New Ways to Prepare Healthy Snacks - Guest Post by Barry Zagreb

Snacks are not completely off the table when trying to stick with a healthy diet. You just have to learn how to snack smart by preparing healthy snacks that both satisfy the urge to snack while providing a health benefit. Try these new ways to prepare some old favorite snacks so they can still be part of a low calorie, healthy diet.

Flavored Popcorn
Popcorn has long been recommended as a snack option for a low calorie, heart healthy diet. It is whole grain, easy to tuck an un-popped microwave bag into a backpack or purse, easy to prepare and it’s boring. Spice up microwave popcorn with of your favorite spices or toppings so the old healthy standby will taste new and different.

Pop a bag of plain popcorn, then shake in some red chili powder or paprika for a fiery and crunchy snack. Create an Indian inspired snack by heating one teaspoon of oil in a pan, then adding one-half teaspoon each of ground cumin, turmeric and red chili flakes and let sizzle for one minute. Add one-half cup of roasted peanuts to the bag of popcorn and pour hot spice mixture over popcorn. Top with juice from half a lemon if desired. If sweet is more your taste, melt a little dark chocolate and drizzle over popped corn or sprinkle the snack with ground cinnamon.

Wrap It Up
Create a healthy snack by starting with a whole wheat wrap, add some low fat toppings and wrap it up. Great for on-the-go snacking or as a healthy dessert choice. Lay whole wrap flat and spread with a thin layer of reduced fat peanut butter, then top with banana or apple slices, raisins, strawberries or any other favorite fruit. Drizzle a little melted dark chocolate over the peanut butter and fruit mix, wrap it up and enjoy as-is or heated in microwave or on stove top.

Healthy Pizza
Pizza can be a healthy snack choice, it all depends on what sits atop the pizza dough. Start with a ready-made, individual size pizza crust and top with fresh sliced fruit or veggies. Tomato based pizza sauce contains Lycopene, an anti-oxidant compound which provides several health benefits, so start building a healthy pizza with a layer of tomato sauce and reduced fat xccheese (another healthy food when eaten in moderation), heat until cheese melts, then top with a variety of fresh vegetables. If fresh fruit pizza is more to your liking, mash some fresh berries with the back of spoon, spread on whole wheat crust, then top with slice fruit and a drizzle of melted dark chocolate. Low fat yogurt can also be used as the base spread for a healthy fresh fruit pizza.

Dark Chocolate
You can still eat chocolate and maintain a low calorie, healthy diet. The key is selecting a good quality dark chocolate (which is packed with anti-oxidants) and eat it in moderation. One to two ounces per day is considered a moderate amount. Dark chocolate can be eaten as-is or used in recipes just like milk chocolate, and it will elevate any snack when melted (in microwave) and drizzled on top.

Barry Zagreb writes about health, parenting & finding the best homeowners insurance quote.

The Anti-Chicken Fingers Movement - Carole's Pizza

Is there a certain recipe that you acquired from your own mom, that every time you cook it up, your house has the aroma of the home you grew up in.  THIS is that recipe for me (or one of the recipes).  My mom's homemade pizza.  Don't shy away...it's easier than you'd think.  And the bonus is you can involve the kiddos.  If they're anything like my boys, they'll have a blast making the pizza and enjoy eating it too!

Carole's Pizza
• 2 envelopes dry yeast (I use the fast-rising kind)
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 1/3 c warm (hot if rapid-rise) water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups flour
• corn meal

Sprinkle dry yeast over hot water.  Stir and let sit for one minute. Stir in sugar, salt and 2 cups flour.  Work in one more cup flour.  Use remaining cup as needed (you don't want the dough to be too dry). Let sit in bowl to rise.  While dough is rising, prepare pizza sauce and shred cheese.

• 1 16 oz. can tomatoes, pureed.
• 6 oz. can tomato paste
• 1/2 c hot water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon basil
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• onion powder

• Mozzarella cheese
• Desired toppings - pepperoni, mushrooms, sausage, etc.

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Place pizza crusts in oven for ten minutes. Remove from oven and top with sauce, mozzarella cheese and other toppings. Bake for 10-12 minutes longer until cheese browns.

Buon Appetito!

The Anti-Chicken Fingers Movement- Healthy & Hearty Pizza

I love me some good pizza, that's just all there is to it.  However, if I eat crap, I gain weight...and lets face it folks...pizza is full of crap.  So... I decided to come up with my own recipe where my family and I could still enjoy the popular entree.

4- Whole Wheat Pitas or 2- whole wheat pre-made pizza crusts (sometimes Walmart has the pre-made)
1- Jar pizza sauce (I get Walmart Great Value brand, less sugar then most of the others)
1- Pd Lean Ground Beef
8-White mushrooms, sliced
1-Can of Artichoke hearts, the hearts pulled into smaller chunks
4- Roma Tomatos or a few cherry tomatoes, sliced
1-small onion, diced
1/2-Cups of Cheddar Cheese
1/2-Cup Mozzarella Cheese
(any other veggies your family may enjoy, go ahead and substitute.  I wouldn't suggest not using the tomatoes though, they are amazing baked on this pizza)

Preheat oven to 375, and brown the ground beef.  If your family doesn't like onions unless they are cooked, go ahead and throw them in with the beef.  I like them a bit crisp tender, so I add them later.  Smother the pittas or pizza crust with the pizza sauce, then add the ground beef, to cover.  Add all the vegetables, spread out.  Then, slather with the cheese....and bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese and veggies are cooked, and the crust is cooked to your liking.

My entire family LOVES this dish.  Because I just started really serving it with the artichoke hearts, Callie still picks them off...but I still cook it with them, hoping eventually she'll just eat it :)
Happy Eating Friends!!  ~ Trina