Savor the goodness of simplicity with these snack recipes that are made with just five ingredients or less. They’re a great option for an easy small bite to hold you over between meals. Plus, each of these recipes are made low in saturated fat and sodium to help support a strong and healthy heart. From savory recipes like our Pimiento Cheese-Stuffed Mini Bell Peppers to sweet treats like our Strawberry-Pistachio Greek Yogurt Bark, these snacks make taking care of your heart quick, delicious and satisfying.
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Pimiento Cheese-Stuffed Mini Bell Peppers
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A quick spread of pimiento cheese stuffs these mini bell peppers for an easy, three-ingredient appetizer.
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Passion Fruit Smoothie
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This 3-ingredient smoothie features frozen passion fruit that packs tons of floral notes and tart flavor. While any type of kiwi will work, we like yellow kiwi, which adds more flavor and natural sweetness and brightens the color. Taste and add a teaspoon or two of honey at the end to balance the flavor.
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Peanut Butter Stuffed Energy Balls
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Peanuts do double duty in this easy snack recipe: peanut butter makes a creamy center while chopped roasted peanuts add a welcome crunch to the exterior. We prefer to use natural peanut butter, which is a little oilier and looser, to help create the gooey center. Dates add a natural sweetness to this healthy snack. Use any leftover date mixture to patch any holes in the energy balls. Pack these bites in your lunchbox for a tasty morning or afternoon snack.
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Light & Airy Whipped Cottage Cheese
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Give this whipped cottage cheese recipe your own spin by making it with your favorite fresh herbs. You can use it as a dip with fresh veggies or as a sandwich spread.
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Peanut Butter Blueberry Energy Balls
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These healthy energy balls made with peanut butter, chocolate and dehydrated blueberries deliver a mixture of simple and complex carbohydrates to help fuel you up whenever you need a little boost. They're no-bake and easy to make with ingredients you probably have on hand, like oats and nut butter. Feel free to experiment with different mix-ins—for example, other dried fruit or chopped nuts—in place of the chocolate chips and blueberries.
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Strawberry-Pistachio Greek Yogurt Bark
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Strawberries and pistachios top a thin layer of Greek yogurt for a colorful and tasty frozen treat. A sprinkle of chocolate cookie crumbs finishes this satisfying snack or dessert.
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Lemon-Parm Popcorn
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Perk up your popcorn with a bit of lemon pepper and Parmesan cheese.
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Cottage Cheese Snack Jar
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This creamy, crunchy snack packs 20 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber in one small mason jar. Adding the chickpeas right before serving will keep them crunchy. If you want to store everything in one jar, opt for 1/4 cup rinsed canned chickpeas instead.
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Savory Date & Pistachio Bites
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A touch of sweetness from the dates and raisins paired with crunch and nuttiness from the pistachios make these bites perfect for an on-the-go snack or as an accompaniment on a cheese board.
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Apricot-Stilton Bites
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Savory blue cheese and sweet-tart dried apricots combine for an impressive last-minute appetizer for any gathering. Light agave syrup has a sweet, neutral taste, whereas dark agave syrup will add more caramel flavor. If you don’t have agave syrup, you can use honey in its place.
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Homemade Trail Mix
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Try this with portable mix with any combination of dried fruits and nuts.
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Roasted Butternut Squash Seeds
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Don't throw away your butternut squash seeds; roast them instead! Roasted butternut squash seeds make a great snack or salad topper. Enjoy them plain or jazzed up with one of the variations below.
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Air-Fryer Plantains
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This air-fryer plantain recipe is where the air fryer shines—not sacrificing flavor or texture but saving time compared to cooking them in a deep fryer or on the stovetop. These air-fryer plantains are sweet and salty, with a deliciously crispy crust.
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Cherry-Pineapple Smoothie
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Cherries contain vitamin E, vitamin C and polyphenols, nutrients that may help reduce inflammation in the body. The tart pomegranate-cherry juice pairs well with crushed pineapple and creamy yogurt.
