4 Healthy Snack Upgrades
With back to school in mind we’re focusing on common snacks like ants on a log, cheese and crackers, and mini toaster pizzas, but making them just a little bit healthier. We have four different ideas for you, and we’d love to hear what your favorite, healthy afternoon snack is. Looking for more snack ideas? We’ve go 20 tasty ones for you!
Cheese and “Crackers”
Crackers aren’t necessarily bad for you, but if you eat a lot of grains already, why not replace them with something fresh instead?
Slice your favorite cheese (we chose low-fat mozzarella) into 1-inch square slices. Place a top cucumber slices, and top with cracked pepper.
Mini “Pizzas”
These aren’t the pizza bagels you might have made in your toaster oven growing up, but they are inspired by that—just much healthier.
Take one half of an English muffin (toasted if you prefer), spread with 1 tablespoon of goat cheese or other creamy, spreadable cheese. Then top with a slice or two of fresh tomato. If you want to make it feel a bit more like a mini pizza, pop it in the toaster oven or under the broiler for a few minutes.
Ladybugs on a Log
Ants on a log was one of our favorite snacks, but it’s time to try a bit more sophisticated version.
Start with celery sticks—cut them yourself or save time by buying pre-cut—and fill them with freshly ground almond butter. Look for the kind that is ground at your grocery store to avoid preservatives. Then top with dried cranberries—the unsweetened kind, if you can find them. They have more antioxidants than raisins, and are an unexpected twist.
Crustless Apple Pie
If you’re looking for a snack that tastes more like a dessert, try this sweet treat. We were a bit more lenient with this one since it is more akin to a dessert. If you want to skip any added sugar, you can just top with cinnamon instead.
Thinly slice one apple. Using a small amount of cooking spray, cook the apples in a pan or pot until they are soft, but not falling apart. Sprinkle apples with brown sugar, and stir until the sugar has dissolved.
What’s your favorite healthy snack upgrade? Tell us in the comments!
