Healthy low fat snacks to … uh, live for!

When we think of ‘healthy’ and ‘low fat’ in the same thought, we tend to follow that thought with ‘ugh … diet food’. However, there are an abundance of healthy low fat foods that are absolutely delicious ways in indulging and eating healthy at the same time. Don’t believe me?

Hey, let’s see.

Mushrooms, onion, red bell pepper and pineapple chunks on a skewer, takes just minutes to make and stick under the broiler. A healthy and delicious snack indeed.

Spinach dip, from the deli – check that it’s a low fat version – or a homemade dip made with fresh spinach and low fat sour cream can be teamed with a variety of fresh veggies, such as broccoli florets, carrot sticks, button mushrooms and pearl onions for a gourmet, but healthy, low fat snack that seems more like party food than diet food.

Here’s one of my very favorite healthy low fat snacks: A plateful of whole grain crackers, like Triscuit(TM) Fire Roasted Tomato and Olive, with a thin slice of low fat smoked cheddar on each cracker.

Set these on a cookie sheet and broil just until the cheese melts. Immediately sprinkle the crackers with fresh chopped parsley. This ’snack’ is a dinner for the snack connoisseur!

Other pleasing whole grain cracker snacks include toppings of Krab(R), salad shrimp or fake lobster. Mix the shellfish with a bit of low fat mayonnaise and load up the crackers. Add a sprig of fresh cilantro for a culinary delight of a snack.

Whole grain crackers can also serve as a plate for small chunks of smoked salmon. Lay some freshly chopped tarragon on each cracker and eat to your heart’s content. The pun is intended – that salmon is packed with Omega 3s, antioxidants and a tonic for your heart.

A fruit ambrosia makes a delectable, albeit healthy low fat snack. Cut up a few strawberries, a banana, a handful of blueberries and some mandarin oranges into a medium sized bowl. Mix in a container of pina colada flavored yogurt, along with a tablespoon or two of non dairy whipped topping. Heavenly.

How about a whole grain bagel in your favorite flavor – onion and blueberry are delicious – toasted and topped with low fat cream cheese?

This makes a good mid-morning or afternoon healthy low fat snack. Filling, too.

Fruit smoothies are healthy low fat snacks that seem almost sinful, but are actually innocent indulgences. This snack is a variation on the ambrosia.

Pile your ingredients into the blender and press the button. Top it off with non-dairy whipped topping and a dash of wheat germ for a thoroughly satisfying, filling and nutrition packed snack.

So you can see that the best low fat snacks don’t have to feel and taste like diet food. Instead of feeling deprived, you’ll feel like you should be feeling guilty!

Not.