8 Healthy Snacks That Don't Suck

 

I have become a candy curmudgeon. This is a sad state of affairs for someone who once jammed an entire pouch of “Big League Chew” ( a creatively named chewing gum) in her mouth on a dare. I blame our excessive consumption culture. If a little candy is good, a lot is better. This seems to be the idea at every major holiday and at all the birthdays in between. The Dynamic Duo see holidays as giant candy grabs, and who can blame them? They are!

We’re not going back to Christmas days of olde when a nectarine was a score. So fed up parents need to take a stand. Responsible ones let their kids binge on their Easter baskets for a week, and then they ditch the candy.

Conflict averse ones, like me, allow candy craziness for a few days before hiding the loot (for later parental binges, of course). Moderation in all things is a good mantra, but it means you gotta represent in the healthy snacking department the other 335 days of the year.

I offer some healthy snacks, vetted by the Dynamic Duo, instead of whacked out food editors who tell us the worst kind of lies, expensive and time-consuming ones! Note: the only bad part about this list is you have to go to Whole Foods to get most of these snacks, and you know how I feel about Whole Foods.

1.      Seaweed chips. They’re paper-thin and delicious, according to the 10 year old who likes virtually nothing healthy, except these.

 

2.    Crunchmaster Multi-Grain Crackers. These are crackers that taste chip-like. They’re gluten free, and you can get ‘em at Target. Score!

3.    Edamame. Bean pods that are a taste sensation, fun to eat and ready in 3 minutes after a zap in the microwave.

4.    Grapes & Oranges. Keep a bowl on the counter at all times, for bodily health and kitchen décor!

5.     Almonds. Heart healthy and Dr. Oz loves ‘em.

6.    Planter’s Trail Mix Energy Mix. These are great, little on-the-go packs of nutty goodness. Kind of like our 7 year old!

7.     Organic Beef Jerky. I included this at the 7 year old’s insistence. Healthy and will make you very popular with the family dog.

8.    Apples & Peanut Butter. A no-brainer, I realize. But sometimes it’s just good to be reminded of the obvious.

 

Here’s to healthy snacking and not eating another Peep for a year, guru girls & guys!