Life at Cloverhill

Health Recipe

Snack Time!

I love snack time. Maybe it goes back to being a kid in kindergarden and getting a cookie, or being on a sports team and sharing a big container of orange slices with friends, but I still love a good healthy snack. I look forward to my morning and afternoon snacks to keep me fueled when I’m busy at the office, off for a swim or on the go at home. I make a point of keeping apples, oranges and bananas in a bowl in the kitchen to grab as needed, Low Fat Yogurt and Kashi Go Lean Crunch on hand (see above) and granola bars and a box of Whole Wheat Stone Wheat Thins in my desk for when the hunger pains strikes unexpectedly. However, sometimes I like to put a little fore thought into my snack time, so I thought I would share with you a few of my favorite healthy, easy and fast snack recipes that I have found on other blogs.
Kale Chips are just what they sound like. Thin crunchy bite size pieces of baked kale that give you that satisfying crunch from a chip, but without all the extra calories, sodium and fat. Here is the simple recipe that I found on Trading Up Downtown.
What you’ll need:
  • 1 bunch of Kale
  • 1 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1 tsp Seasoning Salt

 

With kitchen shears or a knife carefully remove the leaves from the thick stems and tear into bite size pieces. Wash the kale and pat dry with paper towel of get all the moisture off. If you have a salad spinner, that will work too. The drier they are, the crispier the chips will be.
Lay pieces in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and seasoning salt and toss to coat. Bake in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes or until the edges are just brown (but not burnt).

Another easy to make chip substitute is Weelicious’ Apple and Pear Chips. Its as simple as cutting very thin slices of freshly washed apples and pears with a sharp knife or mandoline, arranging on a parchment lined baking sheet and popping them in the oven for one hour at 250°F, turning them over halfway through. It isn’t easy to wait, but let them cool and then serve. You can place several cookie sheets in at the same time if you want to make a large amount. I sometimes make a bunch for a couple of days worth of snacks.

If you’re looking for something a little chewier, give this “3 Minute Oatmeal Cookie” from Carrots ‘n’ Cake a try. It is not only a delicious snack, but you could also make this a quick breakfast with a fresh fruit salad on the side.

All you need to do is mix the following ingredients in a microwave safe bowl:

  • 1/4 cup oats
  • 1/8 cup liquid egg whites
  • 2 tsp brown sugar
  • 2 tsp all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tbsp raisins
  • Cinnamon to taste

 

I like to pack up the dry ingredients (+ vanilla) in a small container to take to the office.

Then it is just a matter of mixing them with 2 tbsp of liquid egg whites in a microwavable bowl to make your “batter”. Scrape down the sides and flatten into a cookie shape.

 

Pop it in the microwave for 45 seconds.

Ta-Da! A healthy, delish oatmeal cookie. Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t have any of the same textures as a real oatmeal cookie, but you get that great oatmeal taste, chewy raisins and that fresh baked smell of cinnamon.

 

If my sweet tooth is acting up, I like to make this Banana “Soft Serve” recipe from Julie at Peanut Butter Fingers. Just peel a banana and put it in the freezer (I like to keep a bag of ripe, peeled bananas in the freezer for this recipe, quick smoothies and to add to my breakfast oatmeal). Then when you’re ready for soft serve, pull the banana out of the freezer, break it into chunks and put them into a food processor. Then its just a matter of letting it blend for a few minutes until it becomes creamy. I like to add in a little cocoa powder for a chocolate soft serve, and usually a little splash of milk or dollop of yogurt to get my food processor going.

 

What are some of your favorite snacks?


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