Snack Platter

If you're anything like me you find yourself opening the fridge and/or pantry multiple times throughout the day expecting something delicious and nutritious to magically appear. However, as you scan the shelves of your pantry and take inventory of the Pop-tarts, bread crumbs, pasta, baked beans and taco kits you soon realize nothing is going to morph into a low fat, low sugar, low calorie, great tasting and healthy snack so you give up and tear into a bag of so-called "fruit pastry" and devour it like a famished woman who just ended a week long "flush." Grant it, there are days where nothing will silence the call of the pop-tart (by the way, how messed up is it that ONE serving is like 200 calories and 4 grams of fat BUT they put TWO servings in a bag?!) but if you provide yourself and your family with an easy to serve substitute the battle will be half over.


For example, yesterday I filled a divided snack tray with fresh fruits and vegetables then placed the tray in the fridge at a level where it would be the first thing I saw every time I opened the door. Then later in the day when I did my usual snack scan of the fridge, I opened the door and was greeted by the bountiful tray of healthy snacks. I grabbed a few carrots, some strawberries and a couple broccoli florets and was on my way. When my kids woke from their naps and asked for a snack, I pulled the tray out, set it on the table and watched in shock as they ate AND enjoyed all the healthy stuff!


I'm not a purist and have definitely been known to consume massive amounts of brownies in one sitting but it's great to know that when I take the time to wash and chop fresh fruits and veggies and make them easy to access, my family and I will be more inclined to eat healthy. So grab some fruits and vegetables from your local farmer's market or produce stand and get to snacking. Is that celery sticks I hear calling my name?





"Then God said, 'I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food." Genesis 1:29