Foodie Friday: It's All About the Snacks

Welcome, Friday, dear reader. Today's Foodie Friday blog is all about the snacks. If I'm being transparent, I am always on the hunt for a good, healthy snack. At home, our family will go on kicks about our favorite snacks. They will eat them for a week or so, I will stock up on their new favorite snack, and then, like a bad fad, they will stop eating it. The ean did this with yogurt. She has also done this with avocado toast, tuna salad, and pomegranates. I can't keep up with her or her dietary preferences anymore. Sushi and seafood boils are her new preferred foods. I like that she is making an effort to eat a more varied, slightly healthier diet. 

The Bibbed Wonder is a bit steadier. He enjoys cold Pop-Tarts; so gross. Only brown sugar and cinnamon, though. He'll occasionally eat a fruit-based one, but he prefers brown sugar and cinnamon. He h s discovered he really likes pretzel rods. He,  oo, is on a bit of a healthier-lifestyle kick and is now eating fruit, though he much prefers cold Pop-Tarts.

Making healthy snacks that they enjoy can be a challenge. I have discovered the simpler the better. Instead of eating Pop-Tarts, chips, or processed food, I make snack plates for us to enjoy. They are simple, healthy, easy, and much better for us than anything listed above. The lates contain fruit, usually apples, grapes, and oranges, with cheese, usually sharp cheddar, a mild white, and a sweet or savory blend like ginger and pear gouda. I try to incorporate whole-grain crackers. Our favorites are the sourdough crackers from Seasons of Sourdough in Ligonier. Eric also likes meat of some sort on his snack plate. I usually try to keep it to turkey, but sometimes a nice slice of salami hits the spot for him. I don't consider salami to be healthy at all. On our snack plates, I also enjoy adding fruit spread, savory jam, or chutney. I'm also inclined to include slices of fresh baguette bread, but I try to keep my carb intake lower. Sometimes nothing hits the spot like a hunk of fresh bread, a slice of apple, and a slice of good, sharp cheddar. I always feel very French when I eat this. I know, I'm weird. 

Jordan really enjoys cucumbers, especially when they are fresh and in season. I have found that she really likes cream cheese blended with sour cream and Broken Locust's Tuscan Tomato dip mix, eaten with her cucumber slices. Another popular cucumber accompaniment is equal parts cream cheese and sour cream on a cucumber slice, topped with Everything bagel seasoning. These create simple, easy snacks that are crunchy, satisfying, and fresh. 

In our society, it is a challenge not to get sidetracked into eating convenient, processed food with hidden ingredients and preservatives. We are constantly bombarded with images on television, social media, and in internet ads, parading high-calorie, low-nutritional food in front of us. It is no wonder the majority of us are carrying around extra weight. This year, I am making an effort to eat simpler and fresher. I'm trying to eat more homemade food that I know what is in it, rather than heavily processed food, for the sake of convenience. It will always be a challenge because it is always available. We are frequently rushed, and our lives are busy. However, it is an important change to make. I have taken the mindset that I don't have to be perfect; I have to do better. 

So, there is no real recipe, dear reader. It's just simple foods to create a feeling of wellness and a bit of an indulgence. What simple and healthy snack options do you and your family enjoy? I would love to hear your ideas. Comment below and share. 

On Friday in March, stay safe, be smart, eat simpler, cleaner, and healthier when you can, and keep washing your hands.