Snack

Buffalo Cauliflower Bites with Blue Cheese Sauce

These vegetarian cauliflower bites smothered in a healthier Buffalo sauce will have even the most ardent meat lovers craving more.

Buffalo-Cauliflower-Bites-with-Blue-Cheese-Sauce.iStock.HEADER.jpg


Ingredients:

  • ½ cup low-fat (1%) plain yogurt

  • 2 Tbsp. crumbled blue cheese

  • Nonstick cooking spray

  • 6 cups cauliflower florets

  • ½ tsp sea salt (or Himalayan salt), divided use

  • ½ cup hot pepper sauce

  • ⅓ cup rice vinegar

  • 1 Tbsp. cornstarch, gluten-free (preferably GMO free)

  • 2 tsp. ground chili powder

  • ¼ tsp. ground smoked paprika

  • ½ tsp. garlic powder

  • ½ tsp. onion powder

  • 1 tsp. pure maple syrup

  • 1 tsp. olive oil

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350° F.

  2. Combine yogurt and cheese in a small bowl; mix well. Refrigerate until needed.

  3. Lightly coat large baking sheet with spray.

  4. Place cauliflower florets on baking sheet. Coat cauliflower lightly with spray. Season evenly with ¼ tsp. salt.

  5. Bake for 20 minutes, or until tender-crisp.

  6. While cauliflower is baking, combine hot sauce, rice vinegar, and cornstarch in medium saucepan; whisk until cornstarch is dissolved.

  7. Add chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, maple syrup, oil, and remaining ¼ tsp. salt; whisk to blend.

  8. Heat hot sauce mixture over medium-high heat; cook, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes, or until thickened. Set aside.

  9. Pour hot sauce mixture over baked cauliflower (on baking sheet); mix well.

  10. Return cauliflower to oven. Bake for 5 minutes.

  11. Serve hot with sauce.

Energy Balls

This sinfully delicious recipe for energy balls is perfect for breakfast or an on the go snack! Try them out and let me know your thoughts.

IMG_1588.jpeg

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup old-fashioned oats

  • 1/2 cup peanut butter

  • 1/2 cup ground flax seed

  • 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

  • 1/3 cup honey

  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional)

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract


Directions:

  1. Mix all ingredients in one big bowl

  2. Roll in 1 inch balls

  3. Place and keep in fridge to harden and keep cool.


Tip: double or TRIPLE up this recipe if you have little fingers in the house.

Watermelon and Feta Salad With Mint

This refreshing watermelon and feta salad is a great addition to any meal this summer — and it’s only 172 calories per serving!

Watermelon-Mint-Feta-Salad_yvs8ab.jpg

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

  • 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

  • 1/4 tsp. sea salt

  • 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

  • 1 dash hot pepper sauce, like Tabasco (optional; to taste)

  • 3 1/2 cups cubed watermelon

  • 2/3 cup crumbled feta cheese (about 2 1/2oz.)

  • 3 Tbsp. sweet onion (like Maui or Vidalia), chopped

  • 1/3 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped

Instructions

  1. Combine oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and hot sauce (if desired) in a medium bowl; whisk to blend. Set aside.

  2. Combine watermelon, cheese, onion, and mint in a large serving bowl.

  3. Drizzle with dressing; toss gently to blend.

Homemade Guacamole

This guacamole recipe is simple and bursting with bright flavors like tomatoes, onions, fresh lime juice, and cilantro.

Guacamole.UPF_.HEADER.jpg

Ingredients

  • 2 cups mashed ripe avocado (approx. 2 large)

  • ¾ cup seeded, chopped Roma tomatoes (approx. 2 medium)

  • ½ cup chopped onion, (approx. ¾ medium)

  • ¼ cup fresh lime juice (approx. 2 limes)

  • ¼ cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped

  • 2 Tbsp. seeded, chopped jalapeno pepper (approx. 1 medium) (optional)

  • 1 Tbsp. lime peel (lime zest) finely grated, (approx. 2 limes)

  • 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

  • ½ tsp. sea salt (or Himalayan salt)

  • ¼ tsp. ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Combine avocado, tomatoes, onion, lime juice, cilantro, jalapeno (if desired), lime peel, oil, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl; mix well.

