Healthy food can also come in mouth-watering flavors, whether salty, sweet, zesty, spicy, bitter or nutty. Here are a few from common ingredients easily found in your kitchen.
And most of these are under 100 calories.
Sweet Snacks
- Chocolate Banana
Melt 2 teaspoons of dark chocolate chips and dip 1/2 frozen, chopped banana in it for some sensational bitter-sweet bites.
- Honeyed Yogurt
Fill half a cup with non-fat Greek yogurt, sprinkle a dash of cinnamon and add 1 teaspoon of honey – an unusual yogurt treat with a twist.
- Stuffed Figs
Grab 3 small dried figs and stuff them with 1 tablespoon of part-skim ricotta each. Sprinkle with cinnamon for the ultimate appetizing combination.
- Maple-Pumpkin Yogurt
Combine 1/2 cup non-fat plain yogurt (try Greek for extra protein) with 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree and 1 tablespoon of maple syrup – truly succulent.
- Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
Find 7 strawberries and dip each of them in 1 tablespoon of dark chocolate to make yourself one juicy treat.
- Tropical Juice Smoothie
For a thirst-quenching summer snack, grind together natural pineapple, orange juice, apple and ice.
- Vanilla and Banana Smoothie
Create an outstanding yogurt drink by combining 1/3 cup sliced banana, 1/4 cup vanilla Greek yogurt, and 1 handful ice, and blending the mixture until smooth.
- Baked Apple
Remove the core from 1 small apple and fill it with 1 teaspoon of brown sugar and a dash of cinnamon. Leave it to bake in the oven until tender and you can enjoy a warm, juicy treat that easily beats your everyday regular apple snack.
- Fruity Waffles
Spoil yourself with a satisfying snack by toasting 1 multigrain waffle and top it with 1/4 cup mixed berries. Simple, yet irresistible.
- Cinnamon Graham Crackers and Peanut Butter
Spread 1 teaspoon peanut butter onto 2 graham cracker squares, and sprinkle them with cinnamon to spice up your delicious mouthfuls of delight.
- Warm Spiced Cider
For a gorgeous drink treat, warm up 6 ounces of apple cider and add some cinnamon and nutmeg. It makes the perfect alternative for your usual winter beverages.
- Maple-Cashew Pear
Add some extra flavor to your usual pear fruit snack by slicing it in pieces and using maple syrup and cashew butter to dip them in. Fruit snacks never tasted so fulfilling before.
- Make your own Popsicle
Prepare yourself a lemon popsicle by pouring 6 ounces of bottled lemonade in an ice pop mold or a small paper cup and leaving it in the freezer to freeze over – and have yourself a healthy, home-made popsicle to beat both your cravings and the summer heat.
Savory Snacks
- Cucumber Salad
Make a quick and easy salad by tossing 1 sliced large cucumber with 2 tablespoons of chopped red onion and 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Enjoy a fresh and crunchy home-made snack made in just a few minutes.
- Curried Sweet Potato
Microwave 1 small sweet potato for 6 minutes and mash it with 1 teaspoon curry and salt and pepper for some extra taste, and satisfy your tummy with a truly scrumptious, healthy and easy snack ready in minutes.
- Greek Tomatoes
For one fresh, luscious salad snack, use 2 medium chopped tomatoes and 2 tablespoons feta cheese. Mix them together and add 1 squeeze of fresh lemon juice – the perfect combination for a warm summer afternoon.
- Cheesy Roasted Asparagus
Rather than having your asparagus plain, sprinkle 2 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese over 6 spears of asparagus, spritzed with olive-oil spray, and bake everything at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Expect lip-smacking results.
- Carrots and Hummus
What better way to spice up your carrots than dipping it in some tasty hummus? All you need is 12 medium baby carrots and 2 tablespoons hummus for the right amount that will keep your appetite at bay for some time.
- Grilled Garlic Corn on the Cob
The much loved corn on the cob is easy to make: Simply grab 1 small corn cob and brush it with 1 teaspoon sautéed minced garlic and 1 teaspoon olive oil to enhance its taste. Grill the cob until tender and devour the juiciness of your warm snack.
- Spicy Black Beans
Make a snack out of black beans by adding some interesting flavors to it. Combine 1 tablespoon of salsa with 1 tablespoon of non-fat Greek yogurt and a 1/3 cup of black beans for a tasty blend.
- Caprese Salad
Create an appetizing salad from 3 simple ingredients: Use 1 ounce (about 1 hockey puck) of fresh mozzarella with a 1/3 cup of cherry tomatoes and 2 teaspoons of balsamic vinegar for an extra delightful tinge.
Sweet and Salty Snacks
- Carrot Raisin Salad
Fuse the taste of carrots with the sweet taste of raisins by creating a unique-tasting salad. Fill 1 cup of shaved carrots and mix it with 1 1/2 tablespoons raisins. Add some balsamic vinegar to give it a tangy finish.
- Apples and Peanut Butter
Add one simple ingredient to your apple to make your snack all the more exciting. Slice 1/2 an apple into pieces and dip them in 1/2 a tablespoon of natural peanut butter for an added nutty taste.
- Tropical Cottage Cheese
Relish a unique combination of cheese and fruit with this simple recipe: Grab 1/2 a cup of non-fat cottage cheese and 1/4 a cup of chopped mango and mix together for an unusual tropical salad with an irresistible cheesy touch.
- Blue Cheese-Stuffed Apricots
If you’re a lover of blue cheese, try this toothsome mix. Find 3 dried apricots and stuff them with 1 tablespoon of crumbled blue cheese for some heavenly bites.
- Sweet ‘n’ Spicy Pecans
Take pleasure in one light and healthy snack by getting 5 pecans and roast them with 2 teaspoons of maple syrup and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.
- Strawberry Salad
Combine fruit and vegetables in a delightful way. Get 2 cups of raw spinach and combine it with 1 cup of sliced strawberries. Add 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar for a final touch of flavor.