Healthy Snacks for Cold Winter Days
I know many of us complain about the cold weather but it is really healthy to go out and play in the snow.
Try these delicious and nutritious snacks to warm you up after your outdoor activities. We tested them out at Cannonsburg Ski area last week and they were a big hit!
Apple Raspberry Spiced Cider
This is delicious served with some warm homemade muffins. Search for recipes at meijermealbox. Makes 8-10 servings
2 quarts Meijer sweet apple cider
1 can (12 oz.) frozen apple-raspberry juice blend, thawed
1 or 2 whole cinnamon sticks, broken in half
2 cups fresh or frozen raspberries
In a saucepan, stir together apple in a saucepan, stir together apple cider, raspberry cocktail concentrate and cinnamon sticks. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then lower the heat to low and let simmer for about 10 minutes. Stir in raspberries and serve directly from the saucepan or transfer to a Crock-Pot to keep warm.
Creamy Hot Cocoa
Makes 4 servings
1/3 cup Meijer unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup Meijer sugar
1/3 cup boiling water
4 cups 2% milk
3/4 teaspoon Meijer pure vanilla extract
Combine the cocoa and sugar in a saucepan. Blend in the boiling water. Bring this mixture to an easy boil while you stir. Simmer and stir for about 2 minutes. Watch that it doesn’t scorch.
Stir in milk and heat until very hot (do not boil!) Remove from heat and add vanilla. Divide between four mugs. Add a candy cane for a stir stick if desired.
Apple Dip
1 (8 oz.) package Meijer lite cream cheese
1/2 cup Meijer brown sugar
1 tablespoon Meijer pure vanilla extract
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, brown sugar and vanilla. Mix well until all of the brown sugar has been blended into the cream cheese and vanilla.
Sweet Potato Chips
Meijer nonstick vegetable spray
2 medium sweet potatoes
2 teaspoon Meijer canola oil
1 teaspoon Meijer sugar
1/2 teaspoon Meijer ground cinnamon
Preheat oven to 400°. Coat cookie sheets with nonstick vegetable spray and set aside.
Wash and skin potatoes. Cut potatoes into thin slices. Gently rub a little bit of oil onto the potato slices as you place them in a bowl. Toss with your hands to distribute the oil.
Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Toss again.
Spread the slices on the baking sheets and cook for 20 minutes.
Turn chips and bake another 5 minutes or until slightly crisp.
Cool and serve.
I always had an interest in food and nutrition and attended Central Michigan University to earn a Bachelors Degree in Dietetics. Several years later, I went back to college to obtain my Masters degree in Human Nutrition from Andrews University. I have been a Registered Dietitian for 27 years and have spent the last 20 years working with Supermarkets. I discovered years ago that grocery stores were a great place to reach consumers and help them obtain accurate nutrition information. I also realized that busy families are looking for quick, affordable, and healthy ideas for meals. In my position as Healthy Living Manager at Meijer I spend a lot of time working with food manufacturers and commodity groups to search out and create easy recipes that can become part of family-pleasing menus. Although my two daughters are now grown and married, my husband and I continue to enjoy cooking together and creating new recipes with nutritious ingredients. I hope my information provides you and your family with easy ideas to live a healthy life!