The first month of the new year is already over! Is 2013 going as well as you’d hoped?
One of our resolutions for this new year is to improve our snacking choices- cut down on the processed stuff (no matter how healthy the package claims) and get back to real, whole foods.
When you want something sweet, but know you should be eating something a little more substantial, many of these ideas will feed the sweet cravings in a healthy way. We’ve included healthy snacks that are salty, sweet and a few in between.
Baking sweet potato fries with healthy oil can relieve that soft, fried craving without the endless amounts of oil. Sweet potatoes contain vitamin A which helps maintain a healthy immune system- perfect for the cold weather months. These fries have a great source of fiber, which can help regulate blood sugar and cardiovascular health. Enjoy these with cinnamon and coconut sugar for a truly sweet snack.
Banana with Almond Butter
Simple, yet delicious! Ripe bananas contain healthy cancer fighting properties and are an incredible source of potassium. Slice them up and add some protein to the side with almond butter. Make a sandwich for a healthy, filling lunch or simply dip the fruit in the butter for a nutritious snack. Eat them with toothpicks to make them fun for kids!
Eating raw produce is sometimes hard without blending it up in a smoothie or piling on salad dressing. We think these little bites are a great way to combat boredom to raw veggies and reap the benefits of eating fresh, live foods.
No-Bake Cinnamon Nut Granola Bars
We love having snacks that can be made in advance, freeze well and are great grab and go snacks. These granola bars are a great choice for all those situations. Oats, almond butter, flax and molasses are great sources of nutrition while helping to sweeten these bars in a really delicious way.
Omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil and anti-inflammatory properties are a few of the benefits from fish. Salmon can help improve vision, skin, hair and nails and also reduce inflammation. We like these tasty bites for their salty/slightly sweet combination. Use fresh parsley to garnish to get an added boost of vitamins and minerals.
Cinnamon Applesauce with Flax & Honey
This snack is one of our absolute favorites right now. It’s a delicious, quick way to get flax and raw honey into your diet. There have been studies about how beneficial cinnamon and raw honey are for you. The added flax just increases those benefits. Some claim that adding a tablespoon of flax to your daily diet can promote good digestion, is a good source of fiber and will even regulate hormones!
Here’s what you do:
1/2 cup Unsweetened Applesauce
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1 Tablespoon Raw Honey
1 Tablespoon Ground Flax
Mix everything together and enjoy!
Kale is one of the healthiest greens available! Dark leafy greens have a powerful ability to help cleanse our bodies of toxins and impurities while giving us great nutrition. Sometimes it can be hard to eat kale (or get your little ones or family members to eat it) but slightly changing the flavor to be a little more sweet can help even absolute kale-haters to give it a try.
Frozen Grapes
Frozen fruit can be a delicious way to change things up! Grapes are an incredible source of Flavonoids, which give grapes that beautiful coloring! You can skip the calories of wine and go right to the raw fruit to reap the benefits of flavonoids. Grapes are rich in vitamins and minerals and when frozen, taste like a cold candy! Keep them stocked in the freezer, so they’ll always be available when a craving strikes.
Candied almonds are the perfect snack when craving something sweet. Cinnamon in this dish helps us feel like we are eating a “treat” without going overboard on the sweeteners. Almonds are a very healthy nut with benefits ranging from skin health to digestion to colon cancer prevention. The protein and vitamins contained in almonds can help keep you feeling full and energized.
Raw Veggies with Homemade Ranch Dressing
Who isn’t looking for ways to eat more raw veggies!? Raw veggies have a satisfying crunch that can satiate the craving for a crunchy snack without going to the carbs. Not everyone likes raw broccoli so start with carrots or bell peppers! Sometimes we even like to sub out chips for carrots in “chips and salsa”. Raw carrots improve vision, create beautiful skin and nails and will give you that “healthy glow”. Bell peppers are an amazing source of B vitamins and vitamin C and E.
Shannon (Healthiful Balance) says
I love the PB and banana combo! So good!
Char @ www.charskitchen.ca says
CINNAMON kale chips?!?! I will have to try those! :D I’ve been making lots of homemade granola bars lately, & sweet potato fries are definitely a favourite. But I love how simple the cucumber hummus sandwiches are! They actually made my mouth water. Thanks for the quick snack idea! I will be making those for sure.
Julia {The Roasted Root} says
These all look wonderful – just in time for the super bowl too! I could OD on banana and almond butter (with honey) every day of my life. YUM!
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) says
I finally added your new URL to my blog reader! Now I can get updates again! yay!
I want those salmon cream cheese snacks for the super bowl this weekend! They look so delicious.
Annie says
Thanks for making the change! :)