THSB was honored to be among those listed. Thank you very much, Kelly.

Definitely check it out - it’s a great resource if you are interested in healthy food and snacking.

Chris -

I recently started a new job and sadly, the new establishment does not have the smorgasbord of snacking options that the other was so kind to maintain. Luckily though, in this snacking void I have found one treat on hand that is perfect for the days when you need some serious crunch with a bit of spice.

Snyder’s Honey Wheat Sticks Pretzels are salty and slightly sweet with the crunch of a serious pretzel.

Are these things healthy?

• Serving Size – 1 ounce
• Calories – 120
• Total Fat – 2 grams
• Carbohydrates – 24 grams
• Sugar – 2 grams
• Dietary Fiber – 2 grams
• Protein – 3 grams

The calorie count here for one serving seems about average, and since it’s a filling serving, no real damage done. It’s also great to find a snack with some sweetness without breaking the sugar bank. As for fiber, I’m certainly glad it showed up for the party, but since the recommended daily allowances for fiber are around 25 grams, the two grams here are no big revelation, though they are appreciated. The 3 grams of protein are also nice to have in a snack, so overall, I think it’s a pretty safe bet. I wouldn’t rely on them for my nutritional needs, but they have contributed, while doing little harm as a snack.

How I like ‘em

Brown mustard is just the kick that these subtly sweet sticks need. It’s just a bonus that this dipping condiment is low in calories (1 tablespoon contains about 15 calories) and has no fat and no sugar! The natural grazer within is calmed as these delicious sticks can carry me from one meal to the next.

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There’s nothing like a good multi-tasker to make you feel on top of things. And in the spirit of multi-tasking, I bring you a kid-friendly, grownup-friendly, HEALTH-friendly snack that satisfies my hunger pangs with little inconvenience.

Let’s examine it as a three parter, shall we? First I’ll hit the health angle, then move on to convenience (because let’s face it, rarely do we have time to get all gourmet at snacktime), and finally, taste. As for the kid-friendly stuff … well, that’s mostly advertising. As you can see, this is a snack with some personality - Dora the Explorer’s personality, that is. I’m talking about individual packets of Frozen Edamame made by Seapoint Farms.

These edamame snacks come shelled in packages of eight, each one containing a 1 ½-ounce serving, perfect for carrying around. If you don’t have little ones, never mind the picture, it’s what’s inside that counts.

Is it healthy?

Here’s what’s inside a 1 ½ ounce (43 grams) pack:

• Calories – 59
• Total Fat – 2 grams
• Sodium – 17 grams
• Carbs – 5 grams
• Dietary Fiber - 2 grams
• Sugar – less than 1 gram
• Protein – 5 grams

Not too bad, huh? I was impressed by there being only 59 calories in each pack because they actually are satisfying. And only 2 grams of fat – phew, plus no trans fats and no cholesterol. And to wrap it up, there are 5 grams of protein per pack, which is especially good news if you’re buying these for your kids, because protein is an essential building block for bone, muscle, and cartilage. Protein also helps to fight hunger, which is an important part of your snack’s job. I don’t know about you, but I’m impressed, these edamame packs are good for you and utterly guilt free.

Is it easy to prepare and eat?

I’m also happy to report that they’re very simple to prepare, in fact, you have three options of execution so you can choose the one that best suits your schedule.

1. You can put a still frozen bag in your purse, backpack, etc, and have it thawed and ready to eat by afternoon (they come pre-prepared).
2. You can pop it into the microwave for 1-2 minutes, at the end of which time you’ll hear a faint "pop" as the bag splits open neatly. (No, the edamame doesn’t fly all over the microwave…as funny as that might be).
3. You can also put a pack into the fridge overnight, and have it nicely thawed and ready to go by morning.

Any way you look at it, either you’re doing nothing at all to prepare them, or you’re spending two minutes with the microwave.

How does it taste?

