Healthy Snacking 101: Roasted Vegetables and Nut Butters

Finding healthy snacks is pretty difficult, especially if you’re appetite is as big as mine.  Solution?  Roast up some some veggies in the beginning of the week and keep them in the fridge for guilt-free, week-long munching.  For something a bit more adventurous, I recommend making your own nut butter…healthy, filling, delicious!

Simple Roasted Vegetables

Head to your local farmer’s market or the produce aisle in your favorite grocery store and pick up whatever catches your eye. Some of my roasting favorites are carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, squash, sweet potatoes and brussel sprouts. The best news is these veggies are all so naturally tasty that you barely need to do any work.  They’re also packed with tons of cancer-fighting vitamins and minerals so you can feel like you’re giving your body a well-needed nutrient boost after the abuse it took over the weekend.  (Hint: go for dark greens and oranges to maximize your nutrient intake.)  All you need is an oven, a roasting pan, some olive oil, salt and pepper and you’ll have a tasty treat in no time.

  • Seasonal Veggies
  • 2-4 Tbsp Olive Oil
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Chop vegetables.   Try to cut them all the same size so that cooking time doesn’t vary.  If using carrots, make sure they are scrubbed and peeled.  I like to cut mine in half both lengthwise and across.  For brussels, cut in half lengthwise. For sweet potatoes, cut into equal sized wedges.  Place chopped veggies into a large bowl and drizzle with 2-4 Tbsp olive oil. Make sure they are evenly coated but not drenched.

Place on a roasting pan and roast for 20 – 30 minutes. I like to take mine out and check after about 20 minutes. Vegetables should be soft and brown on the bottom.

Note: brussels…so hot right now. These babies tend to take longer. Leave them in for an extra ten minutes until they are soft and their outer layer is carmelized. So delicious when done right.

The same goes for your sweet potato wedges.  Leave em in until they’re crispy.  This is the closest thing you’re gonna get to french fries without the calories.  Rejoice.

Cashew Butter

Nuts are a great source of protein and keep you full for hours.  Unfortunately, packaged nut butters are filled with sugar and sodium, which puts them on the list of things to avoid.  However, I assure you that making your own is so simple that you’ll never want to buy it again.  Plus, you can decide how salty/sweet to make it, and avoid loading up on those hidden calories.

  • 2 cups of cashews
  • 2-3 Tbsp flax oil or peanut oil
  • 1 tsp maple syrup (optional)

Place cashews in a blender or food processor.  Spin until they’re finely chopped into a powder.  Add the oil and blend.  Scrape down the sides, add maple syrup if you’d like, and continue to add more oil until you reach desired consistency.  Spread on toast…enjoy!


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