Tips for Healthy Dips!
Kids and adults alike love a crunchy snack dunked in a yummy dip! However, snacking on salty fried snacks and dips loaded with fat and empty calories can leave your body feeling unsatisfied and weighed down… Here are some ideas for upgrading your snack so that you’ll be nourished energized!
SWAP THE CHIPS WHEN YOU DIP!
These choices have an equally satisfying crunch, plus they are loaded with nutrition to keep you feeling strong:
- Cucumber slices
- Carrot sticks
- Sugar snap or snow peas
- Celery Sticks
- Bell pepper slices
- Zucchini or yellow squash slices
- Jicama slices or sticks
- Radish slices
- Whole grain crackers
- Whole grain pretzels
- Pop Chips or Pop Crisps
- Brown Rice Crackers
- Whole Grain Rice Cakes
- Apple slices
DIP IT GOOD!
Dips make a healthy power snack when you choose the right ingredients. There are more options than ranch dressing when dipping veggies:
- Hummus provides plenty of healthy fats thanks to tahini. Try: Simply Delicious Homemade Hummus
- Greek yogurt-based Tzatziki Dip has extra protein.
- Black Bean dip is a good source of fiber. Try: Black Bean Dip with Corn and Basil
- Salsa packs tons of flavor, without tons of empty calories. For a sweeter salsa try Fresh Pineapple Salsa.
- Guacamole will provide you with healthy fats. Here’s a Superfast Guacamole that you can whip up in minutes.
- Hide nutrient-rich veggies in blended dips to super charge them. Kale or peas work in this Green Pea Guacamole.
- Looking for sweet snack? This Creamy Cherry Dip for fruit is like a dessert and secretly packs protein or try Creamy Chocolate Avocado Dip for a super decadent treat… trust me!
For more healthy tips and recipes follow our healthy eating blog!
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Thanks to our guest blogger from Whole Foods Market!
Kathleen Wood, leads the Healthy Eating Program at Whole Foods Market, for the Mid-Atlantic region. She graduated from Dickinson College and then did a Master’s degree in Public Health at Boston University where she focused on nutrition and theories of health behavior change. She also completed a certificate in plant-based nutrition from Cornell University. She’s happy to offer you advice on food, recipes and nutrition. Please feel free to contact her at [email protected].