Listmania: Snacks

I want to keep a running list of favourite snacks for myself and the family. This will be helpful when I get stuck on the same loop of 2 or 3 snacks and need a change. I can read my list and say, "oh yeah, I love such and such!"

My most favourite snack is an apple. I just love them. I eat one every day. But sometimes I need to mix it up. So here is a list of the different things I like to snack on... some more often than others.

I've divided them into categories although some snacks could fit into more than one.

Feel free to leave a comment with a favourite of your own :)



Yogurt
Yogurt with Bananas and Pecan halves
Yogurt with a touch of Honey stirred in, topped with Chocolate Chips
Yogurt with chopped Apples and homemade Granola
Yogurt with chopped Apples and Almond slices
Yogurt with Grape halves and Chia Seeds

Smoothies
Mean Green smoothie
Chocolate Banana smoothie
Orange Carrot smoothie
Apple Cucumber smoothie
Very Berry smoothie

Nut Butters
Peanut Butter with Apple slices
Peanut Butter with Celery sticks
Almond Butter on Banana
Almond Butter on Toast
Homemade Nutella on Toast

Veggies
Carrot sticks
Celery sticks
Broccoli and Cauliflower pieces
A handful of sprouts
Sunshine sticks (sliced yellow and orange sweet peppers)
Carrot sticks with Hummus
Carrot and Celery sticks with Baba Ganoush 
Avacado slices

Fruit
Apple
Watermelon chunks
Orange slices
A bowl of mixed Berries
Applesauce with Cinnamon
Strawberries with real Whipped Cream
Pinapple chunks
Pomegranate
Grapes
Pear
(really any fruit could go here, but those are my favourite!)

Baked Snacks 
Banana bread
Chocolate Teff bread
Lemon Poppyseed muffin
Zucchini brownies
Oatmeal cookies

Other
A sheet of Nori (seaweed)
A square of dark Chocolate
A thumb-sized piece of Aged Cheddar
A glass of Almond Milk
Herbal Tea

Lunch Box Cookies

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
(Made with Pre-soaked Oats and uses Homemade Applesauce instead of sugar.)

These cookies aren't overly sweet, so they're great for a mid-morning snack. Actually, that's just why I make them... to pack in my son's school lunch box for his mid-morning break. I don't want him hopped up on sugar at school AND I want to send some nutrition and fuel to bridge breakfast and lunch... Enter the low-sugar, nutritious, school lunch box cookie!

This recipe is a modified version of the one found here at Cheeseslave and is inspired by the philosophy of Nourishing Traditions (although I have not yet learned to sprout my own flour).



They contain two things you need to plan ahead for...

1: You'll want to soak your oats. That takes 24 hours.
See Soaking Oats post.

Why soak them? According to Nourishing Traditions author, Sally Fallon, all grains contain phytic acid (and oatmeal is particularly high) which is a substance present in the bran of all grains that inhibits absorption of calcium, magnesium, iron, copper and zinc. Soaking (and also sprouting) helps to neutralize phytic acid.

2: You'll want to make homemade applesauce. Yep, you will.
It's easy to make, it's delicious when it's fresh, and it makes your kitchen smell amazing.
See Homemade Applesauce post.

Now you can go ahead and make your cookies!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup applesauce
1 cup butter
1 tsp real vanilla extract
4 eggs

1 cup organic whole wheat flour
1/2 cup coconut flour
1 tbs chia seeds
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp kosher salt

2 1/2 cups of soaked and dried oats
1 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut

 Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Cream butter and applesauce in mixer. Add vanilla, eggs, beat well.

Mix coconut flour, whole wheat flour, baking soda, chia seeds, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a bowl then add to wet ingredients in your mixer.

This will smell heavenly due to the combination of coconut flour and freshly cooked apples. Seriously.

These are the soaked and dried oats.

Stir in soaked and dried oats, shredded coconut, and chocolate chips.

Mix it all up on low speed.

Drop onto ungreased cookie sheets. Press flat with your fork.

Bake for 15 minutes (check them after 12 in case they are done to your liking then since ovens vary).

Let cool. Lift off with spatula.

 

Stack carefully into freezer bags and put in freezer. (After scarfing down a few sample cookies!)
I take them out of the freezer as I'm making lunches. They are thawed in time for morning break.

Makes 50 cookies.

 Enjoy!