  2. Serve immediately, or refrigerate, covered tightly, for a few hours to let the flavors meld.

Recipe Notes

  • The myth that leaving an avocado stone in the guacamole will keep it from turning brown began because people noticed that the guacamole directly under a stone stayed green, but this is because that was the part not exposed to the air. So, if you want to keep your guac bright green while storing, press a piece of plastic wrap directly over the top, squeezing out all the air bubbles so that the plastic is in direct contact with the guacamole, and voilà, no more browning!

  • Mashing avocados can be done with a potato masher, the back of a fork (for a chunkier guacamole), or in a food processor (for a smoother guacamole).

Chocolate Matcha Energy Balls

Chocolate-Matcha-Balls.HEADER-715x358.jpg

Matcha, a powdered potent version of green tea, adds an extra boost of nutrition to these energy balls.

  • ½ cup pitted Medjool dates

  • ½ cup whole raw almonds

  • ¼ cup Chocolate Vegan Shakeology

  • 2 Tbsp. unsweetened matcha powder, divided use

  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

  • 1 tsp. pure maple syrup

Instructions

  1. Place dates, almonds, Shakeology, and 1 Tbsp. matcha in food processor. Pulse until well mixed.

  2. Add extract and maple syrup. Pulse until well mixed.

  3. Roll into 14 balls about the size of a Tbsp.

  4. Roll balls in remaining 1 Tbsp. matcha.

  5. Enjoy or store in refrigerator until ready to eat.

Skinny Buffalo Chicken Dip

To make this healthier Buffalo Chicken Dip, we've combined cayenne pepper hot sauce with two creamy cheeses, and yummy blue cheese crumbles.

Ingredients

  • 2 oz . Neufchatel cheese , softened

  • 1½ cups reduced fat (2%) plain Greek yogurt

  • ¾ cup shredded part-skim Mozzarella cheese

  • ⅓ cup cayenne pepper hot sauce

  • ¼ cup crumbled blue cheese

  • 1½ cups shredded cooked chicken

  • Nonstick cooking spray

  • 4 cups raw vegetables (like celery sticks, carrots sticks, jicama sticks, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber slices)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350º F.

  2. Combine Neufchatel cheese, yogurt, mozzarella cheese, hot sauce, blue cheese, and chicken in a medium bowl; mix well.

  3. Place in a 1½-quart baking dish that is lightly coated with spray. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until cheese is melted and edges begin to slightly brown.

  4. Serve immediately with raw vegetables for dipping.

Egg White Pizza

Ingredients:

  • 4 egg white

  • 1/3 cup pizza sauce

  • 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese

  • Turkey Pepperoni

Directions:

  1. In a nonstick skillet over medium heat, add the egg white and allow to begin cooking.

  2. Place the lid on top to allow the top to cook.

  3. Gently flip the egg white and place sauce, cheese and pepperoni on top.

  4. Place lid back on top with burner off to melt the cheese.

  5. ENJOY

Have fun with recipe! So many options you could play around with. You could do a taco pizza, all meat pizza, hawaiian pizza...you get my point. Never be afraid to get creative in the kitchen.

Baked Apple Chips

Baked-Apple-Chips-715x358.jpg

Ingredients

  • parchment paper

  • 4 small red apples

  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 275° F.

  2. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

  3. Place apples in a medium bowl. Sprinkle evenly with cinnamon; toss to blend.

  4. Place apples on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes, turn, bake for an additional 45 minutes, turn, bake for 30 to 45 minutes, or until apples have dried and are starting to get crisp.

