are not the goal here. Enjoy.
♦Simple Classic: Enjoy 1/2 cup cottage cheese or low-fat yogurt with fresh berries or other fruit of choice.

Craving Sweet?

♦ Chocolate Pudding: Combine 114 Oz Package Soft Silken Tofu, 1/3 Cup Pure Cocoa Powder, 1/3 Cup Agave Nectar, and 1 Tbsp Vanilla Extract in blender or food processor. Pulse until smooth. Serve chilled.

♦ Almond Coconut Bars: Combine 3 Cups puffed brown rice cereal with 1/2-3/4 {just enough to hold together} cups almond butter, 4 Tbs honey, 1 cup dried coconut, and  1 cup dried fruit/nuts of choice or mini chocolate chips. Press into a pan and chill. Cut into small bars and enjoy.

♦ No Bake Fruit "Crisp": Sprinkle fresh berries of choice with your favorite type of granola. Microwave until warm.

♦ Banana Cream Crackers: Top organic graham crackers with a bit of vanilla greek yogurt and banana slices. 

♦ "Caramel" Walnut Apples: Boil one cup of organic apple cider until it become thick and syrupy. Add some chopped walnuts. Drizzle over fresh apple slices.

♦ Chocolate Goodness: Combine 1/4 cup Pam's Gluten Free Baking Mix {or whole wheat flour}, 1/8 Tsp Baking Powder, 2 Tbs Baking Cocoa, 1 Packet Stevia or 2 Tbs palm sugar,1/4 cup water, 1/8 Tsp Vanilla extract and a small handful of chocolate chips in small microwavable bowl. You can also use 1/2 cup of your favorite chocolate cake mix with 1/8 cup water. Microwave for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Enjoy warm. If you're craving extra decadence, top with a scoop of natural vanilla ice cream or froyo. Yum.

Craving Crunchy?

♦ Grown Up Ants on a Log: Stuff celery sticks with your favorite nut butter and top with dried goji berries or currants.

♦ Chickpea Poppers: Thoroughly dry canned chickpeas. Toss with a small amount of olive oil and season with dried oregano and garlic salt. Roast at 400 until crispy.

♦ Veggie Chips and Dip: Dip Terra Chips in a bit of sour cream seasoned with a dash of garlic salt.

♦Thai Slaw Roll-Ups: Fill rice wrappers with thai slaw. Combine 1/2 package store bought coleslaw mix with  a bit of toasted sesame oil, lime juice, honey, and a dash of cayenne pepper. Toss in some chopped peanuts. 

♦Fruit & Nuts: Spread crisp, thinly sliced pears or apples with crunchy cashew or almond butter.  Top with sesame seeds. Or, layer the fruit and nut butter onto a thin cracker, such as a rye crisp.

♦Indian Spiced Cashews: Toss raw cashews in curry powder and a bit of melted coconut oil. Roast at 400 until golden. 

Craving Salty?

♦Quick Antipasto Plate: Wrap a part skim cheese stick in a slice of prosciutto. Enjoy with a handful of olives and some cherry tomatoes.

♦Smoked Salmon Wraps: Combine a bit of chopped smoked salmon with light cream cheese. Mound onto large lettuce leaves. Top with dill.

♦Chessy Kale Chips: Tear kale leaves into large pieces and arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Spritz with olive oil and bake at 350 until crisp. While warm, sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

♦Tuna Salad Rounds: Combine a bit of tuna with a small amount of veganaise and lemon juice. Mound onto rice chips.

♦Turkey Roll Ups: Spread a bit of softned light cream cheese on sliced turkey breast and top with thinly sliced tomato. Roll up.

Hungry Yet?

♥Jen


photo credit: Ann Straton for Real Simple

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