Simple Recipes and Easy Snack Ideas
Healthy snacks are not complicated and I go for the simple ideas when it comes to snacking. I am not much for the packaged food options because of the kind of ingredients that are used. Here are some snack ideas for everyone and with these easy recipes you can control what you put into them and the amount of salt, fat, and sugar. Made with natural ingredients these healthy snacks include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds,and more. They are very flexible and can be adjusted to your own liking. Use these simple recipes as a springboard to create your own healthy snacks. They are quick, easy, and delicious and will give you great food options when you need something to nibble on. Enjoy. Yogurt Parfait Snack: In a bowl or parfait glass, make a layer of each ingredient - plain Greek yogurt, fresh raspberries, a sprinkling of cinnamon granola, more yogurt, fresh blueberries, cinnamon granola, another layer of yogurt, top with a couple of raspberries and blueberries. Any fruit combination can be used in this recipe which makes it very flexible and a great year round snack idea with seasonal fruit. Apple Dipper Snack: Make a dip for apple slices by combining smooth peanut butter with plain yogurt, some cinnamon and mini chocolate chips. Mix well and spoon into small bowls and serve with several apple slices on the side. Cheesy Topped Crackers: Top your favorite crackers with shredded carrots and diced apples and a sprinkling of shredded cheddar cheese. Place mounded crackers on a baking sheet and place under a broiler or in a toaster oven until the cheese just begins to melt, being careful not to burn them. Healthy Cucumber Snacks: Slice a seedless cucumber into 1/4" slices. Take one slice and top with a dollop of hummus, sprinkle with cumin, top with a piece of sun-dried tomato (in oil - drained), top with another slice of cucumber and enjoy. Sweet and Nutty Mini Snack: Using cocktail rye bread, spread one slice with your favorite nut butter, top with a few sweetened dried cranberries, a dusting of cinnamon, and a sprinkling of shredded coconut and place another slice of bread on top. You can also use different bread if you'd like cinnamon raisin, whole grain bread, or sourdough, for a different taste each time. Fruity Popsicle: Here's a great cool snack for those hot summer days. Using a freezer popsicle container, place a few halved seedless red grapes in each section of the container and then fill each section with your favorite natural fruit juice. Freeze as directed and enjoy. The grapes add an extra little burst of flavor in each popsicle. Combine chunks of honeydew melon, cantaloupe, and seedless watermelon with crumbled goat, feta, or blue cheese and some chopped fresh mint. Toss ingredients together gently and serve in glass bowls. You could also serve some warm bread sticks with this quick snack. Noodle Sushi Snack: Cook any long pasta noodle like spaghetti, fettuccine, udon, or soba and drain. Take a large soft tortilla shell (use a flavored variety if you like) and place some of the cooked noodles lengthwise (from left to right) about an inch or so from the closest edge of the tortilla. Top the noodles with thin strips of avocado slices, sweet red pepper slices, some chopped pitted black olives and a drizzle of peanut or soy sauce. Roll the tortilla like a sushi roll. Then cut the long roll into one-half inch slices and serve slices as a snack. Sweet Salsa Snack: Make a simple sweet salsa with chopped strawberries, diced pears, honey, and some fresh squeezed lemon juice. Serve with cinnamon graham crackers or plain baked tortilla chips for dipping. Creamy Squash Spread: Peel, cube, and boil butternut squash until tender. Drain and mash squash and mix with some non-fat sour cream and either (some brown sugar and cinnamon for a sweet spread) or (dried rosemary and a little salt and pepper for a savory spread) until completely combined. Spread the squash mixture into celery sticks. This makes a great crunchy, creamy treat. Marinated Kabobs: Take some grape or cherry tomatoes, cubes of cheddar cheese, jack cheese, mozzarella, or your favorite cheese, chunks of sweet bell pepper, pitted green olives, and whole water chestnuts and place in random order on short wooden skewers. Place finished skewers in a shallow pan and marinate with your favorite low-fat natural dressing. Allow to marinate for an hour or so, turning occasionally, before eating. Creamy Muffins: In a bowl, combine low-fat cottage cheese, diced cucumber, diced green bell pepper, dice onion, some torn fresh basil leaves, and salt and pepper to taste. To serve, take an English muffin half, place a couple of thin slices of avocado on the muffin, some of the cottage cheese mixture, and top with a little lemon zest. Try these healthy snacks as an addition to your diet. They are quick and easy and these simple ideas make great food options. Return to Top of Healthy Snacks
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