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Posts Tagged ‘healthy snacks’

Fresh Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Are you carving pumpkins this year? Don’t let this amazing Superfood go to waste!

Fire up your oven for this simple, delicious and truly nourishing recipe for Fresh Roasted Pumpkin Seeds.  This easy, nutritious on-the-go snack provides antioxidants, fat, fiber, minerals and protein!

Here’s a sneak peek at just a few of the healthy benefits of pumpkin seeds:

  • Eating as little as 2 ounces of pumpkin seeds daily can elevate iron levels

  • Excellent source of lesser known nutrients and phytochemicals (plant chemicals)

  • Rich source of broad spectrum Vitamin E. Incredibly versatile- seasoned for snacks, added to soups, casseroles, salads and granola.

  • Great for satisfying craving for salty, crunchy food

  • One 2 ounce serving provides 10 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber, 16 grams of heart healthy fats and potassium to sodium ratio (270 mg of potassium, 75 mg of sodium)

  • Excellent support for cardiovascular health

  • One of the richest natural sources of magnesium and zinc which play integral roles in curbing feelings of anxiety, supporting bone health, reducing musculoskeletal pain and promoting proper immune function.

  • A perfect low-carbohydrate treat

  • A healthy dose of Vitamin K which is essential for healthy arteries, bone integrity and possibly  even protection against certain forms of cancer

  • Pumpkin seeds are known to be a rich source of the amino acid, tryptophan. Tryptophan can be used by the body to manufacture serotonin which promotes a balanced mood and sleep

  • May help to lower cholesterol and improve liver health

Fresh pumpkin seeds

Get carving and enjoy those Pumpkin Seeds! Share your favorite uses for pumpkin seeds in the comments below…

Be well,

 

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INGREDIENTS

2 cups pumpkin seeds
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (*remember to choose gluten-free)
1 1/2 tablespoons melted butter (subbing non-dairy or ghee is also fine)
1 1/4 teaspoons salt

Parchment paper

METHOD

  1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

  2. Thoroughly rinse seeds. Remove any pumpkin flesh. Place in a medium bowl. Set aside.

  3. In a small bowl, combine Worcestershire sauce and melted butter.

  4. Pour Worcestershire and butter combination into seeds and stir until evenly coated.

  5. Sprinkle salt over seeds.

  6. Pour seeds onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Spread until in a single layer.

  7. Bake for two hours, stirring every half hour.

  8. Allow to cool and enjoy!

  9. Store in airtight container for 7-10 days.

The perfect pumpkin

© Copyright Clea Shannon 2009-2012

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I picked these delicious, crisp beans up at our local market on Sunday. I’m adding them to salads, stir-fry, soups and snacking on them in the raw. I love their fresh, flavor and crunchy texture.

Fresh green beans are very low in calories and offer a very good source of vitamins, minerals and plant derived micro-nutrients.

A rich source of dietary fiber, green (and yellow) beans are a great, satisfying snack and promote colon and digestive health.Green beans contain vitamin A, and many health-promoting antioxidants such as lutein, zeaxanthin and ß-carotene which play a role in reducing the effects of aging and preventing various disease.

Fresh beans are good source of folates, which together with vitamin B-12, are essential components of DNA synthesis and cell division – both important before and during pregnancy.

Beans contain vitamin-B6 (pyridoxine), thiamin (vitamin B-1), and vitamin-C as well as healthy amounts of minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, and potassium, which are essential for improving our immune system and boosting our metabolism.

What are a few of your favorite vegetable snacks?

Be well,

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Easy Hit The Road Snacks

Cacao nibs add pure chocolate bliss to this snack mix!

 

It’s so easy to get thrown off track with our healthy eating when we travel. I’ll share my own example. This weekend I drove to Long Beach for a nutrition and wellness conference with my school, Institute for Integrative Nutrition®. I packed apples, dried fruit and a few just-in-case gluten-free bars. I brought a big jug of water to refill my water bottle. I drank well and ate healthy snacks for the entire weekend. In a pinch I always had something on hand in case a meal wasn’t gluten-free or I wanted to play it safe.

