Culinary Blog
Healthy Culinary Snacks
Snacking is one of the most enjoyable ways to eat food. That’s not an opinion that we hear a lot of across the world of food, but it’s completely true! We’ve always thought that the reason for this is something odd, and a little bit primal - people really enjoy touching the food that they’re eating. There’s something really quite enjoyable about grabbing a potato chip from the bag and putting it into your mouth. While it’s a little strange to contemplate, it’s completely true! However, the problem that a number of people have is that snacking healthily is difficult. Commercially available snacks are plentiful, but healthy ones are few and far between. The true frustration comes from picking up something ostensibly more healthy and then discovering from the nutritional information that it’s deceptively unhealthy. We completely empathize with the struggle there, and we know the importance of snacking healthily. Snacking healthily is a wonderful way to eliminate any sneaky calories from your diet. Being able to say, definitively, that you have eaten a certain number of calories in a day is a handy thing for a number of people watching their weight. Having a snack upset that balance can be annoying. This means that a number of people turn to healthier snacks in their day-to-day life. Whether homemade or bought in a supermarket, they are a wonderfully easy way to eat a calorie-low snack that will sate your hunger. The problem with healthy snacks, though, is that they’re often not as tasty as you’d hope they would be. This is often because healthy snacks forego a number of seasoning options, which simply means that they’re less tasty. We would suggest, though, that making healthy snacks yourself is the way forward. We’ve selected a few great options that can help you to snack healthily while not compromising on flavor. They might require a little bit of work on your part, but they’ll all ensure that you can make yourself a snack that tickles your tastebuds while not adding inches to your waistline.
ZUCCHINI CHIPS
We really enjoy making baked versions of classic fried options, and baked zucchini chips are no different! The trick is to make sure you cut the zucchini rounds to be especially thin. This will allow them to crisp up nicely in the oven. BAKING TIME
To make some zucchini chips, you’ll need two zucchini, 1.5 tablespoons of olive oil, around an ounce of grated parmesan, ⅓ cup of breadcrumbs, and whatever your favorite seasonings are. We would suggest basil and garlic powder since they’ll both go well with the parmesan and the nascent flavor of the zucchini. First of all, slice the zucchini into ¼-inch thick rounds, and toss them in the olive oil. You may need to be especially careful during this step, as fine chopping can be tricky indeed. In a shallow dish, mix together the parmesan, breadcrumbs, and your desired seasonings. Make sure that they’re well mixed - we’d suggest using a fork for that reason. Place each zucchini round into the parmesan mixture, and gently press it into the coating on both sides. Finally, arrange the chips in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, and bake them until crisp at around 425˚F - this should take around twenty-five to thirty minutes.
KALE CHIPS
Kale makes a wonderful snack food. Since it’s a type of cruciferous veg, it’s wonderful for your digestive system, and it has a great amount of iron in it, too. BAKING TIME
You can make this quick recipe with any kale that you might like, though we’d suggest looking for the freshest bunch you can get your hands on. You want to pick one that’s got a lot of leaves and not a lot of stalk. Start off by preheating your oven to 350˚F. Then, wash and dry your kale leaves. Make sure to separate out the stalks from each bunch of kale, as they’re unlikely to cook properly, leading to a poor overall snack. Cut or tear the kale into chip-sized pieces, and then add it to a large bowl. To the large bowl, add two tablespoons of your favorite vinegar, a tablespoon of olive oil, and half a teaspoon of coarse sea salt. You can adjust these seasonings to taste, but we’ve found that this is a good balance. Toss the kale in the seasonings, and make sure to really get your hands in there - use your fingers to distribute the oil and seasonings evenly. Spread the kale out in a single layer on one or two parchment-covered baking sheets. Sprinkle a little salt on top, and then bake for around seven to ten minutes. That should be long enough for the kale to get pleasantly crispy.
SWEET POTATO CHIPS
This is the dark horse of our recipe suggestions here. We always find that the combination of garlic and rosemary is one we consider boring right up until we try it - then we remember we love it! This snack is one that we make again and again - it’s super good. BAKING TIME
Start off by preheating your oven to 400˚F - this is higher than the other recipes since sweet potato can take a little longer to cook. Mix together one or two large garlic cloves with a tablespoon of olive oil in a bowl. Brush that mixture onto a baking sheet, and then layer thin slices of sweet potato onto the oil mixture. Make sure to keep the slices thin - sweet potato can take a long time to cook, otherwise. After the layer of sweet potato slices, add the rest of the oil and garlic, making sure to cover everything. Sprinkle some salt and around a teaspoon of minced rosemary on top of the potato slices, and then place the baking sheet in the oven, in the middle. They should bake for around ten minutes until the edges begin to curl and brown. Keep an eye on them, though! They can be tricky indeed, and very easy to overcook. Allow the chips to cool completely on the baking sheets, and then portion them up! These alternatives to classic late-night snacks are a wonderful way to absorb some incredible flavors in your evenings without having to go overboard making dinner. They’re tasty, quick, and wonderfully easy! Give them a go soon, we’re sure you’ll love them.
Visit the Seven Shelves Shop
