Tasty snacks CAN be healthy
National Nutrition Month was once a week-long observance, but in 1980 it was extended to a month due to the public's peak of interest in nutrition. It is simply a campaign, sponsored by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetic, to educate and inform people the importance of healthy food choices.
Today, many of us live very hectic, busy lifestyles and meals take place on the go; even when at home, it's a lot easier to open a bag of chips than to prepare a nutritious snack--not to mention it usually sounds more appetizing! When it comes down to it, though, spending the few extra minutes preparing a snack can save us from future health problems. Below is a list of 25 healthy snacks that are kid friendly recommended by the American Dietetic Association (you can find this and other helpful tips at: http://www.eatright.org/NNM/content.aspx?id=5342):
1.) Peel a banana and dip it in yogurt. Roll in crushed cereal and freeze.
2.) Spread celery sticks with peanut butter or low-fat cream cheese. Top with raisins. Enjoy your "ants on a log."
3.) Stuff a whole-grain pita pocket with ricotta cheese and Granny Smith apple slices. Add a dash of cinnamon.
4.) Mix together ready-to-eat cereal, dried fruit and nuts in a sandwich bag for an on-the-go snack.
5.) Smear a scoop of frozen yogurt on two graham crackers and add sliced banana to make a yummy sandwich.
6.) Top low-fat vanilla yogurt with crunchy granola and sprinkle with blueberries.
7.) Microwave a small baked potato. Top with reduced-fat cheddar cheese and salsa.
8.) Make snack kabobs. Put cubes of low-fat cheese and grapes on pretzel sticks.
9.) Toast a whole grain waffle and top with low-fat yogurt and sliced peaches.
10.) Spread peanut butter on apple slices.
11.) Blend low-fat milk, frozen strawberries and a banana for thirty seconds for a delicious smoothie.
12.) Make a mini-sandwich with tuna or egg salad on a dinner roll.
13.) Sprinkle grated Monterrey Jack cheese over a corn tortilla; fold in half and microwave for twenty seconds. Top with salsa.
14.) Toss dried cranberries and chopped walnuts in instant oatmeal.
15.) Mix together peanut butter and cornflakes in a bowl. Shape into balls and roll in crushed graham crackers.
16.) Microwave a cup of tomato or vegetable soup and enjoy with whole grain crackers.
17.) Fill a waffle cone with cut-up fruit and top with low-fat vanilla yogurt.
18.) Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese on hot popcorn.
19.) Banana Split: top a banana with low-fat vanilla and strawberry frozen yogurt. Sprinkle with your favorite whole-grain cereal.
20.) Sandwich cut-outs: make a sandwich on whole grain bread. Cut out your favorite shape using a big cookie cutter. Eat the fun shape and the edges, too!
21.) Spread mustard on a flour tortilla. Top with a slice of turkey or ham, low-fat cheese and lettuce. Then roll it up.
22.) Mini pizza: toast an English muffin, drizzle with pizza sauce and sprinkle with low-fat mozzarella cheese.
23.) Rocky road: break a graham cracker into bite-size pieces. Add to low-fat chocolate pudding along with a few miniature marshmallows.
24.) Inside-out sandwich: spread mustard on a slice of deli turkey. Wrap around a sesame bread stick.
25.) Parfait: layer vanilla yogurt and mandarin oranges or blueberries in a tall glass. Top with a sprinkle of granola.
Enjoy!
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