I know, I know, what we all really want to know before we try any new food is how it tastes. Frankly, at first, I found it to be a little dry and even a bit tasteless, but it’s certainly a snack that’s grown on me. Like most of you, I’m drawn to snacks with lots of flavor, snacks that are salty or sweet, so sometimes when it’s been a while since I’ve had something pure, it can throw me off. After a few more test runs, its refreshing simplicity became attractive. The bottom line is that it is what it is. It tastes like veggies, plain and simple. No other flavors, no bells and whistles, just shelled edamame, ready to be eaten by you!

Good luck, enjoy, and HAPPY SNACKING everyone, as always!

Some more on Seapoint Farms

They also make a unshelled version of these with a picture of SpongeBob SquarePants on them, if shelled edamame and Sponge Bob are more your style.

Then there is their Ready-To-Eat Edamame, but this pack contains two and a half 75 gram serving, and unless you’re going to eat all of that, I’d stick with the 45-ounce pouches, which make for a more practical snack.

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Like many of you, I often find myself grabbing breakfast on the run. But this can lead to trouble: high fat, high-sugar trouble; muffins, egg and cheese sandwiches, sweet sugared rolls, bagel with cream cheese trouble. Thankfully, though, my latest food find is a quick and simple snack that’s high in protein, not in fat. Its cottage cheese and cut up fruit. I like mine with strawberries and pineapples. I dip the fruit in and use it to scoop up the cottage cheese, but I know many people who just mix it right in, and that’s tasty too.

Friendship Dairies makes a great tasting cottage cheese using skim milk, so it’s a non-fat product. To my surprise, it tastes just like other cottage cheese varieties made with more fat. There goes the myth that fat-free foods don’t taste good. Friendship Dairies even offers two varieties of cottage cheese mixed with fruit, one has pineapple and the other has peaches, but since I usually use the fruit for dipping, I stick with their plain cottage cheese.

The Good

A serving of non-fat cottage cheese will get you 80 calories; pretty light considering that 80 calories have 15 grams of protein, almost 30% of your daily-recommended intake. Truth be told, I usually eat two servings of this at a time, which doubles your protein intake and is still less than 200 calories. Not only is protein an important component in the growth and maintenance of all your body’s cells, it also takes longer to digest than carbohydrates, which means that you feel full longer, which is a good thing to know for anyone trying to shed some pounds. According to The United States Department of Energy, protein helps support our skin, our bones, our blood vessels, tendons, and ligaments since they are made of collagen, which is a fibrous protein. Also, fat is a big thing to look out for with cheese, which is why I’m so psyched that this fat-free cheese actually tastes good!

Strawberries give the snack its sweetness, not to mention they brighten up your plate and add some brilliant color. One cup of strawberries has just 49 calories and 149% of your recommended daily value of vitamin C, which certainly helps with your vitamin intake. A cup of cottage cheese really only needs ½ cup of strawberries (25 calories), keeping this snack still under 200 calories, I love getting a filling snack packed full of nutrients for just a few calories! Vitamin C has a wide range of benefits, including acting as an antioxidant and strengthening your immune system, but vitamin C is also involved in the production of collagen, the protein that I previously mentioned .

Add some pineapples and you’ll be adding even more vitamin C, along with their tart and sweet flavors that keep your mouth happy. Pineapples have a lovely, bright, sparkly taste, and since they can be found canned, are available all year round. Nothing beats fresh ripe pineapple, but if you are going to get it in a can, make sure it’s packed in juice, not syrup that has extra sugar. Dole offers canned pineapple chunks in %100 juice which are fat free, low in sodium (unlike cottage cheese – a point we’re coming up to soon), and only 60 calories for their two slice serving. They are a little high in sugar, but that’s from the sugar naturally present in the fruit. Also, when you eat pineapple with cottage cheese it is less likely to cause a sugar spike, because its digestion is slowed by the cottage cheese. I think the pineapple tastes great, plus I end up with some juice to drink as well.