Green Pepper Pizza 

26907468_940626491059_6964345205620484318_n.jpg

Ingredients: 

  • 1 Green Pepper
  • 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese 
  • 1/2 cup tomato sauce (low sodium/ sugar-free) 
  • Fresh Basil & Oregano

Directions: 

  1. Preheat your oven to 400 F.
  2. Slice bell pepper into 2 equal slices, carefully removing the seeds.
  3. Top each pepper with tomato sauce 
  4. Divide 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese between peppers  
  5. Season the slices to taste with basil and oregano 
  6. Cook for 10-15 minutes  

For my fixers: 1 Green 1 Blue

55 Snacks Under 150 Calories

Eating healthy doesn’t need to be complicated or boring! Here are 55 easy-to-prepare snacks, each under 150 calories, that will keep your taste buds happy.

1. Mini tostada
Spread ¼ cup of nonfat refried beans on a corn tortilla that’s been toasted in the oven. Top with shredded lettuce, ½ diced medium tomato, and a tablespoon of your favorite shredded cheese.

2. Frozen grapes
Freeze 1 cup of grapes and enjoy them as if they’re sorbet.

3. Greek yogurt with honey
Mix one teaspoon of honey into half a cup of plain, nonfat Greek yogurt. Sprinkle with cinnamon if desired.

4. Cinnamon apple
Sprinkle an apple with cinnamon for a treat that tastes more decadent than it is.

5. Strawberries and chocolate
Dip 4 or 5 (depending on their size) strawberries into 2 squares of melted dark chocolate.

6. Almost apple pie
Try 1 cup of unsweetened applesauce with a hint of cinnamon.

7. Jicama
Chop one and a half cups of jicama and add a splash of lemon juice and a pinch of salt for a tangy, refreshing treat.

8. Café Au Lait
Enjoy 8 ounces of skim milk with a shot of espresso.

9. Carrots with hummus
Crunch on 9 or 10 baby carrots with a side of 2 tablespoons of hummus.

10. Nuts
A handful of 20 pistachios, 12 almonds, or 14 peanuts makes for a nice “good” fat and protein snack.

11. Eggs with guacamole
Hard boil an egg and replace the yolk with 2 tablespoons of guacamole for a protein-packed snack.

12. Edamame
Boil or steam one-half cup of unshelled edamame with a pinch of salt for a fiber-rich snack.

13. Bitter chocolate
Enjoy 1 large block or 3 small squares of dark chocolate.

14. Mediterranean tomato
Dice one medium tomato and top with 2 tablespoons feta cheese and a pinch of salt.

15. Kale Chips
Make your own kale chips for a fraction of the price with this recipe.

16. Bell peppers with balsamic vinegar
Drizzle 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar on top of 2 cups of sliced bell peppers.

17. Eggs with spinach
Scramble 3 egg whites with one-half cup of raw spinach and 1 Tbsp. of feta cheese.

18. Corn with garlic
Coat one-half of an ear of corn with a 1 tsp. of olive oil and 1 minced garlic clove. Grill until tender.

19. Santa Fe black beans
Combine one-quarter cup black beans, ¼ teaspoon of salt, and 1 Tbsp. of nonfat Greek yogurt for a hearty snack.

20. Chocolate banana
Drizzle one-half of a large banana with one square of melted dark chocolate.

21. Caprese
Top one ounce of mozzarella cheese with half a cup of cherry tomatoes and 2 teaspoons of balsamic vinegar.

22. Tuna salad
Mix together 2 ounces of water-packed tuna with 1 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil and 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard.

23. Sweet potato
Enjoy one small baked sweet potato plain, a pinch of salt, a sprinkle of cinnamon and nutmeg.

24. Popcorn
Munch on 2 cups of air popped popcorn.

25. Olives
For a salty snack, enjoy 9 kalamata olives.

26. Greek watermelon
Top 1 cup of watermelon with 2 tablespoons of crumbled feta and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar, if desired.

