My favorite thing about these snacks is that they're quick. A snack shouldn't usually be something you spend an hour on (chocolate chip granola bars are an exception...) and should taste good, but still be healthy. Snacks are great to help you have enough energy to last you 'til the next meal.
Smoothies
I love making smoothies because you can make a big batch and freeze two or three to save for later (a quick trip to the microwave, about 30 seconds to one minute, will bring the original texture back) and will be very refreshing on a sunny summer day. I just make up my own recipe in the blender usually, but this is an outline of my favorite blend.
Ingredients:
1 cup milk
1 cup water
1/3 cup yogurt (optional)
1/3 to 1/2 of a 16 oz. can of orange juice concentrate
1 cup of frozen berries, softened slightly in the microwave
1 frozen banana, also softened
1 cup of crushed ice
1/2 tsp vanilla (optional)
Add ingredients, liquids first and then solids, and use the "Smoothie" setting on your blender or blend until desired texture is reached. (if it's too watery, add ice/frozen berries. If it's too thick, add water/milk)
Pour into 3-4 (large) glasses and enjoy! Freeze any extra.
Dried Fruit
I love dried fruit, whether it's sun-dried or flash frozen. It's a great way to eat fruit when it's not in season (dried mangos are so good!) and quick, too. On mornings when I have to get out of the door quickly, I pop a bagel in the toaster and grab a handful of these apricots. (They don't look very appetizing, but I love them!)
Nuts
These are great for a lot of the same reasons above. They're quick, give you protein and quick energy, and taste good. I put them in my lunch a lot.
Aussie Bites
I love these. They do have butter and sugar in them, but they have a lot of good stuff packed inside (if you can read the label, it says: Rolled oats, dried apricots, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, honey, coconut, quinoa, chia seeds + more!) and taste a little like a mix between a granola bar and a cookie and a muffin. We actually made some, and I liked them better than the store-bought ones (but really, if they have 2 whole sticks of butter in them, what's not to like...) and we put a lot of the same good stuff in them. You can also pop them in the freezer and take one out whenever you want and put it in the microwave for 15-20 seconds.
Sorbet
I recently discovered these little sorbets. They aren't exactly healthy, but they have a lot of real fruit in them, and none of the weird ingredients you can't pronounce. (for example, the ingredients in this are : Water, sugar, raspberry puree, raspberry juice concentrate, pectin, lemon juice concentrate, elderberry juice concentrate.) There are a lot more, and my personal faves are california lemon grove, tropical mango, and northern black cherry. They are super similar to the real taste of the fruit. They're the perfect size for a few times. (Make sure you check out Private Selection's other ice cream flavors! They are all so creamy)
Make sure you keep on smiling! (and eat some good food in the process)
-Julia
