Last week I started a series on how to transition your family over to a whole foods diet. It’s really important to take these steps slowly because trying to change everything at once can set you and your family up for failure. None of us really like change that much so by slowly making these changes and making the foods as palatable as possible everyone should have an easier time transitioning to a healthier way of life. If you missed last week check out my post about the first place to start making changes. Hopefully for those that read last weeks post you’ve already put this plan into action and are ready for the next step!
The reason I chose snacks as the next place to go is because generally this tends to be an “impulse” type of food. So making healthier options that you can grab on your way out the door or by placing some of these ideas in some snack bags when your child starts asking for goldfish, you can be armed with some other tasty options! Some of these can also double as small meals so when in a pinch you can eat one of these rather than stopping at McDonalds (gasp!) when you don’t have time to cook something.
Chips and Dip
There are a lot of people who like to eat chips and dip but most are really unhealthy for you! We tried to “clean them up” a bit so we could still enjoy them. Salsa and humus make a fantastic dip and can satisfy that need to dip your chip in something. If you are adventurous you could even make your own lacto fermented salsa so you are getting some probiotic in the mix! It’s really not as hard as it sounds and can be fun! The other side of that snack equation can be just as unhealthy as the dip. Most times the oil that is used can be very bad for your body and the corn is most likely GMO if it is not organic. Stick with a chip that is GMO project verified to ensure you’re not ingesting the damaging GMO’s and stick with oils such as Avocado, Olive oil, Coconut oil, or even Safflower or Sunflower oils. Definitely stay away from Canola and Cottonseed oils. Cotton is not a food and we shouldn’t be ingesting the oil! One of the chips that we like is the Beanito chips because they are GMO free verified and made with black beans. This helps you add another element of protein to your snack and tastes surprisingly like corn chips!
Nuts and Nut butter
There are so many different options here. Gone are the days of there merely being peanut butter as an option for a pb&J. Now we have almond butter, cashew butter, hazelnut butter and even sun butter for those that can’t do nuts. Peanut butter tends to be higher in mold so it may cause some problems in some. Here are a couple of quick and easy things to do with nut butter.
Ants on a log
Slice one apple in thin slices
Spread almond butter on top and drop raisins into the almond butter.
You can also do this with celery sticks.
Easy Banana roll ups
You will need one sprouted flour tortilla.
Spread tortilla with almond butter
Thinly slice one banana and layer over the almond butter.
Drizzle with raw honey and sprinkle with cinnamon. Roll up and enjoy with milk!
Fruits and Veggies
Fruit has really become my dessert now and I can honestly say I mostly prefer it over other desserts. I think the trick here is to use variety so you’re not bored with eating the same old thing everyday. I truly believe that God gave us different things in season so that we could gain different nutrients depending on what time of the year. Unlike today people could only eat what was in season instead of eating the same thing all year. That way we are less likely to develop food sensitivities. One of the things I like to do is to include a bit of protein with my fruit to keep my blood sugar from spiking so badly. You can do that with the nuts or even a couple of pieces of raw cheese cubed or a piece of nitrate free meat rolled up. Berries are one of the best all around fruits to enjoy. They are bite sized and are easy to put in snack bags. They are also lower on the glycemic scale then other fruits. You can also enjoy fruit with some milk poured over it (almond or organic dairy milk) for a high nutrient snack!
Banana popsicles
Take 2 bananas and cut them crosswise.
place them on 4 popsicle sticks.
Next spread each banana with nut butter and roll in coconut flakes.
Place popsicles on a cookie sheet and freeze.
Enjoy!
Quick apple snack
Cut one apple or pear in several slices.
Next take a dollop of coconut cream and add a tsp of raw honey.
Sprinkle apple slices with cinnamon and dip in coconut cream.
Apple Cheese Star
Wash and core an apple.
Next take one block of organic cream cheese and add a small amount of milk just to make it creamy.
Fill apple with cheese and refrigerate.
Remove apple after about an hour in the refrigerator and slice crosswise.
Assemble on a platter in the shape of a star and place a sprig of mint in the center.
Fruit is very versatile and is considered natures candy. Frozen grapes or cherries can be a wonderful treat on a hot summer day!
Veggies
If you offer your family a variety of cut up vegetables with a healthy homemade ranch dressing they’re sure to gobble them up! Here’s a quick and easy recipe for ranch dressing.
Ranch dip
1 tsp. non GMO cornstarch
1/2 tsp. Himalayan salt
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp parsley
1/4 tsp. dill
1/4 tsp. thyme
Add these ingredients to 1 cup organic sour cream or Greek yogurt. For a quick snack store this mix in a jar and add to the sour cream when needed.
Easy cream cheese roll up
Take one sprouted tortilla and lay flat
Combine 1/2 avocado, cream cheese and a dash of lemon
Spread evenly on sprouted tortilla.
Add pieces of cucumber and spinach leaves.
Roll up and eat!
There are so many other healthy options. The trick is to keep these things on hand so that the temptation to grab a candy bar is overshadowed by a healthier alternative. You can boil some eggs and have them peeled in the fridge for a quick option. Pop some organic popcorn in coconut oil and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Make some easy yogurt and flavor it with fruit or have some healthy muffins on hand leftover from supper. The possibilities are endless! Let your creative ideas flow and know that you are building healthy bodies and minds just as God intended us to be! Next week: Step #3 Clean meats
If you missed last weeks post on where to begin check it out here: Step #1 to transition to a whole foods diet and coming next week: Step #3 clean meats
Follow along here!