Quick and Easy Heart-Healthy Snacks
No matter your age, it’s important to maintain a healthy diet to support your mental and physical activities. Our Caregivers at Gentle Shepherd Home Care know how important it is to provide heart-healthy snacks to their clients. In fact, one goal of in-home senior care is to provide snacks and meals that help the heart.
Banana Cream Pie Yogurt Dessert
This is a very satisfying little snack that can be very healthy for you, while at the same time appealing to your sweet tooth. To make it, all you have to do is to layer some banana slices in with banana cream pie yogurt, and sprinkle it with some Cheerios. You can optionally add a dash of cocoa, to give it a chocolaty flavor. In just five minutes, you can have an outstanding snack that leaves you satisfied and full.
Off the Beaten Path Veggie Crisps
Start with some wholesome veggie crisps, and add in some black beans, peas, and rice to create a delightful, heart-healthy snack. Top it all off with some fresh pico-de-gallo to add a burst of flavor and some additional appeal to the snack mix. There are no fats included in this recipe, and it does contribute to your daily requirement of dietary fiber.
Creamy Spinach Feta Dip
Cook 10 oz. of frozen, chopped spinach, and afterwards try to remove all water by pressing down on the spinach with a fork. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the spinach with 1/2 cup of fat-free yogurt, 1/2 cup of low-fat sour cream, 1/2 cup of fat-free feta cheese, 1 teaspoon of garlic, 1/3 cup of fresh parsley, 2 teaspoons of dried dill, and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper. Serve the dip mixture on one of 6 whole-wheat pitas.
Pecan Pie Energy Balls
Spread a cup of pecan halves out on 1/2 the surface of a large cookie sheet, and distribute 1/2 cup of rolled oats on the other half. Bake these about 10 minutes, until you can see that the oats are browned and the pecans have become tender. Soak 1 cup of pitted dates in warm water for about 10 minutes. Put the toasted oats into a food processor and then drain the dates and add them in as well. Combine this with 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Then add in the toasted pecans and fine-chop the mixture. Roll the mix into about 18 balls and refrigerate. After about 15 minutes, your Energy Balls will be ready to serve.
Are you looking for in home senior care in Colorado Springs? We provide care tailored to fit your needs and help your senior maintain their independence while staying safe. Contact us today to learn more and schedule a complimentary care consultation.
