Summer fun means barbeques, movies, and beach trips. These occasions are often riddled with foods that won’t help you stay slim and trim. How do you fight the temptation of the frequently unhealthy spreads placed before you? It’s a simple solution: Prepare your own healthier snacks for consumption. In this article, we’ll present 10 healthy snacks for the summer that you can enjoy at the home or on any adventure you elect to undertake.
1. Veggie and Hummus Snack Cups
Instead of bringing a tray of veggies, why not create individual snack cups? Take a plastic cup with a lid and add 2 tbsp of hummus at the bottom. Next cut up celery, bell peppers, and carrots into sticks. Fill the cup with these sticks with one side dipped into the hummus. All you have to do when you get to the beach is pop off the top of the cup and grab a pre dipped veggie stick for a convenient snack.
2. Frozen Fruit Skewers
The beach is hot, so why not bring a cool treat? The night before you are going to the beach, prepare some skewers with chunks of your favorite fruits. Strawberries, apples, kiwis, and melons work nice. Lay them out on a platter and sprinkle with lemon juice. Place in the freezer overnight. Before you leave for the beach, put the skewers in a big Ziploc and enjoy!
3. Cucumber Subs
Take a couple of cucumbers and cut them in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to dig out the seeds. Smear some Laughing Cow cheese in the middle and add a sprinkling of dried dill. Place the halves on top of each other to keep the cheese from making a mess and wrap them in plastic wrap to be opened and enjoyed at the beach. You can switch out the filling with ham and cheese or mashed avocado and cilantro.
4. Caprese Sticks
Before you leave for the beach take some fresh mozzarella balls, grape tomatoes, and fresh basil leaves and stack them on toothpicks. Place them in a plastic container and drizzle them with balsamic vinaigrette. You can then just grab a toothpick when you get hungry at the beach and not have to mess with silverware or plates.
5. Chocolate Chip Raspberries
If you are craving something sweet these little morsels will do the trick. Take a raspberry and place one dark chocolate chip into the top hole of the raspberry. Keep them cold in the fridge until you are ready to leave. In order to avoid melted chocolate making a mess, be sure to stick them in your cooler before you go.
Hydration is very important when you are out in the sun all day. Bring along some fruit or herb infused water for a delicious and fresh drink.
Yogurt and Fresh Berries
Looking for a fresh and hydrating snack for breakfast? Yogurt bowls are easily customizable to accommodate your particular taste preferences. One can tailor them to include traditional items like granola, or opt for more niche items such as cacao nibs or hemp seeds. If you’re eager for a boost of protein, try Greek yogurt or a similar plant-based product, such as coconut or almond-milk yogurt. Be sure to add an assortment of whichever fruits you’re most inclined to as well, in order to buttress your yogurt bowl with further antioxidants.
Homemade Microwave Popcorn
Anticipating viewing a recently released summer film from the comfort of your living room? Not too eager to battle the crowds, or acquiesce to the overpriced candy and popcorn at the local theater? Throw on some accommodating living room and throw a prosaic brown bag of kernels into the microwave for a surprisingly healthy snack. Popcorn, assuming it isn’t brandished with too much butter and salt, yields a relatively low caloric intake and is rich in fiber. Moreover, its expediently priced and pairs well with a summer film during the evening.
Avocado and Salsa Cracker
Another snack that is easy to prepare, try pairing salsa crackers with fresh avocado one summer afternoon. Simply purchase a box of multigrain salsa crackers and combine with a store-bought or homemade salsa and avocado. One small bite is enriched with an assortment of nutrients, including fiber, essential vitamins, protein, and healthy fats.
Carrot Smoothie
A carrot smoothie, upon first consideration, doesn’t sound altogether appetizing. With the correct collection of ingredients, however, it can actually mimic the flavor a delicious carrot cake. Gather together an assortment of ingredients, including chopped carrots, banana, pineapple, Greek yogurt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cashew milk. Blend it together and you’ll discover a healthy beverage consisting of antioxidants, potassium, and a generous amount of Vitamin A and Vitamin D.
Mango Fruit Leather
Do your children have an insatiable sweet tooth, but you’re not overzealous at the thought of stuffing them with artificial sweets? Opt for something healthier, like mango fruit leather. Mango fruit leather can either be purchased at the store, or one can easily concoct it at home. Puree mangoes, water, and lemon juice in a blender until smooth. Pour the gelatin into a medium saucepan and bring the formula to simmer over medium heat. Pour the puree onto a baking sheet and with a rubber spatula, evenly spread your concoction into a thin rectangle, no thicker than an eighth of an inch. Bake until dry to the touch, which usually amounts to 4-6 hours.
For additional information on healthy food recipes, reference the following articles:
