My Chocolate Fantasy

As human beings, we all feel the need to nibble from time to time.  It is part of our human nature.  There is nothing wrong with snacking, sometimes, it is even recommended.  As a Type II diabetic, I was surprised when it was recommended that I eat small amounts 5 times a day.  Yes, that means snacking.  It’s what you nibble on that counts.  Here are twenty-five ideas for snacks that won’t leave you feeling guilty and come in at under 100 calories.  Since some of the resources that publish these articles do not allow for keywords to be repeated, the word “calories” cannot be repeated after the number listed below.  However, you will note that is what the number means.  And remember different brand names and sizes, such as the mini carrots, can make a small calorie count difference.  But the numbers given are the general accepted numbers for these items.1.   1-ounce or 3 tablespoons of raisins = 85 2.   1 string cheese stick = 72 3.   1/3 cup sliced apple with 1-oz reduced fat Swiss cheese = 92 4.   4 Hershey’s chocolate kisses = 98 5.   1/3 cup frozen lowfat vanilla yogurt drizzled with 1 tsp warm honey = 91 6.   20 jelly beans = 81 7.   10 baked tortilla chips with 1/4 cup salsa = 95 8.   1 cup sliced cucumber with 1/4 cup lowfat plain yogurt for dipping = 58 9.   1 pretzel rod wrapped with 1 thin slice of lean turkey or ham = 73 10.  1/2 cup fat-free butterscotch pudding with 1 vanilla wafer = 87 11.  3/4 cup nonfat chocolate milk = 96 12.  8 mini carrots = 40 13.  50 thin pretzel sticks = 96 14.  3/4 cup seedless grapes = 86 15.  10 dried apricot halves = 83  16.  10 bakes tortilla chips = 85 17.  12 cherry tomatoes = 4318.  1/2 cup miniature marshmallows = 7319.  1 mini bagel, toasted, with 1 tbsp lowfat ricotta cheese = 8820.  1/4 cup chocolate sorbet with 1/4 cup sliced banana and 1 tsp chocolate syrup = 9321.  1/2 reduced fat chocolate graham cracker with a half cup nonfat milk22.  5 bite sized tootsie rolls = 9023.  1/2 cup Cracker Jack = 85 calories24.  6 plain mini rice cakes = 4625.  2 tablespoons dry-roasted sunflower seeds =93Enjoy!

We enjoy camping and hiking during the Summer season here on the East Coast 4-6 months of every year. As seasoned campers, we prefer to make our own snack mixes to take along.All of these recipes are easy to make. If you are going camping, store the snack mixes in plastic containers. If you are going hiking, you can place the mix into a plastic zipper close bag. You will want to make sure that you keep the moisture out.Mountain Trail Mix1 cup pumpkin seeds1 cup raisins1 cup salted peanuts1 cup small pretzel sticks1 cup plain M&M’s chocolate coated candies1 cup oyster crackers1 cup sunflower seedsUsing a large bowl, combine all of the above ingredients together in the order that they are listed. Store mixture in airtight containers. This recipe will make seven 1 cup servings.Tangy Nut Mix4 cups salted roasted peanuts1/3 cup barbecue sauce2 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheesePreheat oven to 300 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine nuts and barbecue sauce, stir until coated. Spread mixture onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake in a 300 degree oven for 20-25 minutes or until nuts are dry. Place on waxed paper to cool. Once cool, store in an airtight container.Savory Pretzels2 bags broken salted pretzels1/2 lb. butter, softened1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce1 envelope onion soup mixMelt butter in your microwave. In a medium-sized bowl, combine soup mix and Worcestershire sauce. Pour mixture over pretzels and mix well. Cover and let stand until all of the liquid is absorbed, stirring every once in awhile to coat mixture. Place pretzels pieces in a warm 250 degree oven for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. The longer you bake them, the crunchier the pretzels will be. Once cool, store in an airtight container.