Welcome back to VALLEY’s cookbook. This is a segment created to satisfy our midday cravings with cleaner, healthier ingredients. Today’s topic will be focused on snacks so that you can eat your boredom away without the guilt.
Apple Doughnuts
We’re not talking about a real doughnut; we’re talking about apples cut so they have a hole in the middle, with peanut butter spread on them to act as frosting. If you don’t like peanut butter, you could add some yogurt instead! A way to make this more fun could be to throw on a few mini chocolate chips or maybe even some coconut flakes. (To act as sprinkles, of course, because what’s a doughnut with no sprinkles!)
Cucumber Salad
There was a trend on TikTok where people would cut up cucumbers and add different ingredients into a container, then mix everything. There were lots of different combinations for this, so whatever you’re feeling in the moment, throw it in. Some of the most popular choices were:
- Soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, chili oil and grated garlic.
- Red onion, smoked salmon, whipped cream cheese, fresh dill and everything bagel seasoning
- Imitation crab, avocado, Kewpie mayo, whipped cream cheese, soy sauce and sesame seeds
No-Bake Raspberry Protein Balls
This is one we have a step-by-step recipe for, if you prefer straightforward directions. These are a good bite-sized snack for on the go, or to fill you up when you’re in a rush but need something in your stomach.
Ingredients:
½ cup smooth peanut butter
½ tsp. vanilla extract
¼ tsp. almond extract
3 tbsp. honey
¼ tsp. sea salt
3 tbsp. vanilla protein powder
¾ cups rolled oats
¼ cup freeze-dried raspberries
3 tbsp. white chocolate chips
First, you will combine all of your wet ingredients (½ cup smooth peanut butter, ½ tsp. vanilla extract, ¼ tsp. almond extract, 3 tbsp. honey). You will then add in the dry ingredients (¼ tsp sea salt, 3 tbsp. vanilla protein powder, ¾ cups rolled oats) until you achieve a cookie-dough-like texture. Once you have accomplished the dough-like texture, you will then add in the raspberries and the chocolate chips. Finally, you will take about 1 tablespoon of the mixture and form it into a ball with your hands. Continue this with the entire mixture and then enjoy!
Hard Boiled Eggs
A hard-boiled egg machine is life-changing. It quickly and easily makes eggs in whatever style you’d like. Soft, medium, or hard-boiled.
Hard-boiled eggs are insanely versatile. You can put different combinations of things/spices/sauces on them to dress them up to your preference.
You can cut it into quarters and throw on some salt and pepper, or if you like everything bagels, some everything bagel seasoning.
Another delicious way to enjoy them is simply adding your favorite hot sauce to them.
One final way, and this doesn’t just involve the egg itself, is slicing it thinly and adding it onto avocado toast is the perfect way to start your morning.
What’s your favorite healthy snack? Let us know on our Instagram, @VALLEYmag!
