Veggie Snacks

What is the one food that is most often fed to the dog at the dinner table? Nine times out of ten, someone is going to say vegetables. They really aren’t that bad and they are good for you. Vegetables come in so many shapes, sizes and flavors that you are bound to find at least one you like.

Veggies don’t need any dressing up to make them taste good. Nature has done that all by itself. They are picked fresh from the earth filled with sweet and succulent taste. The best veggies are the ones found fresh in stores, at farmer’s markets, or even better, your own garden.

Vegetables can keep without freezing or refrigerating them which is good for snacking on the run. You can grab a bag of veggies and hit the road. Most vegetables will do well when sliced into sticks, cubes, or chips. In this form, they are easier to manage.

One of many people’s biggest problems is eating while driving. We tend to try to do everything while driving and eating seems to be the hardest. No one wants to end up in a tree or someone’s yard because of a sandwich. To avoid these and other eating mishaps, pack your vegetables in plastic bags or small containers.

Carrots can be cut into sticks or a veggie slicer can cut them into chips. Don’t waste time buying baby carrots. It is easy enough to take a regular size carrot and fix it up. The same goes for cucumbers, beets, peppers, squash, zucchini, and other rigid veggies.

Tomatoes are classified as fruits, but we will consider them vegetables here. Many people just eat them like a fruit. Add a pinch of salt and bite in. Broccoli and cauliflower can also be eaten raw. Celery is a good veggie because it is filled with water. It can relieve thirst and hunger at the same time.

What are vegetables without dip? Dip adds a flavor to veggies and even kids who turn their noses up to vegetables will eat certain ones if they are dipped in something. My kids love carrots and broccoli with ranch dressing dip. Many dips can be made at home with dry seasoning packets and fat free sour cream. For a different taste add your own fresh herbs. Sweet dips, like yogurt based ones, are also good with veggie snacks. Dip can be stored in a container or a two-piece salad bowl. With the salad bowl, the dip doesn’t mix with the vegetables until you are ready to eat them.

Vegetables can be excellent snacks for those times when you are hungry but it is not time to eat a full meal. You can sit in front of the television and eat an entire bag of carrot sticks or cucumber chips without guilt. Take them in the car, on the job, or outside for a quick energy pick-me-up. No matter what way you choose to eat them, vegetables make healthy snack foods for everyone.