If you are a big snack eater, the snacks that you eat will play an important role in your diet and overall health. Snacking on high-calorie foods does not have nearly as many benefits as healthier snack options would. Healthy snacks can increase nutrient intake, provide your body with high energy levels, and help muscles recover from exercise. Because unhealthy snacks can be less time-consuming than preparing a healthy snack to eat preparing healthier snacks ahead of time and having them readily available can greatly improve your snacking habits! Here are a couple healthy snacks to prepare ahead of time for when you get hungry:
Cherry Berry Cheesecake Popsicles:
Cheesecake Base Mixture
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt or regular yogurt
- 8 oz. cream Cheese
- 2 tbsp honey or granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/8 tsp vanilla extract
Cherry Berry Mixture
- 1 cup fresh pitted Starr Ranch Cherries
- 1 cup diced strawberries
- 2 tbsp honey or granulated sugar
- Cheesecake Crust:
- 4 graham crackers
- 1 tbsp butter or coconut oil
Instructions
- Pit 1 cup cherries, and dice 1 cup strawberries. When finished, add cherries and berries to the saucepan along with 2 tbsp honey or sugar. Cook until a simmer begins and juices start to burst while stirring occasionally. Once the mixture begins to bubble, remove from heat and let it cool for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, add to a Tupperware safe container and place the mixture in the freezer for 20 minutes to cool down completely as you complete the next steps for the Cheesecake Base and Crust.
- Add the Cheesecake Base Mixture ingredients into a bowl and mix together with a hand mixer on medium-high speed. The mixture should look soft and fluffy. Set aside.
- Pulse 4 Graham Crackers in a blender or food processor until tiny, crumb-like pieces form. Set aside and pour in 1 tbsp of butter or coconut oil for a dairy-free option.
- Begin filling your popsicle molds with 1 tbsp of Cheesecake Mixture and Cherry Berry Mixture one after another, and swirl around inside the mold to create a desired ‘swirl’ or ‘marble’ effect.
- Leave a ½ inch at the top of the mold to pack in the Cheesecake Crust, leaving enough comfortable room to close the popsicle mold and store.
- Place in the freezer for 8 hours or overnight.
- Run warm water for 5 seconds on each side of the molds to loosen the mold and easily remove the popsicle.
- Enjoy!
Overnight Oats:
Another pre-made snack that can be stored in the fridge is overnight oats. They make a great breakfast or mid-day snack for kids. Kids can make it all by themselves and not have to cook. This simple, easy recipe only requires two ingredients!
The Base: ½ C. oats + ½ C. low fat milk
The extras: There are so many ingredients you can add for great nutrition and even better flavor. Here are some of my favorite combinations:
- Flaxseed, chia seeds, fresh blueberries, sliced bananas, splash of vanilla extract
- Flaxseed, chia seeds, peanut butter and a few chocolate chips
- Flaxseed, chia seeds, apple chunks and a dash of cinnamon
Written By: Bella Regna
Source: https://fruitsandveggies.org/stories/insiders-viewpoint-heart-healthy-snacks-kids/
https://fruitsandveggies.org/recipes/cherry-berry-cheesecake-popsicles/
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