Summer is the season of activity. Whether it’s a cross-country vacation, hiking a local trail, or day trip to the beach, there is no slowing down while the sun is out. As a result, we tend to prioritize convenience over healthy eating choices, leading to gas station treats and overly-processed snacks that—while delicious in taste—are chock-full of preservatives, high-fructose corn syrup, and other no-no ingredients.
As an alternative, we’ve found four fail-proof, easy, and healthy recipes that will not only give you a good dose of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, but are also fun to make. These tasty bites also mirror some of our childhood favorites (Sour Patch Kids, Cheez-Its, and popsicles), which makes nostalgia that much more delicious.
We teamed up with Lynn Smith, host of HLN’s Weekend Express, to share the dishes and create them in studio. Check out the clip below, as well as a list of all of the recipes.
Sour Frozen Grapes
Henna Bakshi
In this case, sour grapes are a good thing!
Here’s what you need:
- Green grapes
- Sugar-free Jell-O powders
- Toothpicks
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Preparation:
1. Pour the Jell-O powders into separate mini bowls.
2. Poke the ends of grapes with a toothpick.
3. Dip the grape into water/lemon mixture.
4. Roll the grape in a mix.
5. Set on a parchment-lined tray.
6. You can either refrigerate or freeze. Remove the toothpicks prior to serving and set them in a bowl.
Parfait Popsicles
Henna Bakshi
Healthy Greek yogurt and fresh fruit freeze into a creamy, naturally sweet treat (accented with a little honey), and granola adds crunch for those who might miss the sugar cone.
Here’s what you need:
- 2 cups Greek yogurt
- Variety of fruit
- 2 tablespoons honey
- Granola
- Popsicle mold
Preparation:
1. Puree the fruit in a food processor to create a chunky mixture.
2. Take about two cups of Greek yogurt (sweetened with two tablespoons of honey) and fold the fruit mix into the yogurt gently (so it will create a pretty swirl effect). You can also just toss everything into a blender to make it easier.
3. Add pieces of granola for a crunch.
4. Fill the popsicle molds with Greek yogurt mixture.
5. Pop the tops on the molds and insert popsicle sticks.
6. Freeze the popsicles overnight. Enjoy!
Baked Cheesy Crackers
Henna Bakshi
Who doesn’t love cheese crackers? What you might not love: all the extra preservatives and unnecessary ingredients. Making your own is surprisingly easy—it takes just 5 simple ingredients—and they’re delicious.
Here’s what you need:
- 1.5 cups extra sharp cheddar
- 4 tablespoon butter
- 3/4 cup flour
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon nutritional yeast
Preparation:
1. Combine all ingredients in a food processor until it creates a dough.
2. Separate into two patties, wrap in plastic, and place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
3. Place one of the patties between parchment paper and roll the dough until thin (about 1/8 inch thick).
4. Use a knife to cut the dough into one-inch squares. You can use a bamboo stick or toothpick to punch holes in the centers for a Cheez-It effect.
5. Sprinkle the crackers with remaining 1/4 teaspoon of salt. You can also add other spices (like garlic powder, cayenne, onion powder, etc.) but nutritional yeast is best for a healthy and super cheesy kick!
6. Repeat with second patty and return dough to fridge to chill. Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
7. Transfer the cut crackers to a parchment-lined baking sheet (keeping about 1/2 inch distance between crackers).
8. Bake at 15 minutes until the crackers are golden. You can add an extra minute or two if you want the crackers crispier.
Anthony’s Premium Nutritional Yeast Flakes, 1 lb for $12.99 on Amazon
Nutritious and naturally cheesy in flavor!
Lynn’s Power Bites
Henna Bakshi
Energy balls are great for powering you through hikes, long car rides, or your average busy morning. These no-bake treats are easy to make and customize, and kids will love rolling the mixture into bite-size spheres.
Here’s what you need:
- 2 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1 cup peanut or almond butter (or seed butter)
- 2/3 cup honey (or liquid sweetener of choice)
- 1 cup ground flax seed
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips or raisins (or a mix of both; substitute 1 cup of whatever mix-ins you like)
Preparation:
1. Stir all ingredients together until combined.
2. Roll into balls about the size of a golf ball.
3. Pop them into the fridge for 30 minutes.
Related Reading: Marie Kondo’s Guide to Bento Box Lunches Your Kids Will Love
This post was originally published on June 25, 2018 and was updated with new links and text on June 21, 2019.
from Food News – Chowhound http://bit.ly/2Rtsfrg
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