And The Not-So-Good

Let’s discuss sodium. I don’t want to, but we must. There are 380 milligrams of sodium in a ½-cup serving of my non-fat cottage cheese, which means that when I double my serving (which I usually do) I’m taking in 760 milligrams of sodium, ahh! That is a lot considering that the Mayo Clinic recommends between 1,500 and 2,400 milligrams a day for healthy adults. They also say that too much sodium can cause high blood pressure and even lead to cardiovascular and kidney diseases.

I am happy to say, though, that Friendship Dairies does offer a low fat cottage cheese with no salt added. This doesn’t mean it doesn’t have any salt; it still has 50 milligrams per serving, but that’s a huge improvement to the 380 milligrams in their other varieties. This makes it a bit blander, but you’re mixing it with that delicious fruit, which renders the lack of salt pretty inconsequential.

How I Do It…

There is some prep work involved in this snack. So that it’s ready for me in the morning, I like to take care of the work ahead of time. I buy a 16-ounce container of cottage cheese, which has four servings. Then I put two servings of it in a Tupperware case that I will take to work the next morning, which leaves me with two servings in the original container for the following day. Then I cut up the fruit and mix it together in another in another container (but you can just add it to the cottage cheese if you’d like, then you only have one container to take to work).

So there you have it, a snack that manages to be sweet, salty, filling, and can wake-up your mouth and refresh your body. At first I thought, “No way this is going to fill me up”, but I stand corrected, and most happily so! Try it out and perk up your morning while indulging in a little sweetness.

Happy snacking.

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“Who says indulgent can’t be healthy?” ask the makers of Sahale Snacks. And there is no better way to describe their nut-based snack packs: indulgent and healthy.

My healthiest snack intentions are sometimes derailed. Bananas and nuts are great, but after a month or so – YAWN. Sahale Snacks provides something a little more exotic to fill your tummy and your taste buds. Plus, Sahale has a wide diversity of snacks, which is great for anyone who has ever been in a snack rut.

My favorite is the Soledad Almond Blend – which has a serious cayenne punch to it, but I also really like the Socorro Macadamia Nut Blend – a smoother, more savory blend of macadamia nuts, hazelnuts, papaya, and mango.

Stats (Soledad Almond Blend):

• Serving Size – 1 ounce
• Calories – 130
• Grams of fat – 9 grams
• Sodium – 60mg
• Dietary fiber - 3 grams
• Sugars - 7 grams
• Protein – 4 grams

The Ingredients:

• Almonds: protein, vitamin E and a crunch.
• Flax Seeds : omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid; big on protein and fiber.
• Dates: fat-free, cholesterol free sweetness with energy from carbs, plus a good source of antioxidants and fiber.
• Balsamic: low-calorie, fat free flavor that may help boost calcium absorption and aid digestion.
• Cayenne: Mainly here for the kick, but in larger quantities has been suggested to improve blood flow.

Pros

Taste, nutrition, and diversity. This is a great addition to your snack regimen. The nuts are healthy and add a good crunch factor, while the dried dates add a sweet and chewy counterbalance. Plus, the flavors are really unique for a snack, balsamic vinegar and cayenne aren’t your typical snack ingredients. I also really like their ingredient list, which other than the main ingredients I listed above, only includes tapioca syrup, organic evaporated cane juice, organic white distilled vinegar, sea salt, and honey; a list that is not too complicated and doesn’t include anything I wouldn’t usually eat.

The nutrition stats are something I am happy with too. Not too many calories (considering it’s a nut snack), good amount of fiber and protein, and low in carbohydrates and sodium too. Seven grams of the carbohydrates come from sugar, but that’s still low enough for me. This looks pretty darn good.

Cons

This is a rich snack –in terms of taste, fat content, and price. This is definitely a gourmet investment for an afternoon snack. It costs about $5.00 for a 5 oz snack pack at health food or gourmet shops. But, that does include five servings, each one ounce. A dollar a serving isn’t so bad, but I tend to eat half the bag, and at 130 calories per ounce, that’s 325 calories, 200 of which are from fat, that’s a lot – but at least they are those good omega fats found in nuts!

