Confessions Of A Snack Fiend

Healthier Options for the Snacking Fiend

We’ve all met those people who can make any type of food, whether fresh, frozen, savory or sweet, taste like a gourmet dish at a five-star restaurant. They prepare delicious meals without planning, measuring or putting much thought into the activity; it just comes naturally.

Note: If you consider yourself to be one of these delightful people, please stop reading now because this article will be more aggravating than helpful.

Calling all food slackers! I will never stop eating out, snacking and searching for the best cookies around. I’ve been known to stir up odd concoctions: tomato soup with rice and cheese slices, piles of wheat-thins dipped in cream cheese, instant mashed potatoes or 3 bowls of cereal for dinner.

Maybe it’s the winter or perhaps my morning Yerba mates have finally gotten to my head, but this belly wants greens, veggies and less white fluff. As a food slacker, the desire for green food is so foreign and confusing; it’s easy to ignore these disturbing thoughts and to continue the 7-11 journey for that Red Vine and Baked Lays fix.

Stop and take on the challenge of this bizarre life stage. Here are a few quick ideas for the snacking kings and queens of the world experiencing green, Super food cravings for the first time in their lives:

• Add a small salad to your lunch. Don’t go overboard on the Ranch dressing; try to use balsamic or oil and vinegar for starters. So what, you ordered a burger? Eat half of it with a small side salad. I promise you will feel better about the whole situation.
• Just because we’re venturing into green territory, does not mean it’s time to stop snacking. Put your snacking expertise to work, implementing a few modifications: try an apple instead of chips, a handful of almonds instead of an energy bar, and spoon in some yogurt as an alternative to buttery crackers.
• Dinner is by far the most challenging meal for food slackers. Seeking instant gratification, we look for quick fixes for our lazy food habits by utilizing random, unhealthy tidbits in the pantry. Here, here! Contrary to popular belief, the grocery store is not a haunted house and fresh produce won’t eat your cat. If you’re still feeling lost, I’ll share my secret dinner recipe that is satisfying, veggie-ridden and tasty.

What you’ll need:

*Asparagus

*Mushrooms

*Olive Oil

*Brown Rice

*Salt and Pepper

Optional: Chicken, Salmon, Pork

Personally, I enjoy the sweet undertones of asparagus, but if you’re more of a broccoli, kale, or spinach fan, substitute away. Often, my lunches and restaurant meals are filled with meat, so I prefer to have this as more of a meat-free, cleansing meal. However, add what you please!

Sauté the asparagus and mushrooms in a tablespoon of olive oil for 10 or 15 minutes! In case you’ve never touched fresh produce, it might be a good idea to give them a quick wash before cooking. Boil the rice as directed and keep an eye on the cooking time.

Grind a bit of pepper and sprinkle salt on your final dish. Viola the meal is complete: munch, crunch and nom, nom!

Alleviate your sweet tooth with this cookie recipe after you finish the greens…

Snacking prevails!

Wondering what drives your cravings?

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FeelGoodNow Contributor: Chrissie Nims

This wild cookie gobbler enjoys roaming the online world, exploring new marketing strategies and meeting new people. Chrissie satisfies her sweet tooth with healthy, all natural recipes that make her sugary guilt melt away. She loves discovering secret, sunny spots during the winter, skiing and taming wild, rambunctious ponies. 


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