Veggie Snacks to Conquer Cravings

Snack time is the best time of my day!

I switch on my favorite TV show, take out my snack bowl, and cut myself off from the world for an hour. It was only recently that my friend forced me to tweak my lifestyle. I used to think that leading a healthy lifestyle was time-consuming and expensive. Thanks to my bestie, who showed me it is possible to stay fit without burning a hole in my pocket..

Apart from exercise, I learned some quick tips to make healthy meals for myself. I prep and freeze homemade food on the weekends. I also learned how to make instant vegetable snacks that could keep me satiated and away from the usual junk food options. The United States Department of Agriculture says we should eat about two to four cups of veggies daily (6). That said,  most people don’t eat enough. A report from 2022 found that only one out of 10 adults in the US eat as many veggies as they should (2).

The sedentary lifestyle most of us are leading today could negatively impact our health. Moving more and getting creative with veggies is our best shot at living healthy. In this article, we have explored some veggie snack recipes and how to prepare them.

Keep reading!

What Are Good Vegetable Snacks?

It is natural to get bored of eating underdressed salads. You can try out different recipes to make your snack time more exciting. Some quick snacks with vegetables can bring color and flavor to your snack time. Check them out!

Sweet Potato Fries

Homemade sweet potato fries are an excellent way to add vegetables. Potatoes are a favorite vegetable of most people worldwide. Consumed in different ways, they are indeed a versatile veggie!

Servings: 4 to 6

Ingredients

Spices:

• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

Oil:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Vegetable:

• 2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled

This recipe is courtesy of cooking.nytimes.com

Preparation

1. Preheat your oven: Set your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Prepare the sweet potatoes: Peel them and cut them into uniform sticks, approximately ¼ to ½ inch wide and 3 inches long.
3. Season: In a small bowl, combine the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Toss the sweet potato sticks with the olive oil, sprinkle the spice mixture over them, and toss them to coat evenly.
4. Arrange and bake: Spread the seasoned sweet potato sticks on two rimmed baking sheets in a single layer. Bake for about 15 minutes until the bottoms are brown and crisp. Flip the fries and continue baking for another 10 minutes or until the other side is crispy.
5. Serve: Enjoy your hot and crispy sweet potato fries!

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Crunchy Keto Kale Chips

Typically, we take raw vegetables to snack on. Making chips out of veggies could be pretty new for most people. It may come as a surprise but it is quite simple to make kale chips keto. Here is the easiest recipe to make healthy kale chips:

Servings: 2

Ingredients

Vegetable: 

• 1 bunch kale

Oil: 

• 2 tbsp olive oil

Spices:

• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp crushed red pepper

Topping: 

• 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese

Preparation

1. Wash and dry kale: Thoroughly wash your kale bunch. Pat it completely dry with paper towels. Excess moisture will make the kale steam instead of crisp up.
2. Tear kale: Rip the kale leaves into bite-sized pieces, removing the stems if desired.
3. Drizzle with oil and season: Add olive oil and your seasonings (salt, garlic powder, etc.). Gently massage the kale with your hands to ensure every leaf is coated.
4. Bake: Spread the kale in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 350°F for about 8 minutes. Check for crispness and continue baking in 2-minute intervals until they reach your desired crunchiness (usually around 10-12 minutes total).
5. Enjoy: Remove from the oven and transfer to a bowl. Your crispy kale chips are now ready to snack on!

This recipe is courtesy of tasteaholics.com.

Spicy Dip and Baby Carrots

Baby carrots are a versatile snack. They can be steamed, eaten raw, or dipped into hummus for a more satisfying snack. They are sweet, crunchy, and easy to pack. This combo is a go-to option for those looking for a veggie snack for kids.

Servings: 4

Ingredients

Base:

• 1/3 cup reduced-fat tub-style cream cheese
• (fat-free) sour cream

Seasonings:

• 3/4 tsp hot pepper sauce
• 1/4 tsp salt

For Dipping: 

• 48 baby carrots

Preparation

1. Mix: Mix the cream cheese, sour cream, pepper sauce, and salt in a bowl until smooth.
2. Wait: Let the dip sit for at least 10 minutes so the flavors can mix.
3. Serve: Serve with carrots for dipping!

This recipe is courtesy of diabetesfoodhub.org.

Read more: 16 Vegan Alternatives for Cheese to Transform Any Meal You Crave

Root Vegetable Chips

If you are on a keto diet and looking for keto snacks, you should try veggie chips. And the best part is, they are pretty easy to prepare. You don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen to make these.

Here you go!

