Typically the munchies tend to be pretzels and chips (crisps for my British friends) or some variation of those snacks. But there are so many other types of healthy snacks that you could choose that will also give you a good satisfying crunch.
Obviously it is easy to just say cut some fruit like apples and pears or some carrots and celery, but come on, that doesn’t compare to the salty snacks. Of course you want to enjoy what you are eating too. But fear not, there are alternative answers that you actually will enjoy!
A lot of negative press has been given to popcorn, but in actuality, popcorn is a great healthy snack… IF you make it yourself. Anything in a bag out on the market grocery shelves tends to have way too many additives and preservatives. Why not enjoy eating popcorn that you air pop. This way you have none of the oil and/or butter (which adds loads of calories to the snack). You are also not having to deal with the new dreaded buzz word ~ gluten. The good news is that corn is totally gluten-free.
For a unique twist to eating plain popcorn, there is a product that I recently found. Believe it or not, it is powdered peanut butter. As your popcorn is finished popping and is still on the warm side, sprinkle a teaspoon of the powdered peanut butter over the popcorn. Cover and shake well. This is just enough to add delicious peanut flavor to the popped corn without adding a lot of extra calories.
However, if you are only interested in the salt flavor instead of the peanut butter flavor on your popped corn, here is a quick and easy trick that will give you the delicious taste of salt without actually adding too much to the finished product. Very simply put a teaspoon of sea salt in 1/2 cup of warm water that has been put into a spray bottle. Shake until the salt dissolves. Then spray LIGHTLY over the popped corn. Too much spray will deflate the corn and defeat the purpose producing a soggy popcorn ~ not what you want at all. As an alternative, diluted soy sauce can also be sprayed.
Another of the more “interesting” snacks that have recently shown its face is a vegetable called kale that is cut, seasoned and then dried into bite-size chips. A very tasty green and crunchy RAW treat that actually tastes better than you would imagine. Dried kale chips are available in many grocery stores, and although pricy, they are very good. However, it is so very easy to make this delicious snack in various natural flavors. Be brave and try something totally out-of-the-box for you.
The following is a recipe for making your own Pizza Kale Chips that will keep you coming back for more ~ Recipe compliments of Amber Shea from her new book called Practically Raw: Flexible Raw Recipes Anyone Can Make
Even though the ingredient list seems to be lengthy, most of them can easily be found. The longest time in making this delicious snack is just in the drying of the kale.
Pizza Kale Chips
Serves 4
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup sunflower seeds, soaked for 2 to 4 hours and drained
- 1/4 cup hempseeds
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
- 1/4 cup sundried tomatoes, soaked for 30 minutes and drained
- 1/2 large red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1 clove garlic, peeled
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons filtered water
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)
- 1 bunch kale, tough stems removed, roughly chopped (6 to 8 cups)
Method
- Combine all ingredients except kale in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth, adding a splash of water if needed.
- In a large bowl, combine the kale and the pizza sauce. Use your hands to massage the sauce all over the kale, making sure it’s coated completely.
- Make it Raw: Arrange the kale in a single layer on a Teflex-lined dehydrator tray. Dehydrate for 8 hours or overnight, until crisp.
- Make it Baked: Preheat the oven to 300°F and grease a baking sheet with coconut oil. Arrange the kale in a single layer on the baking sheet and bake for about 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and use a fork or spatula to carefully flip the kale chips over. (It’s ok if you miss a few.) Bake for 5 to 10 more minutes, watching carefully to make sure the kale doesn’t burn, then remove from the oven and let cool completely.
- Substitutions:
Hempseeds: additional sunflower seeds or cashews
Red bell pepper: 1 medium ripe tomato, cored, seeded, and chopped
Oregano: dried basil
Always consider enjoying cut up fruit that is in season. Watermelon that is cut into small bite-size pieces make for an absolutely delicious snack that can do your waistline oh so good. Drinking fruit smoothies will also satisfy that urge and need to snack.
And of course, there is always the availability of outside help to keep you on track with your goals of eating the best foods for you – even snack foods. Consider searching out a competent professional hypnotist/hypnotherapist. (As I have mentioned before, they are one in the same) Make sure it is a professional that you can trust and feel very comfortable with. How she or he speaks will do a lot as to how easily you will be able to relax enough to be hypnotized. If the hypnotist has a voice that “grates” on you, then by all means do not even go any further.
Remember, hypnosis is supposed to be relaxing, soothing and absolutely making you feel so much better than when you first started. The better you are able to relax, the easier all the powerful suggestions will soon become a reality. After all, that is exactly what you are looking to have happen.
For immediate hypnosis in the comfort of your own home, just click on my Weight Loss Series link. Then you can just lie back, put your headset on, close your eyes, and get transported to the magical world in your mind where anything is possible. Allow me to soothe away your stress and worries even if just for a little while. You will arrive back into the world refreshed, revitalized and renewed.
This post has been written and read by Cynthia L. Fertal, M.Ch.T., C.I. ~~ A practicing and successful, professional hypnotherapist and Creative Visualization and Relaxation (CVR) specialist for more than 21 years.
Disclaimer: This information is for you to actually consider alternative possibilities for your success. Please seek advice from your medical professional before starting any weight loss or exercise program. Taking charge of your body is your right and privilege. Do so with knowledgeable information from trusted sources.
