Healthy Snacks

It never fails, there’s a pang that hits our stomach around 2:30 or 3:00 in the
afternoon. This little bit of hunger is easily overcome by a healthy snack.
Instead of reaching for those chocolate chip cookies, why not some apple
wedges with a little peanut butter on them? Or, how about a glass of milk or cup
of cottage cheese? You could even grab a handful of nuts. Whole grain
products make good snacks as well. Wheat bread or bagels can make you a
nice little snack to hold you over until dinner.
For the kids, consider having some carrot sticks already peeled and sliced for
them when they come home from school. You could even have a little bowl of
broccoli florets, green peppers and carrots in a bowl with a little side of low fat
salad dressing for dipping. These are much better snacks than Jell-O, Fruit Roll-
Ups, Pop Tarts or candy bars.
Here is a little quick recipe that you can whip up in no time:
1. Can of mandarin oranges
2. Cut up banana
3. Apple
4. Nectarine
5. Strawberries
6. Blueberries
7. Raisins

Mix in the juices from the orange and serve. This is a delicious little fresh fruit
salad that you can use as a snack or even a healthy dessert.
Keeping a bowl of fresh fruit around on the table also encourages you to grab an
apple or orange instead of a handful of M&Ms.
Milk and dairy products are also important. You don’t have to buy the fattiest of
these items either. If you are a whole milk drinker, consider dropping down to
2%. You will be amazed that the taste is very similar to whole milk, but with less
fat. It is also not as watery as skim milk. You can also have some low-fat or
nonfat yogurt, puddings, cheeses and cottage cheese around.
Lunchmeats can also make a great snack. Get some healthy turkey, chicken or
ham. Pregnant women should be sure to warm these up to kill off any bacteria
before eating them, just to be on the safe side. Sandwiches that are made on
whole grain bread with low calorie mustard can be a good snack to hold you
over.
Tuna that is packed in water is the best and very easy to whip up. Peanut butter,
eggs, poultry, nuts and beans make good snacks as well.
You can also pair your fresh fruit with nonfat plain or vanilla yogurt. Add fruit to
cereal or use fresh fruit and juices to make smoothies as a quick snack or
breakfast.
For bagels that are getting a little stale, toast them and spread a little bit of
peanut butter on them. You could also use a low fat cream cheese. Or, slice
them into little thin slices and brush with a little butter. Sprinkle with a little garlic
and bake for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees. Now you have healthy bagel chips
and you didn’t waste any food.