Snacks can be a great way to make it from one meal to the next, especially for children. Snacking in moderation, once or twice a day is a healthy habit we encourage our patients to keep. However, snacking too much can be harmful to your teeth. As a dentist, Dr. Casey believes in snacking too, but she also knows it’s important to snack on healthy foods! So we’ve decided to share a few healthy snack recipes that we know your family will love this winter! Even the picky eaters in the house…
Apple Wheel Sandwiches
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: This is a no-cook recipe!
Ingredients: Apples, peanut butter, oats or granola, mini chocolate chips
This healthy snack is one that also treats your sweet tooth! The type of apple you want to use is completely up to you, we know everyone has their favorite apple based on taste. Core your apple, then slice it horizontally. This should leave you with several horizontal slices. Lather one slice with peanut butter, then sprinkle some oats or granola and some chocolate chips on top! You can enjoy these open-faced or even add another slice on top to create a sandwich. Don’t be afraid to get creative, there are other healthy and delicious foods that would taste great in that apple wheel sandwich. (Sometimes I drizzle a little honey or agave inside too!)
Butternut Squash Fries
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients: Butternut squash, olive oil, sea salt
One 3 simple ingredients and thirty minutes of your time, it’s no wonder that this is a personal favorite. Even picky eaters love these tasty fries! First, preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Then peel the skin off of the squash and cut it in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds and then cut both halves into fry shapes. Toss the fries in about 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and cook for 20-30 minutes (based on your desired texture and fry thickness). Finally, sprinkle with sea salt when you remove them from the oven! These are a huge hit for family dinners too!
Crispy Apple Chips
Prep Time: 7 minutes
Cook Time: 90 minutes + 60 minutes
Ingredients: Apples, sugar, or cinnamon sugar
This snack is a little more of a commitment but definitely worth it in the end! First, you want to preheat the oven to 200 degrees. We usually make one apple for every two people present. You want to slice the apples pretty thin, so we recommend using a simple slicer to cut the apple. Each one usually yields about 20 slices, which will cover a single cookie sheet. Don’t be surprised though, they will shrink a lot! Sprinkle some sugar, stevia, or sugar substitute over the apples. If you like cinnamon, we recommend you lightly sprinkle some of that on top. Cook for 90 minutes. Once the time is up, take them out of the oven. Flip them all over and cook for another 60 minutes. Try not to peek at them. The less you peak the more crispy they will be. Trust me, it’s worth it!
With the holiday coming up, we know that your family is going to be at home and hungry! That’s why we believe it is important to share a few mouthy healthy recipes your family will love. Not to mention, a healthy serving of fruits and veggies that even picky eaters love! For more healthy recipes, feel free to check out our educational articles or contact us today!
0 Responses