So I’m going to share one of our favorite snack mixes. This is easy to bring along wherever you go – via car, plane, bike, foot or boat:-) It’s a fabulous combination of dried fruit, cacao, nuts and seeds and the BEST part – it’s super simple to throw together anytime.

And yes, I said cacao as in chocolate…we’re adding cacao nibs to the mix. Say what?

Cacao nibs are the result when cocoa beans are roasted and the insides are separated from the outer husk. This inner nugget of pure cacao is called a cacao nib. These can be found in many stores in the raw or baking section. Make sure to choose an unsweetened variety for a pure hint of chocolate goodness!

 

Dried blueberries add a natural sweetness to this ready-to-go snack!

On a budget tip: I like to use whole nuts but often times using halves or pieces is a less expensive option. Select the nuts that you’re most likely to eat!

Let me know what you and your family like to bring along for a healthy snack.

Be well,

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Hit The Road Snack Mix

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup cacao nibs (unsweetened)

1 cup raw almonds, whole or pieces

1 cup raw cashews, whole or pieces

1 cup raw walnuts, whole or pieces

1 cup raw pumpkin seeds, removed from shells a.k.a. hulled

1 cup raw sunflower seeds,  removed from shells a.k.a. hulled

1/2 cup dried blueberries, unsweetened

 

METHOD:

In a large bowl combine ingredients.

Mix well.

Store in a covered container, preferably in a cool, dark place, such as a pantry or drawer.

On-the-Go Tip: Store in small individual serving size containers.

 

Makes approx 12 1/2 cup servings

NUTRITION: (serving size approx. 1/2 cup)

300 cals, 24g fat, 0mg cholesterol, 10g fiber, 13g protein, 23g carbs, 54mg sodium

 

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Crowd Pleasing Snacks

Crowd pleasing snacks no matter what the occasion!

It’s a big weekend for fans of all ages!

Whether you’re celebrating Puppy Bowl VIII or gathering to watch Super Bowl XLVI with friends, family and neighbors there will be a crowd to feed. What better way to enjoy the game (and yes, the commercials) that with a bit to eat.

Delicious snacks are a must for every fan – whether you’re rooting for New York, New England or simply the next best ad. So how can you satisfy the fans and feel good about it?

You’re sure to find something to please even the pickiest eaters in this list of crowd-pleasing favorites assembled by my Nutrition School, Integrative Nutrition.

Make it an amazing day – whether or not your team wins – with these delicious (and yes, healthier) versions of fan favorites.

While you’re watching, I’ll be hiking the trails…so I hope you’ll share with me how the game turns out.

In Health,

Join our community on Facebook and find me here. Share your stories, comment or ask questions. Connect on Twitter @CleaShannon.

Be well and see you soon! Order your FREE Nutrition Book now.

 

If you like BBQ wings, try….

Baked BBQ Chicken Tenders

If you like French fries, try…

Butternut Squash Fries

If you like sliders, try…

Green Chili Turkey Burgers

If you like chili, try…

Tofu Chili with Black Beans

If you like potato chips, try…

Kale Chips

If you like vegetables with ranch dip, try…

Yogurt Dill Dip with Vegetables

If you like hummus, try…

Cumin Hummus

If you like pizza, try…

Deep-Dish Polenta Pizza

If you like trail mix, try…

Home Touch Trail Mix

If you like 7 layer dip, try…

Black Bean Salad

If you like artichoke dip, try…

Roasted Garlic Spread

If you like nachos, try…

Loaded Healthy Nachos

If you like chips and guacamole, try…

Guacamole with Jicama Sticks

If you like chocolate chip cookies, try…

Peanutty, Chocolately, Coconutty, Popcorny, Sweet and Salty Cookies

If you like brownies, try…

Gluten-Free, Vegan Chocolate Chip Blondies