Friday, January 19, 2018

Healthy Snack Ideas for Family Movie Nights

I'm not a fan of the cold, winter weather, but what I like is staying warm and cuddled at home on the comfy couch (or bed) and planning family movie nights. It's also a great time for family bonding. We get to stay comfortable in our pajamas and make our own delicious snacks without spending a whole lot. It's definitely more relaxing at home.

Did you know that January 19th is National Popcorn Day?

I know the first snack that comes to mind when we think of movies is popcorn. Many people think of it as junk food, but is popcorn healthy? Actually yes, because it is still a whole grain and is high in fibre. Movie theater popcorn, however, is high in fat and sodium. For a healthier option, you can skip the grease and butter and use a bit of extra-virgin olive oil instead (or just plain popcorn). You could also use less salt when making it at home.

Here are some of our creative healthy snack ideas for our family movie nights (in addition to popcorn):

► Homemade Apple Chips

Homemade apple chips are all-natural with no added sugar nor any preservatives. You will need to make this ahead of time. Since I don't have a dehydrator, I used a regular oven to bake these.

How to make apple chips using an oven: Place apple slices on metal baking sheet with oven set to 225F. Bake the apples for about 45mins to 1 hour until dried and edges are curled up.

► Veggies and Dip

Very simple -- just slice some cucumbers, carrots, bell peppers, celery, etc. That day, we just used cucumbers and baby carrots. We created homemade veggie dip using mayonnaise, sour cream, dried vegetables, and some seasoning.

► Whole Grain Crackers with Strawberry & Almond Butter Topping

These snacks are very healthy and high in fibre. Don't forget to drink liquids too because too much fibre in the diet can cause constipation.