Snacks We Love That Love Us Back

Here are a few favorites:

• Crackers and Hummus
• Cheese and Crackers
• Almond Butter & Fruit (Around here, almond butter is always thinned with plain yogurt for kids under 2 yrs. of age)

My absolute new favorite:

• Raw Caramel Dip (Photo & recipe courtesy of Nourishing Meals)

Don't be put off by the healthy title. This is something that passes well for food. It satisfies even my dino-sized sweet tooth. The dip is intended for apples, but I find myself grabbing a bit with a spoon here and there. Don't expect a smooth caramel texture here. But, do expect something delightful.

Extra: Use walnuts instead of cashews to get some extra omega-3s. It makes a chunkier texture, but one I actually like. Also, buy the dates in the bulk section instead of a container in the produce section. This practice is the difference between spending $.70 and $7.00 for me. I get whatever type of pitted date is available and it turns out well.

This recipe passes muster for all diets: Gluten-free, vegan, anti-inflammatory, and dairy-free. Can you feel the love? 

Today I'm Going To Cook Something Healthy (and now I'm going to frost it!)

Pardon the punctuation there! Up there, that is. Just avert your eyes, it got ugly.

Speaking of ugly, it's tough to find a pretty snack. Healthy ones are scarce to be found and especially scarce at any organized kid-tivity. But, they're often just as important as meals because they keep a toddler/preschool body going until the next meal, maintain an even blood sugar, ward off sugar cravings and keep a person (me) sane. They also provide a lovely few moments to get some dinner prep. done. So, hooray for snacks! I love them. But, can they be healthy and fast too?

Enter today's creation: a re-do of a Whole Foods Market recipe "Yummy Banana Oat Bars".

Verdict: If this food was fuel, it would be rated as just plain regular. This will get you where you want to go without any extra frills. Until you frost it...

Yummier Banana Oat Bars

2 cups old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup shredded coconut (unsweetened)
1/2 cup raisins or chopped dates
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
2 LARGE (take this seriously, no shrimpy bananas allowed in this one) ripe bananas, mashed
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce (they say it's optional, I tried it and liked it)

1/4 tsp cardamom or cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt

Topping:

1/2 brick (4 oz) cream or yogurt cheese
1 tbsp maple syrup
1/2 tsp vanilla
cinnamon (sprinkled on top to make it pretty)

Preheat oven to 350F. Mix all ingredients for the bars together in a large bowl. Press into a 9x9 baking pan and bake for 30 minutes. Spread topping on the bars while they are still warm. Cool on a wire rack. When cool, slice and serve.

Popcorn Re-Do

Popcorn has popped into our house to stay (ba-dum-bum). We made some the other day and it was a fabulous time to watch for Kiddo1.  Just heat up about 1/3 cup oil (preferably coconut or grapeseed to get in those healthy fats) in a big pot (about 6 qt) and toss in a cup of corn kernels. Shake until the popping stops and you're in business! It's fun for kids of all ages, especially if your pot has a glass lid.

Next step, add nutritional yeast (mine, sadly, was stale). I hear it makes it taste yummy and cheesy. You may guessed already that it adds a fabulous amount of vitamins. I was turned off by the name at first, but never fear. It's real food. Also, it's important to note that this is different than kind used in yeast bread and is a specialty item found in the health foods section.

Anti-Inflammatory Diets: Skip this one and try some frozen grapes or apples with almond butter for a quick snack if corn is a food intolerance or creates blood sugar issues for you.

Dairy-Free: Try the nutritional yeast with me and let me know what you think! I do hear it tastes cheesy. A bonus, for sure!

Gluten-Free: Enjoy, but watch out for an imbalance of corn in the diet. Corn often has too big of a role in gluten-free living and should be balanced out with other grains to ensure a well-balanced diet.

Why is this healthy?

The corn, healthy fats and nutritional yeast provide a quick, sugar-free snack full of vitamins. Popping in a pan also avoids the leeching of chemicals from a plastic popper and the unpronounceable chemicals found in the microwave kind. This preparation ensures real food. No food-like-substances here. 

I'll launch a discussion about cookware soon. But, for now, go with stainless steel when possible.