Tag: Healthy Ingredients

Healthy Snack Recipes

When you’re counting calories or being careful about nutrition, every bite counts including snacks between meals. Unfortunately it’s very easy for these grab-and-go nibbles to be unhealthy and unsatisfying. With a little planning and preparation you can come up with healthy snack recipes to fuel you and your family throughout the day. Sugary and starchy snacks will only give you a sugar rush, leaving you hungry an hour later. Healthy snack recipes, on the other hand, include “real food” that’s more satisfying and nutritious.

Plan Ahead

Healthy, well-balanced meals require planning, and snacks are no different. Potato chips and chocolate bars are convenient but they have no place in a healthy snack, except perhaps as an occasional treat. Stock your fridge with ingredients for quick and healthy snacks. Once a week, prepare healthy snack recipes and store them in attractive containers in the fridge or have them conveniently close to your keyboard. Whenever you feel like munching on something, there will always be a nutritious and delicious snack that you can get your hands on.
Healthy Snack Ingredients

Healthy snack recipes are easier to make if you stock up on healthy ingredients. Make sure you always have fresh fruits around the house. In addition to fruits, here are some favorite snacks to have on hand: nuts and seeds, carrots, celery, tomatoes, yogurt, whole wheat crackers, granola, muesli, hummus, dried fruit, and beef jerky.

Strike a Balance

A healthy snack is as important as a full meal. Try to include some protein, carbohydrates, fresh fruits and vegetables in your snack. A healthy snack is also a great opportunity to encourage your kids to eat nutritious foods. Set a good example. Munch on sliced apples with peanut butter, carrot and celery sticks, or a banana and it won’t be long before your kids will be eating healthier snacks too.

Healthy Snack Recipes: Quick and Simple

Kids (and grownups) love dips. A bag of carrot and celery sticks, cherry tomatoes and cucumbers will disappear like magic if you have a bowl of delicious dip to go with them. Try the low-fat Cottage Cheese Dip recipe below for a healthy snack:
? 2 cups low-fat cottage cheese

? 1 tablespoon dried dill

? 1 teaspoon garlic salt

? 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper

? 1/3 cup low-fat ranch salad dressing

Blend together all ingredients until smooth. Serve with celery and carrot sticks or whole wheat crackers.

Want a healthy snack recipe that’s really easy? Make a simple trail mix by combining equal amounts of raisins, nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans, cashews, peanuts, etc.), dried fruits, and toasted sunflower seeds. Store the trail mix in a large plastic container. For variety, you can toss in some chocolate chips or dried banana chips.

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Healthy Easy Recipes

Although many of us want to eat nutritious foods, sometimes it feels like healthy cooking takes up too much time. It’s a good thing that healthy easy recipes are now readily available. If you take the time to search, you will find many healthy recipes for Breakfast, Snacks, Dinner, Salads, Soups, Fish, Chicken, Vegetables, Salad Dressings and Desserts. These healthy recipes are simple and easy to make.

Keep it Simple

Meals do not have to be complicated to be delicious. Creative use of herbs and spices can elevate your cooking to whole new level. Did you know that many great recipes require only one pot? Remember, it’s not the number of pots and pans you use that make a delicious meal. It’s what you put in the pot that makes all the difference.

Healthy Ingredients for Healthy Recipes

Healthy recipes always start with healthy ingredients. The food you prepare should contain all the essential nutrients the body needs for good health. Avoid highly processed foods and foods that are high in saturated fats, sugar and salt. Healthy easy recipes should include plenty of vegetables and fruits. When preparing nutritious homemade recipes, always choose healthy food items over unhealthy choices. Learn how to use different herbs and spices to make your home-cooked meals more exciting.

Variety is the Spice of Life

While it’s true that variety is the spice of life there’s a more compelling reason to eat a variety of foods. Eating different kinds of food is the best way to ensure that you get all the nutrients that your body needs to stay healthy. Find easy recipes that use different vegetables, fruits and meats. Start with simple recipes for appetizers, soups, salads, main dishes and desserts. Use ingredients that are readily available in supermarkets and farmers’ markets where you can get the freshest produce.

Healthy Recipes that are Easy to Make

Beans are rich in protein and fiber. This easy White Bean Dip recipe makes a healthy snack or appetizer. To make the dip, mash 2 cups of cooked cannelloni beans. Add 1 tablespoon flat-leaf parsley (chopped), 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan, juice and zest of half a lemon, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix all the ingredients to get a chunky consistency. This dip is delicious with crackers or toasted baguette slices.

Some healthy easy recipes for kids include homemade pizza with vegetables, cheese and ham or chicken pieces, whole-wheat pasta with roasted vegetables, pan-fried salmon with sweet potato chips, and roasted chicken with freshly made tomato sauce.

You can make these simple dishes quickly, and you may even be able to ask your child to lend a hand in the food preparation. Not only will your child learn to cook, but they will also appreciate good cooking and the importance of making meals using fresh, nutritious ingredients.

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Healthy Cookie Recipes

Cookies are delicious any time of the day but no one believes there could be healthy cookie recipes, many people think they are unhealthy and should be banished from a healthy diet. Fortunately for everyone with a sweet tooth, there are healthy cookie recipes that you can eat without feeling guilty. These healthy cookie recipes have less fat, less sugar, and include healthy ingredients such as whole grain flour, oatmeal, applesauce, raisins, and nuts.

Store-bought cookies are often loaded with sugar and saturated fats, but healthy cookie recipes made from scratch will satisfy your sweet tooth without adding inches to your waistline. If you make your own cookies using healthy ingredients you can enjoy them on a regular basis.

Healthy Cookie Recipes Ingredients

By adding the right ingredients to your healthy cookie recipes, they can help provide essential nutrients to your diet. Whole-grain flour, wheat germ, rolled oats, nuts and dried fruits are just a few of the healthy ingredients that you can add to your cookie recipes. If you have a favorite cookie recipe, you can also make some healthy substitutions.

Oil and Shortening Substitutes

Healthy Cookie Recipes

Oil and shortening make your baked goods soft and chewy. While not all fats are bad, some are healthier than others. Canola, sunflower, and grapeseed oils are healthy options that you can try. Applesauce is also a good substitute for oil, and can really cut down on fats and calories.
Sugar Substitutes

To make your cookie recipes healthier you can start by reducing the amount of sugar called for in the recipe. Eliminate one-fourth of the sugar and give your recipe a taste test. You may be able to eliminate one-third of the sugar and still have a tasty cookie.

You can also substitute another sweetener for the sugar. Use honey or maple syrup instead of sugar, but add only half the amount. If the recipe calls for 1 cup sugar, use 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup instead.

Healthy Carrot Oatmeal Cookie Recipe

The following cookie recipe is found at 101 Cookbooks and contains healthy oatmeal, carrots and nuts.

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
1 cup rolled oats
2/3 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup shredded carrots
1/2 cup real maple syrup, room temperature
1/2 cup unrefined (fragrant) coconut oil, warmed until just melted
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, salt and oats. Add the carrots and nuts. In another bowl, combine the maple syrup, coconut oil and ginger. Add the liquid ingredients to the flour mixture and stir until just combined.

Drop by level spoonfuls on prepared baking sheets, 2 inches apart. Bake in pre-heated oven at 375 F for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.

Healthy Cookie Recipes tips are easy to do and a great indulgence that will keep you slim.

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