Snack ideas - lots of good party dips
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| Mon, 07-12-2004 - 10:34am |
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Smart Snacking (source: www.weightwatchers.com)
By Leslie Fink, MS, RD
A mid-afternoon snack is a smart idea. It soothes the pre-dinner hunger rumbles, and it can be fun. Even something to look forward to. But if you're like most people, you're tired of plain popcorn and so dreadfully bored with carrot sticks. We asked two recipe developers, Bev Bennett, author of 30-Minute Meals for Dummies (For Dummies, 2003), and Robin Vitetta-Miller, MS, food writer and busy mother of two, to help us out of our snacking rut by suggesting some slimming snacks to tide us over until dinner.
You'll notice a common theme here – we often start with canned goods and convenience food products. Follow these recipes to a T, or personalize them with your favorite seasonings.
~~White Bean-Roasted Red Pepper Hummus~~
Drain and rinse a 14-ounce can of white beans. Puree with 2 garlic cloves, 1/2 cup jarred, water-packed roasted red peppers, 2 tablespoons sesame tahini and 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice; serve with fresh veggies like baby carrots and broccoli florets.
~~Spicy Black Bean Dip~~
Drain and rinse a 14-ounce can of black beans. Puree with 1/4 cup nonfat sour cream and a dash of hot sauce
~~"Homemade" Hot and Sour Soup~~
Prepare a reduced-fat ramen noodle soup mix according to package directions. Add 1/4 teaspoon crushed dried chili flakes and 1 to 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice. Sprinkle with a tablespoon minced fresh cilantro. (**Leslie's note: Ramen isn't SBD friendly, but use a can of healthy chicken broth instead)
~~Mock-amole~~
Puree the flesh of 2 ripe avocados with 1/2 cup canned asparagus, 1 cup canned white beans (drained and rinsed), 2 garlic cloves and 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice.
~~Fresh Tomato and Cucumber Salsa~~
Combine 2 cups diced ripe tomatoes, 1/2 cup diced cucumber, 1 diced green pepper, 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro and 1 tablespoon lime juice in a bowl
~~Chilled Tomato-Avocado Soup~~
Combine 1 cup canned low-fat tomato soup with 1/4 cup each fresh diced tomatoes and diced avocado, and 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil.
~~Ham or Turkey Pinwheels~~
Combine 1 teaspoon reduced-fat mayonnaise with an equal amount of Dijon mustard. Spread mustard mixture over a Romaine lettuce leaf and top with a deli-cut slice of turkey breast or a slice of reduced-fat ham. Roll up and secure with a toothpick.
