What are some easy ways to snack smart with plant-packed pairings?
Answer
Snacking is all the rage these days! In fact, a recent report shows that Gen Z and millennials are fanatical about snacking – eating 5+ snacks per day![1] This uptick in snacking highlights a promising opportunity to eat more fruits and vegetables – an area where nine out of 10 Americans fall short.[2]
There are so many unique ways to elevate your snacks with fruits and veggies. One of my favorite ways to boost vegetables and flavor into snacks is by using hummus. Made with wholesome chickpeas, hummus is a vegetable and pairs perfectly with other veggies like red & yellow peppers, carrots and cucumbers. The perfect plant-packed veggie pairing!
But hummus is even more than a veggie-friendly dip for snacking – hummus is also a versatile ingredient that can boost the nutrition in favorite snacks. Here are some of my favorite snacking swaps starring hummus:
Creamy Hummus & Veggie Quesadilla
Kids will love these! If you want to boost the fiber in their snacks, swap hummus for the cheese, for a plant-based quesadilla. I use a 12-inch whole-grain tortilla and swap 3 ounces of hummus for a half-cup of shredded cheddar or Monterey jack cheese, and add colorful veggies like red pepper and spinach. This recipe saves 8 grams of saturated fat and adds almost 6 grams of fiber – talk about a win!
Ants & Hummus on a Log
I like to put a spin on this classic by swapping hummus for peanut butter and topping it with black sesame seeds for “hummus on a log.” Replacing two tablespoons of peanut butter with two tablespoons of hummus can save over 100 calories and 2 grams of saturated fat.
Zesty Hummus Spinach Dip
Plus-up your party snacks with this savory dip! A typical spinach dip calls for 10 oz of frozen spinach (defrosted and well-drained) mixed with 1 cup of full-fat sour cream and 1 cup of mayonnaise. If you want to save some calories in your snacks, when you swap in 2 cups of hummus for both you’ll save 40 calories and 1.5 grams of saturated fat per 2 tablespoon serving of dip, without sacrificing on flavor. Mix in ½ cup chopped parsley, ¼ cup sliced scallions, zest from 2 lemons and ¼ tsp black pepper. Serve with an array of veggies like yellow peppers, cauliflower and celery – yum!
For more easy & fun ways to snack with hummus, check out https://sabra.com/recipes and let me know what you whip up!
