Healthy Snack Ideas To Knock Out Your Sweet Tooth Cravings

Sometimes don't you wish that a Diet was a person so you could just knock it out!   Instead, how about using those boxing gloves to knock out a punching bag at the gym and use these ideas to knock out your SWEET TOOTH CRAVINGS....

Healthy Snack Food Ideas:

1.       Amaranth and Honey.  Amaranth is a grain that provides a complete protein, plus it’s full of tons of other nutrients.  All you need to do is get a frying pan with a lid, heat the pan on the stove on high,  put about 1 to 2 tablespoons of amaranth is the pan at one time , cover and move the pan around like you are popping Jiffy Pop over a fire.  The amaranth will pop quickly.  It will also burn quickly so it may take a few tries to figure it out.  Only use 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time until you have as much amaranth popped as you want.  Then just add honey.  It’s a very yummy, filling, and healthy treat.  But it does take practice!   It comes in small packages and seems expensive, but goes a long way so don’t be freaked out by the more expensive price. Check out my blog on Amaranth- The Super Grain: http://shesnotnuts.blogspot.com/2011/11/amaranth-history-and-nutritional-value.html

2.      Make your own trail-mix-   You can use Almonds (if you’re not allergic), pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, raisins, dried fruit ( without sugar), and dark chocolate baking chips.  Mix those all together.  This is also a very filling snack and the chocolate satisfies the sweet craving.  Make sure it’s dark chocolate and not milk chocolate.  Dark chocolate that is at least 75% Cocoa is full of antioxidants so it’s better for you.

3.      Good Old Popcorn- topping ideas instead of butter are:  garlic and hot sauce, lemon-pepper and olive oil, nutritional yeast (which has a cheesy flavor), vinegar, onion powder, or just experiment with a small amount of cooking oil and the seasonings in your cabinet. 

4.      Make your own granola bars- Search for healthy and easy granola recipes..  I sometimes melt dark chocolate (85% Cocoa) and drizzle it over the top.  Then you can cut them up and bring them to munch on anytime.  Here is a link to some good ones: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/granola-bars-recipe/index.html

5.      Fruit- Sweeter fruit will cure that craving and give you good nutrients.   Double whammy!

Always remember...

.As Dr. Rob Gilbert said,"First we form habits, then they form us. Conquer your bad habits, or they'll eventually conquer you." 

 So form some good eating habits and conquer good health for life!