Whole Food and Protein-Rich Snacks for Spring and Summer

Spring is here, and things are heating up in the valley of the sun. Rather than hot and heavy meals, many people opt to eat lighter and with the seasons during this time of year. But any time of year is a good time to enjoy easy whole food and protein-rich snacks that are hassle-free, healthy and delicious. 

Sphinx Date Co. offers the following suggestions to keep noshers nourished all spring and summer without even needing to turn on the oven!

Cottage cheese—Cottage cheese is having its moment in the spotlight. Many people who turned their nose at the stuff are reconsidering it when blended. If texture was an issue, blended cottage cheese is the answer! Blended cottage cheese can serve as a base to develop a variety of sweet or savory dips—from cottage cheese buffalo dip to high-protein cheesecake dip for fruit.

Dates—Date recipes have gone viral lately, with people creating innovative snacks with smashed Medjool dates as the base layer of desserts, from peanut butter and chocolate to banana “bark.” Dates can also be blended into a smooth paste or butter to dip apple slices into or to spread on sourdough toast. 

Nuts and seeds—A small portion of nuts and seeds can help round out a delicious snack such as pear slices, brie, almond butter and bananas. They can also be blended into smoothies and dips for another level of texture and flavor.

Fresh fruits and produce—Not to be forgotten, fresh fruit and veggies are nature’s perfect snack foods. Think strawberries, blueberries, grapes, peaches, oranges, and bananas for on-the-go sweet treats. For an easy-to-grab snack after work or school, slice carrots, celery, cucumbers, jicama and bell peppers into sticks, then dip into high-protein hummus or cottage cheese dip.

Rotisserie chicken wraps—Rather than roasting a chicken and heating up the whole kitchen, a store-bought rotisserie chicken can serve as the base for a variety of quick and healthy wraps that don’t require the oven. Consider using butter lettuce or romaine lettuce leaves as the wrap, lavash bread wraps, egg wraps or almond flour tortillas in place of a traditional flour tortilla. 

Regardless of the chosen wrap, filling it up is where the fun begins! Chopped cooked rotisserie chicken, served hot or cold, can be combined with Swiss cheese and honey mustard dip for a simple, classic sandwich. Or mix the chicken with plain Greek yogurt, dill and pickles, then wrap it up. A combination of mozzarella pearls, cherry tomatoes, basil and balsamic vinegar mixed with warm chicken slices is another great option. 

“Fluffy yogurt”—There’s nothing like a good viral food trend for inspiration! Fluffy yogurt is just one example. Mix ¾ cup of Green yogurt with one tablespoon of pudding mix of choice, one teaspoon of baking powder, and a sweetener of choice such as monk fruit or stevia (optional) in a medium-sized bowl. Mix well until combined, then use this as a base to add any toppings or mix-ins such as frozen fruit, seeds and nuts, oats, honey, chopped dates, cinnamon or apple pie spice—the add-ins and combinations are endless. The result is a high-protein, no-bake sweet treat that is satisfying.

Spring and summer are meant to be easy and carefree—and that should go for meals and snacks, too. Without much fuss, these easy ideas can be nourishing and delicious all season long.