4 Healthy Homemade Snacks

4 Healthy Homemade Snacks Image via rd.com For some reason, snack time tends to be the meal that we are most likely to indulge in something not so healthy (a.k.a whatever is closest at hand or easiest to find). This is why you have to prepare yourself and prevent your hungry alter ego from reaching for that bag of chips that you found hiding under your car seat. The easiest way to curb hanger pains is to have healthy snacks on hand and ready to go whenever necessary. So instead of justifying your pit stop to the vending machine, just take some Tupperware full of healthy treats with you as you go about with your daily routine. This is especially helpful for folks who work full-time desk jobs and need to stave off office doughnuts. Simply stock your bottom drawer with some healthy snacks and you’ll be setting yourself up for success! Zucchini Pizza Bites Image via damndelicious.net There is definitely a nostalgic sentiment when thinking about consuming pizza bites after a long day of middle school. Well, you can revert to those happy childhood days (sanz preservatives and calories) by whipping up these delicious and low carb zucchini pizza bites! They are super portable and yummy and almost taste just like mini pizzas with an added dose of veggie goodness. Try the recipe for yourself from  damndelicious.net. Ingredients: -1 Tbsp olive oil -3 zucchini, cut into  1/4-inch thick rounds -Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste -1/3 cup marinara sauce -1/2 cup finely grated mozzarella -1/4 cup pepperoni minis -1 Tbsp Italian seasoning Instructions: •Preheat oven to broil. •Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. •Working in batches, add zucchini and cook, flipping once, until golden, about 1-2 minutes on each side; season with salt and pepper, to taste. •Place zucchini rounds onto a large baking sheet. Top each zucchini round with marinara, mozzarella and pepperoni minis. •Place into oven and cook until the cheese has melted, about 1-2 minutes. •Serve immediately, sprinkled with Italian seasoning, if desired. Cauliflower Poppers So I am kind of a cauliflower addict, known for using this versatile veggie in every form from pizza and even in breakfast dishes (that’s a recipe for another article). But these cauliflower poppers are about as simple as it gets in terms of preparation, and they are a delicious and guilt free snack (they contain literally zero weight-watcher points) that you can easily have on hand if prepared ahead of time. Not to mention that these poppers are about as easy to make as they are to eat. Check out the recipe from itallstartedwithpaint.com. Ingredients: -1 spray(s) cooking spray -1 head(s) (medium) uncooked cauliflower -1/2 tsp ground cumin -1/2 tsp  chili powder, or more to taste -1/2 tsp  table salt -1/2 tsp  black pepper Instructions: •Preheat oven to 400 °F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. •Cut cauliflower florets into bite-sized pieces (there should be about 4 cups). Place cauliflower in a medium bowl and add cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper; toss well to coat. •Spread cauliflower on prepared baking sheet and bake until cauliflower is tender, but not mushy, stirring halfway through, about 10 minutes. Yields about 1/2 cup per serving. Strawberry and Granola Yogurt Bark Image via sixsisterstuff.com Beat out ice cream cravings with these simple four-ingredient yogurt bark bars. If you are not a fan of the strawberry granola combo you can switch it up for any pairing of fruit and nuts or seeds that you prefer. This is a super simple and healthy way to conquer that 3 p.m. desire for a sweet treat. Take a look at the recipe from sixsistersstuff.com. Ingredients: -24 oz container of greek yogurt of your choice (plain is the best option) -2 teaspoons of honey -1 cup of strawberries, sliced -1 cup of granola Instructions: •In a small bowl (or even in the yogurt container), mix together honey and yogurt. •Spread the mixture into the bottom of a 913 pan that has been covered in aluminum foil. •Sprinkle the strawberries and the granola over the top of the yogurt, slightly pressing it into the yogurt with your hands. •Freeze for about 1 hour, or until completely frozen. •Remove from freezer, and cut into about 12 slices (I used a pizza cutter). •Serve immediately, or keep in freezer in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 30 days. Baked Kale Chips Sometimes, we just crave a little something crispy and salty, and no this is not reason to reach for a bag of potato chips! Rather, you can purchase a huge bag of kale at your local grocer and turn it into a delicious batch of baked kale chips! Dense in vitamins A, C, and K, fiber, and calcium, kale is one of the healthiest foods you can eat, and it makes truly delicious chips with only two ingredients. Find the recipe from marthastewart.com. Ingredients: -1 bunch torn kale leaves (stems removed) -2 Tbsp olive oil -Seasoning of choice Instructions: •Heat oven to 350 degrees. •Arrange kale on two rimmed baking sheets. Drizzle evenly with olive oil and toss. Season with salt. •Bake, rotating trays once, until crisp, 12 to 15 minutes. Toss with lemon zest.