16 July 2010

how-to stock up on healthy snacks


HOW-TO STOCK UP ON HEALTHY SNACKS

recently i've started to put more thought into my food. i make decisions about what i eat everyday, sometimes it feels like every minute. and my choices, whether i realize it or not, affect how my husband eats. and someday, my kids will eat how i eat. so the real question is: when i'm hungry, what am i going to grab? when and where does the healthy habit begin? right now, with memake the grocery list and keep the cabinets stocked, so i need to take some ownership here. my goal is to have wholesome foods on hand that we look forward to eating, and ultimately, to keep expanding on that repertoire.

for me, the first step toward healthier shopping and eating was to recognize a set of 'safe' snacks. 'safe' meaning things..
1. that i can afford
2. that we love 
3. that i feel good about putting in our bodies. 
obviously, this will mean different foods for all of us, as the definition of 'healthy' is open for interpretation. at my house, we like to focus on foods that are less-processed, more natural, and nutirent-rich. whatever it means for you, learn to embrace the 'better' options. have fun trying different fruits and vegetables, visiting the farmers' market, and picking out new things to stock your shelves. practice makes perfect, even when it comes to healthy eating. i'm telling you, reading labels at the grocery store has become a favorite hobby of mine. 



here are some of the snacks|meals that i love..

eggs (i could eat them everyday)
homemade granola bars 
fresh strawberry banana smoothies (ice-based, not ice cream)
apples and peanut butter
homemade pizza 
watermelon, peaches, plums, cherries, strawberries.. all this good summer fruit!
grilled cheese on homemade bread
plain yogurt with honey and fruit
egg sandwiches on whole wheat
hummus with veggies, crackers, or bread
almonds, cashews, pistachios, peanuts
homemade salsa on chips or salads
peanut butter toast (with honey or homemade jam)
whole wheat pasta with olive oil, garlic, and parmesan
cheese and crackers (some kind of wholesome cracker would be nice)
pb and crackers
guacamole 
roasted broccoli, potatoes, cauliflower, asparagus, sweet potatoes... etc.
real organic fruit strips (the archer farms brand from target)
quesadillas/chipotle-style burritos
fresh fruit salads
oatmeal pancakes with real maple syrup
peanut butter and banana sandwiches (or toast)

can you tell we love peanut butter? this is our favorite kind right now. just peanuts and salt! oh, and i want you to know, this is all on a whenever-i-can basis. we don't eat like this all the time, and i don't feel too bad eating homemade desserts now and then either. cookies are my weakness. in a nutshell, i just want to make good choices, eat real food, and love the food i eat. i'm sure you're all with me on this. 

ps. thanks for having me over, marta!



add to marta's collection :: the how-to series was created to encourage confidence in creativity. to focus on what we can do rather than what we can't. i am excited to showcase your talents and unique ideas. if you have a specialty (and i know you do), please submit your how-to guest post by emailing me. marta{at}martawrites{dot}com. i will be delighted to feature your how-to. 

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." - John Wooden

7 comments:

jeanette from everton terrace said...

I believe we have the exact same taste (except my bread/crackers have to be gluten free). I thought I was the only person who could eat eggs every day!

sunny said...

love eggs too! (esp hard boiled ones)...and for peanut butter, I am completely spoiled. My regular ol' grocery store has a bulk/fresh foods area that has tubs of fresh peanut butter - creamy or crunchy. And they have almond butter you can fill your own containers with. I cannot go back to the kind with sugar anymore!

Love your list of foods...I gleaned some great ideas from the list! Thank you!!!

Hil said...

such a great idea list. we are peanut butter lovers around here too... thank goodness none of us have peanut allergies! thanks for sharing summer, and thanks for the reminder to eat a little healthier.

brooke said...

I liked this post. Since we are always on the go, eating healthy is a struggle for us. I liked these ideas. And you're right--I have to take ownership for what my family eats!

[eeny] said...

Great post. I try to eat healthier lately. Thanks for the great list, summer.

Marta, your how-to series was a genius idea - I just have to say it again. There are so many great new things to learn from all your guest bloggers.

Anonymous said...

Oh Marta, I love this how to. This series is great!!

Eating healthy is one of the hardest things to do. This post helps so much!

Marisa said...

Great list, Summer! I actually do eat like this all the time, and I feel like I'm indulging. It helps that they're on your "healthy foods" list. Of course, we never have a shortage of homebaked treats around here...

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...