Conclusion

It certainly feels like an indulgence to snack on such sweet fruits and delicate nut mixes, but one that is well worth it. You can get Sahale Snacks at most high-end health food stores, or see their website to get them online. Although I really enjoy these snack mixes, their high price makes them a rare treat. I’d love to serve something like this at a dinner party, but I think for now I will consider them an occasional, spicy snack solution.

Here is a list of their other five snack combinations:

• Dauphine Walnuts with blueberries, banana, coconut, ginger, and lavender
• Ksar Pistachios with sesame seeds, pepitas, fig, and Moroccan harissa
• Sing Buri Cashews with pineapple, peanuts, lemongrass, and mild Chinese chili
• Socorro Macadamia Nuts hazelnuts, mango, papaya, and southwestern chipolite
• Soledad Almonds with apple, flax seeds, dates, balsamic vinegar, and red pepper
• Valdosta Pecans with sweet cranberries, black pepper, and orange zest

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Justin’s Peanut Butter and Almond Butter Squeeze Packets

Come on, ’fess up: How many of you can’t buy peanut butter because you know that once you open it, you won’t be able to get your finger out of the jar?

I’m very guilty of the above-mentioned crime, so I was psyched to see that a new company called Justin’s sells single-serving 100-calorie squeeze packets (.6 oz) of organic honey peanut butter and natural maple almond butter. Now I can have my much-loved healthy snack of peanut butter and pretzels or peanut butter on an apple without having to worry I’ll eat a whole jar. I suggest bringing a packet with you to school or work, along with a small bag of celery, whole-wheat rice cakes, pretzels, or apple slices, for a great mid-morning or late-afternoon snack.

Usually, I prefer almond butter to PB (peanut butter), but Justin’s 100-calorie almond butter is maple-flavored, and I’ve never been a fan of maple-flavored things (though I do like maple syrup on pancakes), so I prefer the honey PB packets. Peanut butter is not quite as good for you as almond butter, because it has less monounsaturated fat (good fat) and more polyunsaturated fat (bad fat), but both nut butters are great sources of protein, Vitamin E, and niacin. Plus, they help you feel full longer and give you long-lasting energy, which is why I particularly like to eat them in the morning (on whole-grain toast) or before I run. (See this Runner’s World article for more info on why PB is a good pre- and post-workout snack.) Also, Justin’s peanuts are USDA Certified organic and tested aflatoxin free, and the butters don’t contain any added oils or refined sugars.

If the 100-calorie packets aren’t enough for you, they also come in slightly larger squeeze packets of 1.15 oz each. These bigger packets come in more varieties—honey PB, cinnamon PB, and regular PB; or honey almond, maple almond, or regular almond (the last one is my favorite). Buy them on their Web site, or in some grocery stores such as New York’s Amish Market. (Justin’s Web site doesn’t have a store locator list yet, but the site promises that it’s coming soon.)

Jif’s Peanut Butter Tubs

A more familiar name in peanut butter—Jif—is now also selling single-serving portions of peanut butter in little cups that come in six packs.

Pros:

• The Jif cups are easier to find at grocery stores than Justin’s.
• Some people like the smooth, familiar taste of PB like Jif better than natural, grainier brands.