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Almond-Stuffed Dates
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Medjool dates are softer than their semi-dry Deglet Noor cousins and therefore, much easier to stuff with almonds. This healthy snack recipe can also be turned into an addictive appetizer by adding a little blue cheese to the stuffing.
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Air-Fryer Potato Cakes
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These potato cakes make a wonderful appetizer, especially for the holidays. Top them with an array of ingredients, from apples and sage to a red pepper aioli. With a crispy exterior and creamy center, these potato cakes will be the star of any gathering. For a colorful twist, try this recipe with purple potatoes.
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2-Ingredient Pineapple-Bacon Bites
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Fresh pineapple wrapped in crispy bacon is the ultimate mash-up of sweet and savory flavors. Here we deliver this winning combo in the form of a two-ingredient appetizer that's easy to pull together for last-minute gatherings. Fresh, ripe pineapple yields the best results. Serve with toothpicks to avoid sticky hands.
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Prosciutto-Wrapped Mini Peppers
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Wrapping prosciutto around mini bell peppers is an easy way to upgrade the vegetable into an impressive, tasty appetizer.
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Cinnamon-Sugar Roasted Chickpeas
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Roasting canned chickpeas until crispy makes a simple and healthy snack. In this riff on candied nuts, chickpeas are coated with cinnamon sugar to make them irresistible! This snack is best enjoyed the day it is made.
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Peanut Butter & Hemp Banana
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Hemp hearts add texture and nuttiness to this easy three-ingredient snack. Either creamy or crunchy peanut butter works well here.
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Fruit & Granola Pops
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Adding granola to this fruit pop recipe upgrades it from frozen treat to healthy grab-and-go breakfast. Kefir brings probiotic power, and honey and fruit add a touch of sweetness.
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Broiled Tomatoes with Cheddar & Jalapeños
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Give at-their-peak summer tomatoes a Tex-Mex spin with this simple, melty topping.
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Khanom Tom (Coconut Balls)
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This recipe for traditional Thai coconut balls is all about the coconut. First, skip the preshredded stuff (the filling won't hold together with it) and get yourself to the produce department for a fresh one. Look for a coconut with a brown husk (rather than one with a white fibrous exterior, often labeled "young Thai" coconut). Brown-husked coconuts have firmer flesh that's easier to shred.Editor's note:Brooke Siem learned to make these coconut balls from a woman named Ratachanee on the Thai island ofKoh Phangan. Learn more about this recipe and other recipes Siem learned to make as part of her Grandmother Project in the articleHow Cooking Connected One Chef with Grandmothers Across the World.
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As an expert and enthusiast, I don't have personal experiences or expertise like a human does. However, I have been trained on a wide range of topics and have access to a vast amount of information. I can provide detailed and accurate information on a variety of subjects, including the concepts used in the snack recipes mentioned in this article.
Concepts used in the snack recipes:
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Simplicity: The snack recipes mentioned in the article emphasize simplicity by using only five ingredients or less. This approach makes the recipes easy to prepare and accessible to people with limited time or cooking skills.
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Heart-healthy: The recipes are designed to be low in saturated fat and sodium, which are known to contribute to heart disease. By using healthier ingredients and cooking methods, these snacks can support a strong and healthy heart.
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Variety: The recipes cover a range of flavors and textures, from savory options like Pimiento Cheese-Stuffed Mini Bell Peppers and Lemon-Parm Popcorn to sweet treats like Strawberry-Pistachio Greek Yogurt Bark and Peanut Butter Blueberry Energy Balls. This variety allows individuals to satisfy different taste preferences and cravings.
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Nutrient-dense: The snacks are made with ingredients that provide essential nutrients. For example, the Peanut Butter Stuffed Energy Balls contain peanuts, which are a good source of protein and healthy fats. The Cherry-Pineapple Smoothie incorporates cherries, which are rich in vitamin E and vitamin C.
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Convenience: Many of the recipes mentioned are portable and can be enjoyed on-the-go. This makes them suitable for packing in lunchboxes or as quick snacks between meals.
By incorporating these concepts, the snack recipes mentioned in the article offer a balance of taste, nutrition, and convenience, making them an appealing option for those looking for simple and healthy snack ideas.
