Snacks under 200 calories!!!!

Since I started a 90 day "get healthy" challenge with Body by Vi, I have my shake for breakfast and lunch, but healthy snacks are needed and super important!  I found these yummy snacks on the Dr.Oz show and am so excited to share them! While they may not save you money, they will certainly save you some calories...that's important too!  are all 200 calories or less!  They are also put together with their health benefits in mind!  These snacks keep me from feeling deprived or hungry....so yummy!

Antipasto Power Plate
This easy-to-assemble snack packs a protein punch with the proscuitto, and there's plenty of fiber in the chickpeas and zucchini.

Ingredients
1 thin slice prosciutto or thin sliced ham
One 2% mozzarella string cheese
2 olives
1 cup grilled zucchini/squash
1/4 cup chickpeas (feel free to season with herbs..yum!)

Directions
Wrap the prosciutto around the string cheese. Enjoy with the olives and veggies on the side.

Mini Pizza Pocket
The vegetables bulk this snack up, without adding any extra fat. The lycopene in the tomato sauce is fat soluble, so the cheese helps with the absorption of this nutrient.

Ingredients
1 mini 100% whole wheat pita pocket or wheat sandwich thin
1 oz of 2% reduced fat mozzarella cheese
2 tbsp pasta sauce
1 cup spinach
2 onion slices plus any additional veggies
Directions
Assemble and place in toaster oven until cheese is melted.

Skinny Dip & Chips
The black pepper and hot sauce kick your metabolism up a notch. The Greek yogurt and walnuts are full of protein that'll help you stay fuller for longer.

Ingredients
For the dip:
1/2 cup of 2% Greek yogurt
1 tsp walnuts
Garlic
Black pepper
1 tsp hot sauce

What to dip:
1/2 oz blue potato chips (8 chips)
1 cup cherry tomatoes or favorite vegetable

Directions
Mix all dip components. Enjoy the dip with 8 blue potato chips and the cherry tomatoes

Cheesy Apple Sandwich
The apples are full of water and keep you feeling full, while the lemon juice regulates your metabolism and regulates your body's sugar absorption.

Ingredients
4 apple slices (these act as the "bread")
3 tbsp low-fat ricotta cheese (sometimes I use almond butter)
10 almonds
Lemon juice

Directions
Core apple and slice in thick pieces. Spread cheese and almonds on top of the apple slices. Sprinkle with lemon juice.

Peanut Butter & Banana Quesadilla

Ingredients
whole wheat tortilla
1 Tbs peanut butter
banana
cinnamon
Directions:  Spread pb on tortilla, top with sliced banana, sprinkle with cinnamon...you can even grill if you want it warm...so satisfying and delicious!! 

No Bake Truffles

Ingredients
5 dry dates
11 dry apricots
1/3 cup cacoa powder
1/2 Tbs. vanilla
1 Tbs. vanilla
1 Tbs. agave or honey
pinch salt
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Directions:  place in food processor, pulse, form into small 1 inch balls, then roll in chopped nuts or additional cocoa powder...you have a yummy chocolate snack!

Pizza Popcorn
This will make 8 cups of popcorn for only 200 calories.

3 Tbsp of un-popped kernels
1 Tbsp of grated parmesan cheese
1 tsp of garlic powder
1 tsp of paprika
1 tsp of oregano
1 tsp of salt
1tsp of chives

Directions:  place in small brown paper lunch sack, fold opening over twice to close, microwave for 2-3 minutes on high, listen for the popping to slow down!  YUM, cheap, easy!!!!

My FAVES were the antipasto plate, apples with ricotta, and the pb banana quesadilla!!!!

WhoNu? Now, I do!!!

I have seen the commercials for WhoNu? Cookies...I didn't pay much attention, because I figured that if we are going to have a special snack or dessert...may as well forget nutrition...but, when I saw these on sale yesterday, we picked some up.  Suprisingly, they were just as delicious if not more so, then an actual Oreo cookie! They were $2.50 for a package, comparable to Oreos.  They are in a sealed package inside of a reclosable box.  The inner package has a tear off stip that seals back with a sticky strip to keep cookies fresh.

3 cookies claim to have:

As much Fiber as a bowl of oatmeal
As much Calcium & Vitamin D as an 8oz glass of milk
As much Vitamin C as a cup of blueberries
As much Iron as a cup of spinach
As much Vitamin E as 2 cups of carrot juice
As much Vitamin B12 as a cup of cottage cheese with fruit
As much Vitamin A as 8oz glass of tomato juice


As you can see, this cookie is enhanced with
vitamins and minerals, but is in no way a low-calorie
food.  Nor should it be considered a "diet" food.
It is however, healhtier than regular packaged cookies,
therefore, I WILL purchase these again, the next time
I want to treat the kids to a special treat!



Healthcare Coverages YOU may not know about!

I am blogging about this again, because I feel like many people may not realize that under the "Affordable Care Act" there are preventative services that your health insurance company HAS to pay at 100%!!  No copay or deductible required! 

Some of these services include:  immunizations, weight loss counseling, well-woman screenings, tobacco sesation, children's eye exams, and sooo many others!

Check out the link to see all benefits, then make your appointments, no longer put them off because of the out-of-pocket expenses!

Preventative Services Covered under the Affordable Care Act