Cons:

• Jif peanut butter cups are not as healthy as Justin’s packets. They’re not organic, and they contain fully hydrogenated vegetable oils. Fully hydrogenated oil doesn’t contain trans fat, but it’s still highly processed which is not necessarily good for you.
• Jif’s single-serving packets are a bit too big! The cups contain 64 grams of PB, which has 390 calories, as opposed to Justin’s 100-calorie packets. That’s fine if you’re making a meal out of it, but too many calories for just a snack (and who has the willpower to only eat half of a tub that’s called a single-serving tub?). If you do buy them, my trick is to scoop one big tablespoon of it out into a small plastic container, seal it, and put it into the fridge right away. Decrease the portion a little in the beginning, or you’ll never do it later.
• Tanya Taylor is a PhD and a food chemist for a food ingredients company. She also runs the excellent blog I Ate A Pie.net. She knows her stuff! (And she’s very nice, too.) In her review of Jif Creamy Peanut Butter To Go she says that "Jif To Go is an absolute no-no." Check out Tanya’s site - it’s really great.

Packaging Close-Up: Do the Justin’s Squeeze Packets Really Work?

I told you about the taste and nutritional value of Justin’s nut butters, but how easy are the squeeze packets themselves? Here’s my photo story review.

Introduction

I bought the 1.15 oz squeeze packets of classic almond butter (the .6 oz 100-calorie packs are just not enough for me), and I took one of them with me to work, along with a whole-grain roll. My plan was to make a little almond-butter sandwich.

Step 1

First, you’re supposed to knead the package. The natural oils in almond butter cause a little separation, and kneading ensures you get a well-blended product.

Step 2

Rip open the packet. (It was easy to open; no teeth or scissors required.)

Step 3

Once you rip open the packet, you’re supposed to squeeze out the almond butter and enjoy. HOWEVER, when I was done squeezing it onto my bread, I could feel that there was a bunch of it left that I couldn’t seem to get out. So I grabbed a knife and dug in to the package.

Step 4

I started getting frustrated. The knife method wasn’t working that well—I couldn’t seem to scrape out that last bit stuck in the bottom. And I am not one to waste delicious food! I was still hungry. I needed to get that last drop.

Finally, I savagely ripped the whole package apart with my hands. Victory! I got you, almond butter!

There was even more left in the package than I had realized!

I guess I hadn’t kneaded it as well as I thought. All the moist almond butter had squeezed out, and this drier stuff was left at the bottom of the package.

The remaining part may have been dry, but it was still tasty.

Of course, this is when my boss walked in to ask me a question, and there was almond butter all over my hands and keyboard…

Verdict

The packets aren’t perfect—they’re harder to use than a tub or jar—but they’re so small and they fit so easily into your bag that they’re worth it. (Plus they’re such a big help with portion control.) Just bring a small plastic knife or spoon with you to work, to aid your squeezing.

Enjoy!

Lauren

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Generally, my snacking indulgences lean more towards salty treats. I love cheddar popcorn, roasted nuts, and pretzels, but when my sweet tooth does start crying out for satisfaction, it’s nice to have some snacks up my sleeve.

I came across Sensible Foods one afternoon when I was looking for a new snack, something I hadn’t already seen before. Lucky for me, those bright little pouches were there to heed my call. They are pouches of dried fruit, which come in delicious combinations like Orchard Blend, Cherry Berry, Tropical Blend, and Apple Harvest. Among the varieties, the nutrition facts vary only slightly, and the serving size always consists of one 0.75-ounce bag (21 grams).

What do I like about this snack?

Cherry Berry is my favorite because in addition to the dried apples, which are somewhat common among dried fruits, it also contains cherries, blueberries, and strawberries – all of which are bright and delicious. The fruit and berries are light, crispy, and so bursting with flavor that it’s almost difficult to believe that all of that flavor came from those small fruits. They actually taste a little like Fruit Roll-Ups!

A friend once told me that cooking was about taking great ingredients, and then trying not to mess them up too much. I think this is a great way to look at cooking, but it’s especially true for healthy eating. Bob and David, the California founders of Sensible Food’s, seem to have based their snack on that idea. To dry their fruit, they use a trademarked process called Crunch Dried ® which, “removes water while marinating the product’s cell structure, nutritional value, and intensifying its natural flavor.” Each of their products is fat-free, gluten-free, and GMO free while also being 100% natural. The pouches are also equivalent to ½ cup of fresh fruit and have no added sugar or preservatives. What I love most about this snack is its ingredient list: Apples, Cherries, Blueberries, Strawberries, and NOTHING ELSE. They are also extremely convenient. They come in single-serving packets that are ready-to-go and great on their own, sprinkled over yogurt, or mixed in with cereal.

