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Sixty-five percent of Americans are trying to eat healthier — but a lot of us just don’t have the time to make or eat healthy meals. Time crunches are driving more than 40 million people to fast-food meals, according to “On-The-Go Eating in the US: Consumer, Foodservice, Retailing & Marketing Trends,” a 2007 report from Packaged Facts. The report also indicates that 33 percent of Americans regularly skip meals and graze on unhealthy snack foods instead.
So how is a busy, on-the-go person supposed to eat right? Fortunately, there are a growing number of smaller portioned, ready-to-eat snack options. And a lot of them are getting even healthier. So what should you eat more of, and where can you find it?
Omega-3
Essential omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat that are important to cardiovascular health. “A growing body of evidence links omega-3 fatty acids with a plethora of health benefits,” says Elizabeth M. Ward, author of Healthy Foods, Healthy Kids and The Idiot’s Guide to the USDA Pyramid and Pregnancy Nutrition: Good Health for You and Your Baby.
  
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“While saturated fat should be avoided,” Ward adds, “omega-3 fatty acids are good fats that people should consume more of. No food is a magic bullet, but the research suggests that including more omega-3 fatty acids in the diet is best for optimal health.” Typically, omega-3s can be found in fish and fish oils, but you can also find them in some new snack products that are sourced naturally from milk and contain no fishy odor or taste. One such snack product is the new low moisture, part-skim mozzarella string cheese called Sorrento +Plus with Omega-3.
It has 3 grams of essential omega-3 fatty acids, 7 grams of protein, and only 80 calories per stick. Plus, its grab-and-go packaging lets you take this heart and brain boosting essential anywhere.
Added calcium and vitamin D
Dairy products are a great source of calcium, and most of us know it. But most of us still fall short of the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for calcium and vitamin D. This power-duo is important for adults as well as children, for building and keeping healthy teeth and bones. Food manufacturers are finding ways to boost levels of both critical nutrients.
“Packaging this kind of nutrition into a snack food just makes sense,” says Ward, “because the body absorbs calcium best when it comes in small doses throughout the day.” Kids love string cheese, and you can pack an extra nutritional punch in their lunch with Sorrento +Plus High in Calcium and Vitamin D string cheese. It’s fortified with 20 percent more calcium, and the additional vitamin D helps with calcium absorption. And they’re only 80 calories each, so pack some for yourself, too.
But what if you’re lactose intolerant?
Between 40 and 50 million Americans have difficulty digesting lactose, the main sugar found in milk. Many of them avoid dairy products altogether, which means a diet lower in calcium and vitamin D. With so many people struggling with dairy, the demand for lactose-free products is growing. Some consumers say that lactose-free products taste different than the dairy products they’re used to. A process developed by Sorrento lets them remove the lactose without altering the flavor. Their new Sorrento +Plus 100% Lactose-Free string cheese is easier to digest and still has its signature fresh taste.
Yes, you’re busier than ever. Yes, it’s hard to eat the way you know you should. But if you look for the new, healthier food choices coming out, you can find ways to get the nutrients you need to be good to go.
Sorrento® snack cheeses can be found in the dairy section of most major grocery chains, and if you live on the West Coast, look for them under the Precious® brand name. For more information on Sorrento or Precious snack cheese products, please visit www.sorrentocheese.com or www.preciouscheese.com.
Healthy snacks
• Viva las quesadillas
Line a soft, whole-wheat tortilla with shredded mozzarella. Add seasonings and your own mix of diced veggies with your favorite salsa. Coat a pan with light olive oil spray.
• Fold tortilla
in half, and cook until golden on both sides. Divide into triangular slices and enjoy this fresh, light quesa-delight!
• Fruity, creamy goodness
Dip a banana into part-skim ricotta for a delicious alternative to ice cream your family will go crazy for.
• Try some cheesy popcorn
Lose the high-cholesterol butter — layer a bowl of light popcorn with freshly grated mozzarella cheese for a more nutritious, delicious take on this snack classic.
• A better schmear
Spread a little part-skim ricotta over a cinnamon English muffin. Top with a slice of apple or pear and savor this low-fat, delectable treat.
• Help the poor rice cake
A little bored with rice cakes? Spread some part-skim ricotta over one and add a layer of sugar-free strawberry spread to breathe some life into this staple of light snacking.
• Fruit and cheese, please
Explore a wide variety of fruit and cheese combinations. Try some oranges with cottage cheese, pears with brie, apples with cheddar, or even sliced string cheese sticks. There are numerous possibilities — and health benefits, too!
Healthy snacking tips
A few simple steps are all that it takes to control your own snack destiny.
• Make a snack blueprint.
Your mind can exaggerate the time between now and your next meal — unless you have a plan. Designating snack times for yourself will make you less likely to eat impulsively, so take a few minutes to map them out.
• Skip the pop.
All of the refined sugar in soft drinks does a number on your teeth and your calorie intake; in addition, the carbonation depletes your body of calcium. Next time, get a glass of water. It’s free, it’s refreshing and it cleanses your entire system — on top of being calorie-free.
• When you’re hungry, eat.
You’re at work. It’s only you, your hunger, and the vending machine. What do you do? Eat, of course! It’s always better to eat when you’re hungry — ignoring hunger increases the chance that you’ll overeat later. Pick a protein-rich snack to hold you over.
• Stock up on goodness.
The sooner you run out of the right snacks, the easier it will be
to stray off into poor snacking decisions. Be sure to keep your kitchen stocked with nutritious, delicious foods so healthy snacking remains as easy as possible.
• Moderation is everything.
Snacking healthy — and eating healthy in general — is all about moderation. Be sure your snacks are large enough to satisfy your hunger, but small enough not to fill you up. Several small portions per day will keep your metabolism high.
For more healthy snacking ideas, visit www.mycheesekitchen.com.
Healthy Pizza Snackers
Serves 4
4 mini whole wheat bagels, sliced in half
1⁄2 cup tomato sauce
8 1-ounce slices fresh mozzarella cheese
Optional toppings: fresh bell peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, broccoli florets, spinach, red onion. Rinse before use; can be sliced, diced, or chopped.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread 1 tablespoon tomato sauce over each bagel half, top with cheese slice. Add a variety of vegetable toppings liberally for a boost in taste and nutrition. Bake 10 minutes or until cheese has melted. Kids love it.
Strawberries & Cream
Serves 4
16 fresh strawberries, stemmed, washed and quartered
1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1⁄2 cup fresh almonds (optional)
Top strawberries with ricotta cheese and almonds (optional).
Chill 1 hour before serving. Aside from having a unique, delicious snack, you’ll provide your body with high levels of vitamin C, essential minerals, protein and calcium all in one.
Ants on a Log
Serves 4 to 8
2 bananas, sliced in half lengthwise (4 halves)
4 celery stalks, cut into 4” sticks
1 cup (or 16 tablespoons) low-sugar creamy peanut butter
8 ounces seedless raisins
Spread 2 tablespoons peanut butter across sliced surfaces of bananas.
Fill celery sticks with peanut butter. Evenly sprinkle raisins across peanut butter glazed “logs.”
Arrange logs on round plate, alternating banana logs and celery logs for pinwheel effect, and make after-school snacking fun and nutritious.
