Category Archives: Snacks

Fave Fix: Corazonas heart-healthy tortilla chips

Corazonas

Think chips have to be a guilty pleasure reserved only for cheat days? Think again.

I was in search of a healthier option to pair with my favorite guacamole recipe when the folks at Corazonas reached out to see if I’d like to check out their line of cholesterol-lowering crisps (wait, isn’t that an oxymoron?!).

Well, as it turns out, these puppies are infused with something called plant sterols, which have been shown in more than 140 clinical studies to help fight heart disease by lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol.

In fact, researchers from The University of Canada recently published a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, showing that people who followed a “Portfolio Diet” consisting of foods like oatmeal, almonds, soy protein, eggplant and plant sterols lowered their LDL levels by almost 13 percent over a six-month period (as compared to those who followed a low-fat diet and experienced only a three percent reduction).

But how do they taste?

Great, actually. They’ve got the same crispness of your usual tortilla chips, but without the usual grease that hits your gut (and your waistline) after the fact. And they’re available in three flavors – Lightly Salted, Squeeze of Lime and (my personal favorite), the zesty Black Bean & Cheese pictured here.

corozonas1

Now this doesn’t mean you can eat the entire bag in one sitting (everything in moderation, people!), but Corazonas tortilla chips do fall into the Portfolio eating plan and offer an impressive 18g of whole grain and 3g of fiber in each serving.

Now that’s some smarter snacking you can really take to heart!

Thanks to the folks at Corazonas for providing samples for review; all opinions are my own. 

Fave Fix: Snikiddy’s smart snack swaps


Snikiddy

Football season is in full swing, Halloween is nearly here, and holiday parties are just around the corner…let the mindless munching commence!

Ok, ok – so it’s not necessarily bad news for nibblers: Savvy snacking can actually help you lose weight by staving off hunger and preventing overeating. That is, as long as you keep your wits about you when staring down a gauntlet of goodies.

A few tips:

1. Plan ahead. When hunger hits and you’re unprepared, you can get into some real trouble. Have something light and healthy (fruit and cheese, or even a handful of nuts and crackers) before you set foot into the party. That way, you can relax and enjoy yourself instead of making a beeline for the buffet.

2. Practice portion control. As with many things in life, bigger is not better. So say ‘no’ to supersizing, whether it’s your plate, your serving or (like me, often) your eyes in proportion to your stomach. Start with small tastes, eat slowly and savor every bite.

3. Pick replacements. Choose flavor-packed snacks that contribute to the feeling of fullness and satisfaction. And when you’ve got a favorite food that you just can’t pass up, find a healthier replacement to satisfy that craving…otherwise you’ll keep eating other stuff in an attempt to fill the void.

Case in point: Chips. Sometimes you just need that hit of salty crunchiness. But all the grease, artificial ingredients and extra calories? Not so much.

Well, that very same dilemma inspired Mary Owings Schulman, a mother concerned about her kids eating healthy, to create a company called Snikiddy, which makes snacks that promote good health.

Snikiddy’s all-natural snacks are made from non-GMO ingredients, are certified wheat- and gluten-free and come in three varieties – Cheese Puffs, Baked Fries and an eight-veggie crisp, Eat Your Vegetables.

These are some seriously good snacks. I even ran an unofficial taste-test among a group of friends and the consensus was that they are…delicious. If you like Pirate’s Booty, you’ll love the cheese puffs, and the fries packed a big punch of flavor in a crunchy little straw.

But the crowd favorite, by far, was the veggie crisps. Not only are they tasty and filling (one tester described them as “surprisingly substantial”), but they’re also super crunchy and flavorful, almost like pita chips. Plus there’s a full serving of veggies in every ounce.

But the best part? Finally, a great chip for scooping guac… you know, just in case you want a little extra-veggie credit next time you get a snack attack.

Thanks to the folks at Snikiddy for providing samples for review; all opinions are my own. 

Lighter football fare: Betty’s Baked Buffalo Wings

Photo credit: Saveur.com

Photo credit: Saveur.com

Even the most committed diet and exercise devotees need to let loose once in a while.

I’m a firm believer in playing couch potato during football games; it’s perfect opportunity to make the most of your rest and recovery day.

But there is a difference between watching the linemen…and eating like one, which is why these wings are a perfect addition to your next game-day gathering.

Not only does the recipe come from my mom, a born-and-bred Buffalonian, but it’s a healthier take on the authentic recipe (i.e. crispy, delicious and not at all fried).

Betty’s Baked Buffalo Wings

Ingredients:

  • 1 package chicken wings
  • 3 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 1/2 teaspoon vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons Frank’s Hot Sauce
  • Celery, cleaned and cut into sticks
  • Your favorite low-fat blue cheese dressing

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Remove chicken wings from package; cut off wing tips and separate drumette and double-bone pieces at the joint.
  3. Bake wings on a foil-lined cookie sheet until skin is crispy on the outside and meat is no longer pink in the center, about 45 minutes (turn the wings over halfway so they cook evenly).
  4. Mix butter, vinegar and Frank’s Hot Sauce in a large bowl, adding wings and tossing gently until completely coated.
  5. Place wings on a second foil-lined cookie sheet, and bake again at 275 degrees for about 10-15 minutes or until nice and crisp.
  6. Serve with celery sticks and low-fat blue cheese dressing dip while cheering on your team!