The Facts

• Calories – 84
• Dietary Fiber – 2 grams
• Sugars – 14 grams
• Protein – 2 grams

(Those numbers are for each single-serving package.)  I consider 84 calories to be light for a snack, so I’m okay there. Also, fiber and protein are always invited to my parties, so again, not a problem. Also, there is no fat in this snack, and because it only contains fruit, there is no cholesterol either. Ah, but it seems our party-pooper, sugar, has tagged along for the ride – darn. But wait, this isn’t refined or added sugar that we have here; it’s just innocent natural sugar that showed up with our buddies, the fruit.

What do not I like about this snack?

I’m less opposed to consuming sugar when it’s a result of eating something healthy, which naturally has sugar in it, but 14 grams of sugar is still high for an 84-calorie snack. On the other hand, a medium size raw apple contains about 13 grams of sugar, and that would never stop me from eating apples. There is no recommended daily allowance for sugar, and we need some sugar to give us energy and to keep us happy! According to the website of diet expert, Anne Collins some studies have shown that diets that refrain completely from sugar are more difficult to stick to, and can trigger sugar cravings. So when all’s said and done, my position on sugar is to enjoy in moderation and to try to get my sweet fix from the sugars naturally present in fruit, making Sensible Food snacks a great option.

My Conclusion

This is a snack that will remain in my repertoire. It’s tasty and easy to eat. The sugar is something to be aware of, but it won’t deter me from enjoying a mid-day snack of Cherry Berry.

Check out SensibleFoods.com to find out more about their other fruit snack blends, which include some other delicious fruit like pineapples, peaches, mangos, and bananas. They also have two savory options: 100% Organic Supersweet Corn and Organic Crunch Dried ® Roasted Soy Nuts. I really love the corn, but the soy nuts don’t really do it for me. If you’re interested in going BIG, Sensible Food’s can be purchased by the case on their website, otherwise a local retailer would be the way to go. Enjoy, and let me know which is your favorite blend.

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In my quest towards a healthier lifestyle, I’ve come to regard three criteria as very important in determining my snack choice. They are:

1. Taste
2. Health
3. Convenience

What is a Tex-Mex veggie burger?

Simple, tasty, spicy, and packed to the rafters with veggies, Dr. Praeger’s Tex-Mex Veggie Burgers fulfill my three requirements perfectly. But first, what is a Tex-Mex veggie burger? In this case, it is a small, burger-shaped patty, made up of more than 10 different veggies (check out the ingredient list below), and packed in with some serious spice.

Just looking at it, you can see whole pieces of corn, snips of broccoli, slivers of pepper, and halves of bright green peas. Hopefully your interest is perking up. Then you take that first bite, and it doesn’t disappoint. Warm and crispy on the edges, it’s full of flavor and texture. First, there’s a slight saltiness, and then the crunch of bigger pieces of vegetable, finishing with that sneaky dash of peppery spice that blooms as your just finishing a bite. It wakes you up without being overwhelming. I like spicy foods, but not so hot that they actually feel like they’re burning you. Four stars for taste, I’d say.

Texture

I know there a good deal of skepticism about the texture of a veggie burger actually being good, but these were. The vegetables that were ground up were soft, of course, but there were some (like the corn) that were still whole and crunchy, I’ve tried veggie burgers in some restaurants who’s texture was not nearly as good, so I was pleasantly surprised by these.

Impressive Ingredients

I want to show you all the ingredients, because personally, they really impressed me.

