When was the last time you felt good about what was in your snack cabinet? For many families, calorific chips, cookies, crackers, and other starchy, high sugar, and high fat items reign supreme. And while these items might temporarily satisfy your junk food cravings, chips, cookies, and other pantry treats may very well compromise the health of you and your family.
Luckily, there are many ways to snack responsibly, and the answer is simple: think whole foods. Whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, cage free meat and eggs, and organic dairy are foods that don’t require an “ingredients” list to know what’s inside of them. This means that they’re likely to be chock full of nutrients and free of nasty preservatives, additives, and unhealthful ingredients.
Here are 2 delicious and creative snacks that are made with healthy, whole foods:
- Cucumber Cups
There are many healthy recipes using hummus, but this is a family favorite. Handheld snacks are novel, easy-to-eat, and fun to make — this cucumber cups recipe is no exception! Of the many recipes using hummus, these are simple, nutritious, and delicious. To create your cucumber cups, start by cutting your cucumber into 3/4 inch rounds. Next, take a melon baller and scoop out the insides from one side of the cucumber. Combine a cheese of choice (feta, goat, bleu) with your favorite hummus brand or flavors of hummus and fill the cucumber with the filling. Top with a few sprinkles of cheese, a dash of paprika and a drizzle of olive oil. Enjoy your healthy hummus recipe!
- Lettuce Wraps
Iceberg lettuce is the forgotten member of the lettuce family that deserves a lot more praise. Sure, its contents are mostly water, but they work as perfect crunchy, refreshing and delicious vessels for this lettuce wrap recipe. There are two ways to make lettuce wraps: savory or sweet. For a sweet take, dice up apples into small 1/2 inch cubes, and combine in a bowl with 1/4 cup raisins, 1/4 cup crunchy peanut butter, a dash of cinnamon and 1/4 cup of Greek yogurt. Combine and place in the lettuce cups and eat as you like.
For a traditional, savory rendition of the lettuce wrap recipes, saute chicken in a peanut soy sauce with a generous amount of vegetables. Top with avocado, tomatoes, and spicy chili sauce for a delicious meal or snack!
What’s your favorite healthy snack? Tell us in the comments