Whether or not the air has warmed up full-time, spring is officially upon us. With the change in season, we might see a change in our diets as well. Having trouble coming up with ideas to spice up your spring diet? No worries! The Pace Press has compiled some sweet and easy recipes for some healthy springtime snacks.
Frozen Yogurt Bites with Fresh Fruit
This sweet snack is a healthy alternative to your favorite ice cream and is super easy to make. Take your favorite yogurt cup, scoop it into a container or ice cube tray and put it into the freezer. You could also add your favorite fruit or even granola into the yogurt mix. Freeze it and then enjoy!
Frozen Banana Treat with PB and J
It’s time to enjoy your favorite PB and J in a new, trendy way. Cut up a banana into eight individual slices. Pair up each slice, making four pairs of banana slices.
Take one slice and put a little bit of peanut butter on it. Then, take the other and put a little bit of jelly on it. Once this is complete, put the two slices together and repeat with the other pairs. Stick them in the freezer for a bit, and then you have some delicious peanut butter and jelly snacks!
Editor’s note: For anyone who is allergic to peanut butter, sun butter, made from sunflower seeds, is a healthy, protein-filled alternative.
Watermelon and Feta Salad
Watermelon is definitely a fan-favorite fruit that is often connected with summer days. But why not try it this spring? A great and healthy way to spice up your favorite fruit is to make a watermelon and feta salad. First, cut up watermelon slices to whichever size and shape you may prefer. Put the cut-up watermelon into a bowl and crumble bits of feta cheese over the top. Next, create a dressing of your choice to add flavor to the salad. Mixing lime juice and olive oil together can make a great dressing for this dish! Finally, chill in the refrigerator for a few hours, then take it out and enjoy!
Apples and Sun Butter on the Go
With all the time they spend stressing over school work, students barely have time to even think about getting sick. Keep your immune system strong with this next snack option that is super simple to make. For this treat, you will need sun butter or peanut butter, whichever you prefer, and an apple.
First, cut up an apple and store these slices in a ziplock bag in the fridge. Next, take a couple of spoonfuls of peanut or sun butter and put it into a container. You could use this as a dip for your apple slices and take this classic snack combo with you to class or to your next library study session.
Salted Lime Popcorn
There is nothing like a delicious bag of popcorn, but the microwave popcorn we buy from supermarkets is often filled with chemicals and preservatives. So why not make your own! Buy some popcorn kernels and a lime from your local grocery store and you’re on your way to discovering a healthy new snack. First, put a half cup of kernels, one tablespoon of olive oil, a teaspoon of salt, and the juice of one lime into a brown paper bag. Roll the bag so the kernels don’t spill out as they’re popping. Place the bag on its side in the microwave and run it until you cannot hear any more pops, which may take between two to three minutes, depending on your microwave. Finally, carefully take the paper bag out and enjoy your healthy popcorn!
