SUPER FOOD SNACKS!

If you're like me, you tend to crave sweets/desserts between Christmas and Easter. (Thanksgiving doesn't tempt me because I don't care for pie other than maybe one piece of apple).  I try not to bake after Christmas,  but it's so hard in the cold northeastern winters to NOT have baked goods.  And let's face it, they're either loaded with refined sugars, canola oils, eggs or all three!  NOT good for our health or maintaining weight goals or even cholesterol levels.  Yes you can replace sugar with applesauce but even then, applesauce contains sugar!!  And yes you can replace an egg with ground flaxseed but you still put in some kind of sugar!

So I've had to be intentional about healthful snacks.  And I find that if I choose one of the super-foods found in the photo above, I do pretty well!!

Today I am including here a few tips on how to incorporate these foods into some healthful snacks for when you are craving sweets.  Try them!  And please comment on what you tried or how you are intentional about snacking in a healthy manner.

Let's start with the top row:  blackberries.  These are easy to snack on.  Buy blackberries on sale throughout most of the calendar year.  This time of year our local grocery store tends to have the organic ones on sale.  I stock up.  Freeze a pint by putting in a ziplock freezer bag.  Keep a pint in the fridge.  I tend to wash them first and just pour into a bowl to grab a few for snacking.  

Here's what I like to do:

I take a handful of blackberries and I place them in a small bowl.  Then I add in sliced banana and chopped walnuts.  Voila!  A super easy super foods snack.  

Let's move on to the middle top photo:  fresh broccoli. No, this isn't a sweet but....it IS a healthful snack.  I like to take about a half cup of chopped fresh broccoli and dip it into a single serving hummus container.  You can buy single serve hummus at your local grocer or just make your own by placing 1/4 c of hummus (any flavor...I tend to like the original or roasted red pepper) onto a small plate. Dip the broccoli into the hummus and perhaps add some single serving naan or pita chips.  

The photo featuring nuts speak for themselves.  You can snack on raw almonds (if your digestion can't handle raw almonds, like mine, then just buy regular low-sodium roasted almonds).  Snacking on 1/4 cup gives you protein and stops the craving for sweets.  Or add them to fresh berries.  Or add walnuts to the mix!  there are many ways to enjoy nuts.

Let's move on to the bottom row: that looks like a photo of chia seeds.  Please see the link below on how to add these to your diet.  You can also put them into smoothies (I will feature smoothies next Saturday!) or fruit bowls.  You can also add them to pancake batter or muffin batter.

The photo in the bottom middle is my very kind of berry:  blueberries are so versatile!  I literally eat them every morning in some way.  I also like them on top of coconut milk ice cream :)  They are great just to snack on or toss them into a blender and add your fave nut milk, a spoonful of agave, a teaspoon of acai powder, a couple spoonfuls of raw cocao powder, and a sliced banana.  blend until all mixed and thick.  Pour into a mason glass jar and drink!  Delish and super simple.  Sometimes when I have raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries all at the same time in the fridge (usually the spring and summer months and into October) I just place 1/4 c of each into a small bowl and eat them plain!  Sometimes I like to add in the chopped walnuts. Sometimes I dip them into a half cup of chocolate hummus! (yes there IS such a thing as chocolate hummus.....it's delish with fresh apples, berries and bananas.)

I'm also including a link to a "popular with my vegan daughter" snack.  In fact, I'm making these tomorrow to have in my lunches this next work week.  Please note that you will need to get a container for keeping them in the fridge.

The last photo features cranberries. I keep a bag of them in the freezer (good for 6 months!).  Take out a cup at a time, thaw, and use in muffin recipes.

Here is a recipe I like for fresh cranberries.

CRANBERRY ORANGE MUFFINS

2 c. unbleached flour

1/4 c. unsweetened applesauce or 1/2 c. raw honey

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

dash of salt

1/4 c. fresh orange juice

1/2 c. unsweetened almond or coconut milk

1/2 c. melted Earth Balance original butter 

(or real butter if you don't mind dairy)

2 egg replacements:  2 Tablespoons of ground flaxseed mixed with 6 tablespoons of warm water,  Let sit for 5 minutes until "gelled" like an egg

1 Tablespoon of orange zest

3/4 c. fresh cranberries

• Mix all the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda/powder, salt, orange zest) together in a mixing bowl.  
• Add in the  Applesauce or honey, orange juice, butter, flaxseed "eggs", milk.
• Stir well.
• Add in the fresh cranberries.
• Pour into muffin pan after lightly spraying the pan with canola or coconut oil baking spray.
• Bake in a 400 degree oven for 12-15 minutes or until just golden brown.

ENJOY!

That's it for today's BE WELL EAT WELL tips.

as with all of the recipes under the faithfixes label, you do have permission to copy and print this recipe and the protein bites recipe.