For many people, steady weight gain over the years can be attributed to poor snacking habits. Most of their main meals contain nutritious foods, but in between these times a lot of mindless eating occurs. This mindless snacking is usually on foods which are highly processed and provide excess energy, fat, sugar and salt.
For most of my clients, sorting out snacking habits is one of the best ways they can improve their overall eating pattern, lose weight and improve their health.
If weight loss or improving your diet is on the agenda, then I suggest you look at improving your snacks by using vegetables. Vegetable snacks are higher in fibre, vitamins and minerals, and when paired with the right accompaniments, vegetable snacks can be filling and satisfying. If you can get consistent with vegetable snacks, you’ll be well on your way to a healthier body in no time at all.
If you’re the type of person who likes to nibble, pick or graze, how about swapping some of you usual snack foods for these vegetable snacks.
Here are 9 snack ideas that include vegetables:
1. Feta, Cucumber and Tomato Stacks
Feta, Cucumber and Tomato Stacks
Ingredients
- ½ tomato, common (medium), cut into 1cm slices
- ¼ cucumber, any sliced
- 30 g cheese, feta (firm), thinly sliced
- 2 rice cakes
Instructions
- Stack the feta, cucumber and tomato slices onto the rice cakes. Serve and enjoy!
2. Raw Broccoli and Yoghurt Mustard Dip
Raw Broccoli and Yoghurt Mustard Dip
Ingredients
- 1 broccoli (small head), cut into individual florets
- 100 g yoghurt, greek
- ½ lemon juiced
- 1 tsp mustard, wholegrain
- salt, table
- pepper
Instructions
- Combine the yoghurt, lemon juice and mustard in a small bowl.
- Mix to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve with the broccoli florets with the dip and munch to your hearts content.
3. Carrot Sticks with Hummus
Carrot Sticks with Hummus
Ingredients
- 1 carrot (large), cut into sticks
- 3 tbsp hummus Obela is certified GF
Instructions
- Dip carrot in hummus and eat. Yum!
4. Capsicum Cheeks with Herbed Ricotta
Capsicum Cheeks with Herbed Ricotta
Ingredients
- 1 capsicum, red seeds removed, cut into 4 cheeks
- 100 g cheese, ricotta, regular
- 3 tsp herbs, dried, mixed
- salt, table
- pepper
Instructions
- Combine the ricotta and dried herbs in a small bowl and mix well.
- Season with sat and pepper to taste.
- Fill each capsicum cheek with a dollop of ricotta. Serve and enjoy!
5. Sugar Snap Peas in a Cup
Snow Peas in a Cup
Ingredients
- 60 g snow peas
Instructions
- Place the snow peas into a small cup or glass and much on all afternoon. They are sweet and crunchy.
6. Beetroot, Orange and Pineapple blend
Beetroot, Orange and Pineapple Blend
Ingredients
- ½ beetroot, fresh peeled and roughly chopped
- 2 orange (ripe)
- 200 g pineapple, fresh skin removed, roughly chopped
- 1 tsp ginger, fresh roughly chopped
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup ice
Instructions
- Place all the above ingredients into a powerful blender and blend until smooth.
- Serve into 2-3 glasses and enjoy!
7. Kale Chips
Kale Chips
Ingredients
- 1 bunch kale roughly chopped into 2 inch pieces
- oil, olive, spray
- 2 tsp cumin, spice
- ½ tsp salt, table
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Place the kale onto a baking tray lined with baking paper.
- Lightly spray with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and cumin.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes or until kale is just crispy.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Serve and enjoy!
8. A Snack Cup of Corn Kernels
Corn Kernels Snack Cup
Ingredients
- 130 g corn, kernels, canned drained and rinsed
Instructions
- Place the corn kernels into a little snack cup and nibble. They are super sweet and yummy.
9. Celery with Peanut Butter
Celery with Peanut Butter
Ingredients
- 2-3 stalk celery washed and chopped into 3-inch-long pieces
- 2-3 tsp peanut butter, 100%
Instructions
- Fill each celery stick with a tsp of peanut butter. Eat and enjoy!