Check it out:

Carrots, black beans, onions, string beans, corn, zucchini, soybeans, oat bran, peas, red pepper, spinach, expeller pressed canola oil, broccoli, textured soy flour, oat fiber, arrowroot, jalapeño peppers, chili powder, garlic, corn meal, corn starch, cilantro, salt, parsley, black pepper, and all natural vegetable gum.

The Facts of the Matter:

Each burger has:

• Calories - 110
• Fat - 4.5 g
• Sodium – 250 mg
• Total Carbs – 13 g
• Sugar – 2 g
• Dietary Fiber – 5 g
• Protein - 6g

Is it a snack though? And, what about health benefits?

It’s just the right size for a snack, and packed with enough veggies to satisfy your tummy, along with the rest of your body. No Trans fats, no cholesterol, and a good source of both fiber and protein! Plus it’s low in sugar! It has 50% of your recommended daily amount of Vitamin A, which is important for good vision, a strong immune system, and healthy cell growth.

The sodium content may look a big high, but recommended daily intake for sodium is between 1,500 and 2,400 milligrams, so really it isn’t that bad.

Is it convenient?

And finally, is it convenient? I am happy to say that the answer is yes. It can be found in the freezer section of most local grocery stores. They come four to a box, and are each individually wrapped, making them perfect snacks when you need something quick. Plus its kosher and vegan, making it a good choice for some people who might usually have a hard time finding a snack.

Buy it and simply pop it in the oven for 8 - 10 minutes on each side, grill ’em, or (even though the box doesn’t mention this) you can pop them in the microwave for 2 minutes. Once they’re nice and hot, you’re ready to go. I usually eat them plain, but they might be good with a little honey mustard, maybe on a small pita. Let me know how you like them.

Happy Snacking!

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The first thing that comes to mind when you think of a snack is something sweet, salty, or crunchy, maybe something purely indulgent. But as most of us have come to realize, snacking is not just about satisfying cravings, but also being healthy.

This is particularly true when it comes to toddlers. Most toddlers do not eat enough at meal times to get their necessary nutrients. Healthy snacks not only prevent toddlers from becoming hungry and cranky, they also provide essential nutrients needed to fulfill their nutritional needs.

Here I am going to cover 3 wholesome snacks for tiny tots.

1. Cascadian Farm Purely O’s

Both meals and snacks should contain a considerable serving of whole grains. Purely O’s from Cascadian Farm is an organic whole grain oat cereal rich in 11 essential Vitamins and Minerals. It is an excellent source of whole grains, providing at least 16 grams of whole grains per serving. It is made with organic whole grain oat flour, organic whole grain barley flour, and organic wheat starch and is flavored with sea salt. It is also a good source of fiber providing 3 grams per serving (11% of recommended daily value). The tiny O’s are the perfect size for toddlers to pick up and snack on. But, while Purely O’s are a great snack for toddlers, they are very plain and I would not recommend it as your morning cereal.

2. Fruits

Fruit is an excellent snack for toddlers. Not only is it sweet and delicious, but it also provides essential nutrients and fiber. Some easy fruit snacks would include:

1. Sliced banana
2. Bite-sized cantaloupe
3. Diced apples
4. Oranges separated into segments
5. Grapes quartered. (Be sure to quarter them so they don’t pose a choking hazard)

3. StonyField Farm YoBaby Yogurt

This is another wonderful snack to tie your toddler over until their next meal. High in protein and rich in calcium, yogurt serves as a nutritious snack that toddlers won’t say no to.

Stonyfield Farm’s organic YoBaby yogurt contains DHA, an essential fatty acid required for efficient neuron functioning found in fish oils. It also contains live active cultures to aid in digestion and the absorption of nutrients. It comes in various flavors like vanilla, pear, peach, blueberry, banana, and apple. It also comes in a drinkable version. Toddlers love the different flavors and textures, which come with the added fruit and cereal.

