It’s National Snack Month! I am sharing smarter snacking tips today on Today on CBS Las Vegas NOW to satisfy every craving
Crunchy
Instead of potato chips, try ready-to-eat Dandy Radishes and celery sticks paired with salsa and plant-based dips. The plant-based dips by Fresh Cravings are vegan, gluten-free made with nuts, seeds and flavorful spices. Because they are preservative-free, you can find them chilled in the produce section at Smith’s and Walmart.
My favorite crunchy snack to make in the afternoon is chickpea salad stuffed celery sticks. Start with Dandy Celery – Dandy has been researching and growing celery for almost 100 years to make it naturally sweeter and crispier with fewer strings. For our salad, we are adding mashed chickpeas, red onion, salt and pepper and instead of mayonnaise, I use the Fresh Cravings Creamy Garlic Almond Dip. These dips can easily be incorporated into recipes that call for dairy or cream-based ingredients.
Our final crunchy snack is organic baked chickpea puffs by HIPPEAS – you can find them at Target. They’re gluten-free, vegan and provide 4 grams of plant protein and 3 grams of fiber per serving and come in Vegan White Cheddar, Nacho Vibes & Bohemian Barbecue.
Sweet
For our sweet snack we have blueberries which are available fresh and frozen year-round. They are a good source of vitamin C, which supports immune health and dietary fiber, which helps us feel full and supports heart health. Just one handful of blueberries per day may improve heart health in individuals with metabolic syndrome according to new research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Build snacks with staying power
My final smart snacking tip is to build satisfying snacks by pairing protein with fiber. The Sargento cheese snacks have up to 7 grams of satisfying protein and are a great source of calcium – simply pair with fruits or veggies on the go. For an even more convenient option – the Balanced Breaks check both your protein and fiber boxes, are balanced for you and are nutritious and delicious.
