Mangano’s Surefire Snacks

Hummus with Whole Wheat Matzo Bread

You’ll be hard pressed to find a spreadable condiment that’s more healthful and flavorful than hummus.  Made up almost entirely of garbanzo beans, hummus comes in a variety of flavors, from original tahini, to garlic lovers, to red pepper, to artichoke spinach, garden vegetable, even zesty lemon (Cedar’s, my favorite hummus source, offers organic varieties as well).

What’s the best part of hummus?  Well, besides being a great source for protein and fat (i.e., two tablespoons contains five grams of protein and five grams of fat), it’s a healthful alternative to some not so salubrious spreads, like mayonnaise, sour cream, and full fat salad dressings.

I like my hummus on whole-wheat matzo bread as a snack, but it also serves as a tasty topping to chicken breast for dinner guests.

Larabars

This is one of the few times I actually encourage you to eat a snack that comes in a plastic wrapper.  That’s because Larabars aren’t your typical snack.

Your traditional plastic-wrapped snack has about 20 ingredients, most of them too difficult to pronounce.  Larabars, on the other hand, have no more than eight ingredients—all of which are pronounceable because all 16 varieties are made with whole food that’s entirely gluten free, dairy free, soy free and non-GMO.

These are the best tasting snack bars you’ll ever eat.  They come in 16 different flavors (my favorite is cashew cookie), but not for long, as their pistachio flavor is retiring in the not too distant future.  To order online, check out their web site (as usual, I have no financial ties to Larabar).

Carrot, Apple, Beet and Celery Juice

I typically prefer eating my snacks, but I make an exception when it comes to my favorite juice, which calls for carrots, apples, beets and celery.

As I wrote in a past posting, I’m not crazy about beets.  Celery and carrots aren’t my favorite things to eat, either.  But because these vegetables are so nutrient dense, I try and fit them into my diet each and every day.  And the easiest way for me to do that is by juicing them.  The carrots are an abundant source for vitamin A, apples are an ideal potassium and phosphorus source, beets contain betaine (a nutrient that reduces the risk of heart disease) and celery has anti-cancer and anti-Alzheimer’s disease properties.

So, the next time you’ve got a case of the munchies, give these snacks a try.  Your body will thank you.

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