These are just three of the many nutritious snacks that can be offered to toddlers. Here are some important tips to remember when trying to find healthy snacks for your toddler:

1. Keep snacks low in sugar, high in whole grains and nutrients.
2. Toddlers are intrigued by colors and are more willing to try a snack that catches their eye.  
3. Never offer a toddler foods larger than a dime. Common choking hazards are popcorn, nuts, hard candy, large chunks of any food like meat, whole grapes, and peanut butter ( a spoonful of peanut butter can stick to a child’s throat).

Happy snacking!

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So, you’re puttering around your cupboards for a snack and you can’t find anything decent. What about that oatmeal stacked behind the cereal? Who’s to say that oatmeal is only delicious and nutritious in the morning, huh? And how about throwing in a banana for some added flavor? The combination is a quick, easy snack. Sweet, warm, and creamy - it just tastes like home.

I’ve found that a great way to work nutritious foods into your diet is to just keep it simple. And this snack does that in spades. Let’s start with the oatmeal and work our way to the fruit of the matter, shall we?

I prefer McCann’s Quick and Easy Steel-Cut Irish Oatmeal. Like the instant oatmeals you find, it’s quick and easy to prepare, it takes only five minutes. But, unlike instant oatmeal, McCann’s is made with steel-cut oats, also known as Irish or Scottish oats, as opposed to rolled oats.

When rolled oats are prepared, they are steamed, then rolled, re-steamed, and then toasted. This process results in the loss of much of the valuable nutrition in the oats and gives oatmeal a paste-like consistency, rather than that of a good creamy hot cereal. Steel-cut oats are chosen, removed from their outer husks, cut into smaller pieces, and that’s it!  What they grow and pick is what you get. I certainly like the sound of that.

Here’s the breakdown for a ¼-cup (40 gram) serving of McCann’s:

• Calories - 150
• Total Fat - 2 g
• Dietary Fiber - 4 g
• Soluble Fiber - 2 g
• Protein - 4g

As you can see, McCann’s oatmeal has a good amount of fiber. It contains both soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber dissolves in water and forms a gel that traps toxins. It can help lower cholesterol and regulate blood sugar, which is especially important for diabetics. Insoluble fiber helps to get things moving in your body and is a good digestive aid.

In addition to the ability of soluble fiber to help regulate blood sugar, oatmeal also has a low glycemic index, which means that it raises our blood sugar slowly, leaving us satisfied longer.

Oatmeal is also high in B vitamins, which have a ton of benefits, including helping to keep your heart and nervous system healthy. Certain B vitamins also aid in metabolism and help your body process fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. (Check out more health benefits of oatmeal.)

We’re Going Bananas!

But the fun doesn’t stop there! Check out all the good stuff you’re getting when you throw in some banana slices. Bananas are low in saturated fat and provide a hefty amount of their own fiber, plus potassium, magnesium, and vitamins C and B6. The potassium helps to lower blood pressure, build muscles, and fight fatigue and kidney stones, while the vitamin C and B6 work to boost your bodies immunity and nervous systems. The magnesium is calming and the iron helps combat anemia. Put it all together and you’ve got yourself quite the snack topping.

Why Would I Wanna Eat Oatmeal!?!!

Okay, so I talked and talked about why you should have oatmeal and bananas as a snack… but what about why you would want to? When I was a little girl, my mother often tried to pitch oatmeal for breakfast or an afternoon snack. Unfortunately for me, I wouldn’t have it, but in recent years I retried it, and to my surprise, the combination of the steel-cut, almost nutty oats and the smooth, creamy, sweetness of the bananas made for a delightful warm snack. It doesn’t need any added sugars, no maple syrup, no honey. The banana is more than enough to sweeten up the oats, and the two bring out each other’s flavors beautifully, making the experience even richer than I expected.  A little cinnamon might add a nice spice to the mix as well. I even found myself slowing down as I ate because of how filling it was. If you try this once, I’ll bet you’ll be back for more. Just give it five minutes and you’ll have a snack to carry you through those cold afternoons. Writing this has made me hungry, so that’s all until next snack.

Happy snacking!

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