Are you ready for some snacking????

photo via Hass Avocados

Jen! I wanted to see if you would be posting any HHB Superbowl appetizer ideas. I am having some people over and am tired of the same old recipes, but also want to serve some healthy stuff since starting my new nutrition program two weeks ago.  Let me know, and if not I will have to brainstorm a little harder.  

Take care, 

Rachel

I like watching football, but for me the Super Bowl is really just an excuse to get everyone together for some hard core snacking.  I suspect I am not alone in that sentiment.  Super Bowl snacks usually are synonymous with fatty, gut clogging fare, but this does not have to be the case.  In my heart of hearts, I truly believe that delicious and healthy are not mutually exclusive.  I will continue to shout that sentiment to anyone who will listen until I finally go off to that great big salad bar in the sky.  In honor of healthy snacks far and wide, here is what I will be serving at this year's Super Bowl Fete:

Crudites
When I told the cater for my wedding that I wanted to have crudites she said, "But nobody really eats that."  Au contraire, my caterer friend.  People will eat crudites but as with all things, presentation is key.  You can't put out some wilted, sad, crushed spirit crudites.  Find the most beautiful, colorful, vibrant veggies you can get your hands on and then arrange them on a gorgeous platter (like this one).  Make your veggies the centerpiece of the snack table.  Surround them with olives, crusty whole grain baguette, mustard, delicious vegan dip, hummus and guacamole.  Then, in much smaller bowls, put out some vegetable chips, organic tortilla chips and nuts.  If you are feeling like a fancy pants you could even add some grilled vegetables to the mix.  Then people can use the baguette to make their own mini veggie sandwiches.  By making veggies the star of the show, you will be surprised how quickly they get gobbled up.  If you build it, they will eat.

Kale Salad
Yep.  I'm am going to keep posting this salad until you love it as much as I do.  I've said it before and I'll say it again: this salad is great for parties because it doesn't wilt under its dressing.  In fact, it gets more delicious the longer it marinates.  Spoiler alert: this salad might even be a contender for this week's Salad Sundays.





Baked Potato Bar
I got this great idea from the blog where great ideas go to play…Cup of Jo.  A baked potato bar is when you bake a bunch of potatoes ahead of time and then put out all the fixins'.   The genius thing about this is, since everyone gets to choose their own toppings, it caters to all different types of eaters.  You can have vegan and non-vegan toppings happily coexisting together in peace and harmony (without having to make a butt load of different appetizers).  My baked potato bar is going to have vegan butter, Daiya "cheese", sauteed spinach, vegetarian chili, chives, guacamole and salsa.  I might even throw some sweet potatoes into the mix because I'm wacky like that.

Vegan Cookies and Vanilla Coconut Ice Cream

One of my favorite party desserts is Make Your Own Ice Cream Sandwiches.  (Are you noticing the "make your own" theme in this post??  "Make your own" is fun and it keeps you from having to slave in the kitchen while everyone else is hanging out.)  I put out a plate of vegan cookies (like Trader Joe's Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies) and a big bowl of vanilla coconut ice cream with plenty of spoons.  Not only are ice cream sandwiches a fun, "feel like a kid again" dessert, but you pretty much have your bases covered in terms of guest preferences.  If someone doesn't like chocolate or cookies, you could just throw some ice cream in a fancy bowl with frozen blueberries and…voila!  You have a whole new dessert.

-♥ J :)

P.S. You can find the recipe for the Field of Guacamole pictured above HERE.
P.P.S.  Look at THESE adorable "burger" cookies.  Hmmm…I wonder if I could make them vegan...

My Top 5 Favorite Snacks

Marysa emailed me earlier in the week asking for some snack ideas.  I am not a big fan of snacking.  In a perfect world we would all eat three meals a day in a civilized setting at a slow pace with good company and great wine.  In a perfect world…or you know…France.  But, alas, the world is not perfect and I am not French and I often have to eat in my car.  Such is life.  Here are my Go-To snacks when real life eclipses my French day dream:

1. Lara Bars or Pure Bars

I don't like "food" bars.  Most of them are just glorified candy bars full of dairy, sugar and chemicals.  These two are the exception.  They are raw, vegan, gluten-free and made of actual food.  I literally have one of these in my bag at all times.

2. Trader Joe's Nut Packs
That's not their real name.  That's just what John and I call them.  They are the pre-portioned packs of Trader Joe's Trail Mix.  These, also, are always in my bag.  Always.


3. Raw Cucumber and Carrot Sticks
Unglamorous. Utilitarian.  The dieter's cliche.  But I still contend this is the best thing that you can have as a snack.  For 3 reasons:
1. They are portable.  
2. They automatically up your veggie quotient for the day.
3. They are a litmus test as to whether you are really hungry or just looking to have a party in your mouth.  I always say if you are not hungry enough to eat a carrot then you are probably not really hungry.  Fun the veggies up by eating them with salsa, hummus or Faux-a-mole (avocado mushed up with garlic powder and lemon pepper).


4. Trader Joe's Organic Popcorn (2 cups)
This is my late night snack.  Try it sprinkled with Parma Vegan Parmesan or Braggs Liquid Aminos if you are in the mood for something savory.  Sprinkle it with cinnamon and Nu Naturals Stevia if you're craving sweet.


5. Romaine Lettuce Wraps
These work great as a lunch, too.  Take a large romaine leaf and layer it with your ingredients.  Fold in half like a taco and enjoy!  Here are some ingredient ideas:

-romaine with almond butter and honey (sounds weird, but is SO good!)
-romaine with hummus, tomato and cucumber
-romaine with mustard, tomato and avocado

Now we all know that I am vegan and greatly encourage all things vegan, but since I know that many of you readers are not vegan…
Here's a little tip: 
Romaine Lettuce Wraps are a great answer to the food combining question "What do I do with deli meat if I can't have sandwiches?"  Two of those wraps (hint: not the almond butter one…) would work great with say…turkey.  
But you did not hear that from me.  
Because I'm a vegan.
And I think turkeys are friends...not snacks.

-♥ J :)