Snacks can be an important way to fill in the hunger gaps between your main meals of the day. They can also help you get in more of your daily nutrients.
Now, before you start thinking, “Great, carrot sticks and a handful of almonds, right?” think again. Summertime treats can be creative and fun… as well as nutritious!
Sparkling Berry Popsicles
Ingredients
1 cup of blueberries
30 small fresh mint leaves
1 cup of raspberries
1½ cups of seltzer
2 tbsp of honey
2 tbsp of fresh lemon juice
1. Layer the berries and mint into six ice pop molds.
2. Mix the seltzer, honey, and lemon juice in a 2-cup measuring cup, stirring gently until the honey dissolves. Very slowly pour the mixture over the berries and mint, leaving a little space inside each mold for expansion. Insert handles or sticks into the molds.
3. Freeze for at least 4 hours.
Nutritional Info: (per 1 popsicle) 46 calories, 1 g protein, 12 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 0 g fat, 0 g sat fat, 0 mg sodium
Sweet & Spicy Avocado Spread
Ingredients
¼ avocado, mashed
¼ cup of chopped fresh or canned, drained, juice-packed crushed pineapple
½ tsp of hot-pepper sauce
A pinch of salt
2 multigrain crisp breads
Mix the avocado, pineapple, hot-pepper sauce, and salt, and spead over the crisp breads.
Nutritional Info: 161 cal, 3 g pro, 26 g carb, 6 g fat, 1 g sat fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 254 mg sodium, 7 g fiber
Strawberry-Vanilla Swirl
Ingredients
1 banana
1 cup of vanilla yogurt
½ cup of strawberries
¼ cup of vanilla soy milk
2 vanilla wafers, crumbled
Combine the banana, yogurt, strawberries, and milk in a food processor or blender and puree until thick and smooth. Spoon into a glass and sprinkle the wafer crumbs over the top.
Nutritional Info: 422 cal, 16 g pro, 78 g carb, 7 g total fat, 3 g sat fat, 5 g fiber, 227 mg sodium