27. Peanut butter
Even on its own, a tablespoon (3 teaspoons) of peanut butter makes for a treat full of good fats, and you can make your own homemade peanut butter or other nut in less than five minutes.

28. Cottage cheese and melon
Combine ¾ cup of melon with ½ cup of lowfat cottage cheese for a sweet dessert.

29. Strawberry and spinach salad
For a savory and sweet salad, mix together 1 cup of baby spinach with ½ cup of sliced strawberries. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar. Add a few slices of red onion if you like.

30. Shakeology
Mix one scoop of your favorite flavor of Shakeology with water and add. Add cinnamon, nutmeg, ground ginger, mint leaves, or orange or lemon zest.

31. Spiced cottage cheese
Mix ¾ cup nonfat cottage cheese with a pinch of chili powder and a pinch of curry powder. Top with chopped scallions if desired.

32. Shrimp cocktail
Dip eight medium-sized cooked, peeled shrimp in 2 Tbsp. all-natural cocktail sauce.

33. Crisp bread and lox
Top a Wasa whole-grain cracker with 1 ounce of salmon lox, two slices of cucumber, and a pinch of crushed black pepper.

34. Ham-wrapped asparagus
Wrap three slices of lean, nitrate free deli ham around three cooked asparagus spears.

35. Mediterranean rice cake
Spread 1 Tbsp. of hummus on a whole grain rice cake. Top with two cucumber slices.

36. Carrot salad
Mix two grated carrots with one Tbsp. of raisins, one tsp. of raw sunflower seeds, and 2 tsp. balsamic vinegar.

37. Black bean salad
For a snack with protein and fiber, mix ¼ cup drained black beans, one chopped tomato, half a green bell pepper chopped, and a pinch of chili powder.

38. Roasted red pepper Wasa cracker
Spread 2 Tbsp. hummus on a whole-grain Wasa cracker. Top with one jarred roasted red pepper, sliced.

39. Avocado cracker
Mash ¼ avocado with a squeeze of lime. Spread on a Wasa cracker and top with a pinch of espelette pepper or smoked paprika.

40. Pistachios and cranberries
Combine 16 shelled pistachios with ¼ cup unsweetened dried cranberries.

41. Veggies and ranch dip
Enjoy ranch dressing without the guilt! Dip 10 baby carrots and 8 cherry tomatoes into 2 Tbsp. of our homemade healthier ranch dip.

42. Frozen nutty banana
Roll half a peeled banana in one Tbsp. chopped peanuts, pressing so that nuts stick to the banana. Freeze. Enjoy!

43. Baked Apple Chips
Bake your own apple chips and you can enjoy them with much less sugar. Here’s the recipe.

44. Cheese and cracker
Top one Wasa cracker with slices of 1 piece of string cheese

45. Italian cucumbers
Cut up 2 cucumbers and enjoy them with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar

46. Seaweed snacks
1 package of roasted seaweed snacks from Trader Joe’s or your local supermarket.

47. Crunch + spice
Cut up 4 celery stalks and enjoy them with ¼ cup salsa.

48. After school snack
Cut up 4 celery stalks and dip them in 1 tbsp. almond butter.

49. Cheesy popcorn
Sprinkle 1 tbsp. nutritional yeast over 2 cups air popped popcorn.

50. Turkey tartine
Top one slice whole grain bread with 2 slices deli turkey and 1 tsp. mustard.

51. PB + J
Top one Wasa cracker with 2 tsp. nut butter and 3 sliced strawberries.

52. Monkey snack
Cut up one half of a banana and dip it in 2 tsp. nut butter and then 1 tbsp. granola.

53. Easy avocado
Mash up one half of an avocado and mix it with 1 tsp. balsamic vinegar.

54. Japanese avocado
Mash up one half of an avocado and combine with with ¼ tsp. soy sauce, ¼ tsp. sesame seeds, and a drizzle of rice wine vinegar.

55. Chips and salsa
Try these corn tortilla chips with 2 tbsp. fresh salsa.