healthy snacks | Nicole Geurin, MPH, RD

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Top-12-Best-Healthy-Snacks Snacking can help you stay energized and prevent overeating at your next meal. But chips, candy and soda contain “empty calories,” meaning short-lasting energy and virtually no nutritional value. Here are some healthy snack ideas to fuel your workday.

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Ten Healthy Choices for Super Bowl Sunday

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Nicole Geurin, MPH, RD | Leave a comment

Delicious snacks for your Super Bowl party don’t have to be unhealthy. Try out these ten heart-healthy choices that are sure to please!

Fruits and Vegetables: Colorful fruit and vegetable trays are the perfect snack food for any Super Bowl party. They are simple, versatile, and packed with nutrition. For fruit trays, try sliced apples, oranges, grapes, pears, strawberries or bananas. Carrots, celery, broccoli, snow peas, bell pepper strips, cauliflower, and cherry tomatoes make excellent vegetable platters. Serve with any of the following heart-healthy dips:
- Bean dip or hummus: Beans are rich in fiber and protein, making them a healthy and filling dip. Try making a simple hummus by blending the following ingredients in a food processor until creamy: 2 cans chickpeas, juice from 1 lemon, 3 roasted red-peppers, 1 clove garlic, 2 tablespoons olive oil.
- Salsa: Salsa makes a great dip for vegetables. It is low in calories, and high in lycopene, an antioxidant in tomatoes. For a creamy salsa, try mixing in some plain, low fat yogurt.
- Guacamole: Although higher in calories, guacamole is rich in heart-healthy fats. Give your guacamole an additional nutrition boost by adding extra chopped tomato, onion, cilantro, bell pepper or cucumber.
- Yogurt Fruit Dip: As a dip for your fruit tray, try mixing 1 cup low fat vanilla yogurt with 2 tablespoons of honey and a dash of cinnamon.
Nuts: Nuts are rich in magnesium, vitamin E, and heart-healthy fats. Look for raw, unsalted or lightly salted varieties of your favorite nuts. Serve alone, or make a trail mix with whole grain cereal and dried fruit.
Air-popped popcorn: Popcorn is a whole grain that only contains 30 calories per cup when it isn’t drenched in butter. Try spritzing with nonstick spray, and sprinkling with oregano, black pepper, and parmesan cheese.
Chili: Warm up with a hearty chili that is packed with flavor and nutrition by adding extra beans, tomatoes, corn or onions to your recipe. Try vegetarian, ground turkey, or a white chili with chicken as an alternative to beef.
Water and other alcohol-free drinks: For something fun, try spritzers made with sparkling water and a splash of 100% fruit juice.
Angel food cake: Looking for a lighter dessert to serve? Try angel food cake topped with fresh berries and fat-free whipped cream.