Recipes

Get Ready to Savor these 20 Satisfying Snacks

VINEGAR DILL CUCUMBER SALAD

Summer is coming!! Cucumbers are super refreshing and this takes them up to a whole new level.

Ingredients:

3-4 fresh cucumbers, sliced.
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup white vinegar
1 TBSP dried dill weed
1/2 cup lakanto monkfruit sweetener (or regular sugar).
1 small sliced onion, optional.
Sea salt to taste, optional.

Bring water, vinegar and monkfruit sweetener to a boil in a small pot on the stove.
Once boiling and sweetener dissolved, turn off heat. Add in 1-2 TBSP of dill.
Place cucumbers and onion (optional) into a tupperware dish with lid. Sprinkle with sea salt.
Pour water/vinegar mix over cucumbers.
Chill for 3-4 hours. ENJOY!!

TRAIL MIX

Trail Mix

HARD BOILED/DEVILED EGGS

Hard boiled eggs are always a great snack with a little salt and pepper, or make a batch of deviled eggs. Want to switch it up even more? Take it up a notch by replacing the yolks with guacamole and a sprinkle of paprika and fresh cilantro for an added flavor bonus.

GREEK YOGURT WITH FRUIT AND GRANOLA/NUTS/SEEDS

Classic and satisfying as you can constantly be changing up the topping combination.

Mix in a TBSP of sugar free pudding mix (flavor of choice - mine is chocolate!) to give this even more variety. You can also mix in protein powder but given greek yogurt is already high in protein, the pudding mix works just fine.
Create a Jello Yogurt Bowl! How? Grab your favorite flavor sugar free jello cups from the store. Cut up 1-2 and place the chunks of jello in the bottom of the bowl. Top with greek yogurt and your toppings of choice. For example, use strawberry jello cups, greek yogurt, granola and fresh strawberries for a delicious, almost dessert like treat.

PROTEIN OATMEAL-AKA PROATS

When you are looking for something maybe a little more filling yet still delicious with lots of ways to switch it up, protein oatmeal is a great option. Take 1/2 cup quick cook oats and add 3/4 cup water and cinnamon if preferred. Microwave for 1 minute. Remove and stir in 100g (just about 1/3 cup) egg whites. Mix well. Microwave for an additional 90seconds. Remove and stir. Add in toppings of choice - fruit, nuts, seeds, nut butters etc. Option to stir in a small amount of almond milk as needed.

RICE CAKES

Top with your favorite nut butter and Lily’s Dark Chocolate chips if you are a chocolate lover. Not a fan of rice cakes?? That’s ok! I highly recommend Angelic Bakehouse 7 grain bread, or grab a slice of your favorite gluten free bread if needed.

CAPRESE SKEWERS

Super simple to whip together a couple of these when you want something packed with flavor. And no, you don't have to put on a skewer if not preparing these for a gathering. Slice grape tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil - drizzle with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and/or balsamic glaze and ENJOY!

CHIPS AND SALSA

You seriously can’t go wrong with Chips & Salsa/Guacamole. Only thing to be aware of is your serving size of chips as they can quickly add up. If you are anything like me, once you start eating these, you can't stop! Guacamole is filled with healthy fats from avocado, but again if you are on a fat loss journey be mindful of serving sizes.

ROASTED CHICKPEAS

Air Fried or Oven Roasted Chickpeas. Rinse them well under cold water. Toss with 1 TBSP EVOO and season with your spice(s) of choice. Preheat the air fryer at 390 and cook for 12-15 minutes.

DELI-MEAT ROLL UPS

Grab your favorite deli meat, whether that's ham, roast beef or turkey. Options - spread with whipped cream cheese or low-fat softened cream cheese. You can also use Laughing Cow cheese. Add some diced veggies to the mix - think pickles, banana peppers, bell peppers, cucumbers etc. Roll them up and ENJOY!!

FRESH VEGGIES AND HUMMUS

EGG BITES

A great healthy option that you can prep ahead of time and have ready for grab-n-go during the week. This is very customizable to your own tastes and preferences. Looking for more protein and less fat? Use 2 whole eggs and then egg whites to get the protein punch without the extra fat. Dice up your favorite bell peppers, onions, jalapeños, cheese, and meat. These can easily be made in the oven or in my favorite kitchen gadget, the Air Fryer!! Grab these silicone baking molds HERE from Amazon to make cooking in the oven or Air Fryer. They also make clean up a breeze.

DARK CHOCOLATE AND STRAWBERRIES

Ok, so this is one if you are looking for a great treat! I prefer to soften the chocolate in the microwave and use it as a dipping sauce for my fruit. Two great options are Lily’s Extra Dark Sea Salt chocolate bars or baking chips, and I highly recommend checking out Cocoa Bar In A Jar (use code Leslie10 for a discount). Feel free to switch up the fruit to apples or raspberries depending on what you have at home or is freshest at your local market.

AVOCADO TOAST

Basically unlimited options on how simple or fancy you want to make this. You can easily create a full meal if you have 2 slices with loads of toppings, but if wanting something quick, delicious and satisfying, don’t overlook this. I am sure I am not the only one who has a hard time using avocados at their perfect ripeness. They always seem to be a little on the hard side and then next thing I know, they are past ripe! Not to mention keeping unused avocado from browning if you don’t use the whole one right away. A simple solution?? Buy single serving avocado smash or single serving guacamole cups - it’s ready to go and you don’t have to worry about wasting!

FRESH VEGGIES AND YOGURT DIP

You can easily whip together your own veggie dip using a cup (or less) of greek yogurt and spices of choice. Use a packet of ranch seasoning for a healthy spin on ranch dip. My favorite, a TBSP of Everything but the Bagel seasoning mixed in!

FRESH JERKY

Jerky is an easy on the go high protein, low carb, low fat option. It’s great for traveling and there are so many flavor options to choose from.

STUFFED DATES

What I'm realizing is people either are a fan of dates or they want nothing to do with them. Full transparency, I thought they were nasty until I found ways to use them in delicious treats like this! Use pitted dates and fill the center with cream cheese, nut butter, or goat cheese - wrap with half slice of turkey bacon or regular bacon if you choose. Air Fry at 400 for 8-10 minutes. So GOOD!!

SMOOTHIES

Blueberry Maple Oat Smoothie

1/4 cup rolled oats (gluten free)
1/2 cup (130g) nonfat greek yogurt
35g (1/4 cup) frozen blueberries
70g (1/2 cup) frozen raspberries
1 cup (140g) unpeeled chopped apple
1 TBSP ground flaxseed
3/4 tsp pure maple syrup
1/2 scoop protein powder (optional)

Add all other ingredients in order listed and blend to desired consistency.

PROTEIN BARS

Topped with your favorite nut butter and Lily’s Dark Chocolate chips if you are a chocolate lover. Not astill a great option when you are in a bind and need something quick that will keep you satiated for more than 2.2 seconds. With so many options available, there is literally one for everyone. Be sure to look for the amount of added sugar, especially if you are working on limiting your consumption of processed foods. How much protein does the bar actually contain? What about the fiber and saturated fats? Just a few things to look at when choosing the right bar for you!