Servings: 6

Ingredients

Vegetables:

• 1 large carrot, trimmed
• 1 large parsnip, trimmed
• 1 sweet potato
• 1 Yukon Gold potato
• 1 large beet

For frying: 

• Canola oil

Preparation

1. Get ready: Find all your ingredients and peel all the vegetables.
2. Prep the vegetables: Slice all the vegetables super thin (carrot, parsnip, sweet potato, potato, and beet). Then, put the carrot, parsnip, sweet potato, and potato slices in a big bowl of iced water. Meanwhile, put the beet slices in a smaller bowl of iced water. Let the vegetables soak for 30 minutes.
3. Dry and prepare to fry: Put paper towels on two baking sheets. Drain the vegetables from the water, then put them on the paper towels and pat them dry.
4. Fry time: Heat your oven to 200 degrees F. And get two plates ready with paper towels. Heat oil in a pot until it is 350 degrees F. Then, fry small batches of vegetable slices until golden brown (about 2 minutes). Put the fried chips on the paper towels to drain. And keep the fried chips warm in the oven.
5. Season and enjoy: Mix salt, garlic powder, and onion powder in a small bowl. Put the warm chips in a big bowl and sprinkle on the seasoning mix. Toss lightly and eat them right away!

This recipe is courtesy of thespruceeats.com.

Besides these, you can find hundreds of recipes for making veggie snacks. Choose the vegetables that you love and that are readily available. Don’t forget to make dressings and dips, too!

What Snacks Can Vegetarians Have?

We often think there aren’t many delicious options for vegetarians out there. And this is what keeps people from going for a vegetarian or vegan diet. If this is you, here are some yummy veggie snack options that could change your perception:

Savory and Fulfilling

• Popcorn
• Cheese sticks or cubes (lacto-ovo vegetarians)
• Seeds and nuts
• Roasted chickpeas
• Hard-boiled eggs (lacto-ovo vegetarians)

Fresh and Crunchy

• Fruits: Apples, bananas, oranges, and berries, etc.
• Vegetables: Cucumbers, celery sticks, carrot sticks, cherry tomatoes, etc.
• Dips: Hummus, nut butter, guacamole

Creative and Yum!

• Kale chips
• Sweet potato fries
• Smoothies
• Fruit and yogurt (lacto-ovo vegetarians)

If you are following a strictly vegan diet, you should make sure you don’t go for snacks that contain animal products like eggs, honey, or dairy.

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What Vegetables Can You Snack on Raw?

Raw vegetables can be a filling snack that doesn’t take much time or effort to prepare. The following are some veggies to snack on raw. Add them to your diet, and enjoy the perks!

Kale

Kale is often called the “superfood” because of its vitamins and antioxidants. These benefits may include a positive impact on skin and bone health, supporting heart health, and lower blood pressure (4).

Zucchini

Zucchini is rich in vitamin A, manganese, potassium, magnesium, and vitamin C. It also has some other vitamins and minerals like vitamin K, folate, and copper (1).

Beetroot

These are rich in iron, fiber, folate, and more (3). Plus, the crunchy, tangy, and sweet flavor of thinly sliced beets adds a unique taste to snacks and salads.

Garlic

It could be pretty challenging to eat raw garlic. But when you crush this vegetable in a puree, you can prepare delicious salad dressings, dips, and sauces.

Parsnips

These vegetables offer incredible benefits with nutrients like potassium, B vitamins, iron and calcium (5). Raw parsnips taste best with intense flavors and spices because they are mild vegetables.

Artichokes

This vegetable has low fat and a rich nutrient profile. Add it to dips and salads, or use them as a side dish.

Many other vegetables could be eaten raw. Cucumber slices, carrot sticks, and onions are some vegetables that can be eaten raw. Try to make different combinations of these vegetables to keep your snack time flavorful!

Read more: Cracking the Perfect Vegan Quesadilla Recipe

How Do You Prepare Vegetables for Snacks?

Preparing vegetables for snacks is easy and takes a few minutes. You can even prepare veggies for the whole week and divide them into different containers. Here are some steps you should take when doing so:

1. Wash them to ensure they are clean.
2. Chop into slices or bite-sized pieces.
3. Eat them raw or cook them the way you like.
4. Dip into sauces or dressings for added flavor.

Remember that variety is the key!

Rotate your vegetables to keep them interesting. You can try out different recipes each day of the week. Or pack them into small containers with dips for grab-and-go snacks. If you ever get bored with vegetables, try recipes with fruits. Some combinations, like the pumpkin keto recipe, can give a good twist to your diet plans! 

FAQs

• Why are vegetables a good snack?

Vegetables are a good snack because they are nutritious and versatile. The nutrient-rich quality of most vegetables and their low-calorie content makes them a good snack option for everyone.

• What are the 7 sensible snacks?

The term “seven sensible snacks” typically includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, nuts (and seeds), protein, and healthy fats.

• What are good vegetable snacks for weight loss?

Many vegetable snacks could help with weight loss. Vegetables are filling but low in calories. Some vegetables you can eat to lose weight include carrots, celery sticks, cucumbers, broccoli, and snap peas.

• What is a healthy snack besides fruit and vegetables?

Some additional healthy snack options include nuts and seeds, dairy, hard-boiled eggs, and popcorn.

The Bottom Line

Switching to vegetables as snacks instead of readymade, shelf-stored foods could be challenging. Your taste buds may not accept this radical switch initially. This is why you need to try tasty veggie snacks. With loads of recipes out there, you should keep looking for the ones that can fulfill your cravings. It may take some time and thinking, but once you taste the flavors, there is no going back!