Easy and Healthy Snack Ideas

Well-balanced and nutritious meals are the key to good health and the same holds true for snacks as well. In the information age when people need to work round the clock, health tends to take a backseat due to a lack of time. But there is nothing to worry as one has the option of having healthy frozen and ready-to-eat snacks that can be prepared conveniently in no time. So whether you are at work or at home, these food commodities are just the perfect way to manage health.

Today, a large variety of ready-to-eat and frozen snacks are available in the market that are delicious and can be made in a matter of minutes. Frozen soups, taco fillings, tortilla chips, ready-to-eat burgers etc are some of the snacks that are healthy and fulfilling. All of them taste as good as home-made food and are fresh and authentic; at par with the fresh food that we buy from the groceries. 

Following are some snack ideas that can come in handy for having a wholesome meal on the go:

• Sandwiches make for a wonderful meal. All that is required is bread or subs and you can easily stuff them with fillings that are available in the market. Avocado, corns, green vegetables, frozen meats; dress them with a sauce or dressing of your choice and you are on your way to have a healthy sandwich.
• Frozen soups can be used as another snacking option. They are free from harmful chemicals and preservatives and can be prepared in no time. A soup is a whole meal in itself and the health benefits it offers are huge. A soup also provides an individual with the required intake of veggies that are a must for good health.
• Crunchy tortilla chips made from corn tortillas are yet another snacking option. They can be had whenever you are in the mood for munching. But care should be taken that they are consumed in moderation. Excess of anything can be bad after all.
• Fruits are known to work wonders for health. A fresh fruit salad or a fruit juice is nutritious and is great for skin and overall health as well. Fruits are best when consumed in the raw form. Couple them with honey and some dry fruits and a delicious and healthy snack is ready.

These snacking ideas are very effective and save a lot of precious time. Besides, they are easy on the pocket. The materials to be used are easily available in the market and do not cost much. So go and indulge yourself in healthy snacking. 

Making Delicious Hot Dogs At Home

The American hot dog is a hit all over the world. It has been estimated that Americans eat more than 20 billion hot dogs in a year. A hot dog is known by many names like frankfurter, wiener or bologna. Hot dogs are prepared with a variety of ingredients. Generally, hot dogs are made of lamb, chicken, beef, pork, turkey or tofu (for the vegetarians). The seasonings may include coriander, garlic, ground mustard, nutmeg, salt, sugar, and white pepper. The fat content also varies in the hot dogs depending on whether the meat is with or without skin. A hot dog can be as small as 2 inches or big like the popular foot-long hot dogs.

The frankfurter is supposed to have originated in Frankfurt, Germany. During the 1850s, the Germans used to make thick, soft, and fatty sausages which are now called ‘franks’. It seems that during the latter half of the eighteenth century, the German immigrants used to sell hot dogs along with milk rolls and sauerkraut, from pushcarts in New York City's Bowery.

In America, every region has its own style of making the hot dog. The hot dog that you will find in a New York sidewalk cart consists of nothing fancy. Just brown mustard and onions cooked in tomato paste are used as the extra ingredients in these hot dogs. On the other hand, in some areas you will find hot dogs adorned with melted cheese, sauerkraut or coleslaw.

Nowadays it is very easy to have hot dogs sitting in the comfort of our homes. Ready-to-eat and frozen hot dogs are readily available in the market. Hot dogs can be safely stored in a sealed packet  for 2 weeks in the refrigerator. Frozen hot dogs can be stored for about 1 or 2 months.  These hot dogs are cooked before packaging but you still have to cook them before serving. For best results, you must defrost the hot dogs in the microwave for about five minutes. Then you can boil, grill or fry accordingly as per your taste.

Hot dogs are a favorite of everyone these days irrespective of age and gender. The numerous varieties make us savor a different hot dog each time we have one. On the other hand, there are some people who just stick to one variety that they are fond of. Whatever the case may be, hot dogs are sure to stay at the top on the list of food-lovers.

Boost Your Metabolism With Soups

Owing to the numerous advantages that they have, soups have made it to the kitchens of most households today. Warm, nutritious, cheap and easy to prepare, soups help boost general health and well-being. Besides adding variety to meals, they make for a healthy choice on a cold winter day.

• Soups help boost the metabolic activities in our bodies by reducing the intake of calories. As soups make the stomach full and satiate the hunger to a great extent, the amount of solid food consumed is considerably lessened. This is turn implies fewer calories and hence faster rate of metabolism.
• Soups are a great way of getting all the nutrients that are required daily. As they are made using vegetables and meat, an individual gets his desired daily dose of vitamins, minerals and proteins naturally. Soups are very light on the stomach and easy to digest.
• Weight-related issues can be taken care of by including soups in the daily diet. Take a low-calorie soup before having a mean. This is a proven way of controlling weight. Weight loss can easily be achieved as the need for high-calorie foods gets diminished.
• Soups are delicious and very easy to prepare. All one has to do is boil vegetables or meat in water and boil them till the desired consistency is obtained. Even people who don’t know cooking can make soups as there is not much effort involved. And the taste one gets is wonderful. One can add a variety of condiments and spices to create the flavor of soup that one prefers.
• In addition, soups are very light on the pocket. They are a largely economical meal, thanks to the minimal cost involved in preparing them. The veggies that are used are easily available in the market. For those people who don’t have much time to cook due their hectic schedules, soups are just the right choice. A soup can be prepared in a matter of minutes. Add to that the nutritional boost that they promise.
• During winters, a warm bowl of chicken soup is very effective in combating cold and flu. The other key factor is that soups help to retain the correct water balance in the body. This is very vital in order to maintain normal blood pressure. Some forms of soup are even known to lower the chances of breast cancer in women.

So if you want a meal that fulfills your nutrition needs without asking for much effort, go in for soups. They are tasty and healthy.

Tasty and Healthy Frozen Foods

Frozen foods have been used in households since a long time. The idea first came into being in the year 1929 when Clarence Birdseye offered his frozen foods to the public. Freezing as a method of preserving food has many myths associated with it. But the fact remains that frozen food is very healthy and nutritious; at par with the fresh food that we get from the markets and groceries.

Freezing is a natural process of preservation where food is stored at very low temperatures. Micro-organisms which are responsible for the spoilage of food cannot survive at such low temperatures. Thus frozen foods can be stored for longer periods of time without any deterioration in quality.

Frozen foods are made by picking up fresh foods and freezing them at very low temperatures immediately. This helps to retain the freshness and texture of the food item. The nutritional value is also maintained as all vitamins and minerals are locked inside. Some foods are not available all the year round. Freezing food gives an added advantage of enjoying  foods at any time of the year and that too at a very fair price.

Frozen foods are very healthy to consume since they do not contain any harmful chemicals or preservatives in them. Also, they help in reducing wastage of food to a great extent. Frozen foods can be stored for as long as one wants. With the work pressure that people have to deal with today, frozen foods offer a healthy and convenient way of having nutritious meals in no time. Frozen meats, frozen fruits and vegetables; these can be easily prepared in a matter of minutes.

Frozen foods are cost effective as well. They minimize wastage and spoilage of food without compromising on quality. They also taste great, as good as the fresh food and sometimes even better. This can be attributed to the fact that they are picked when they are absolutely fresh and immediately frozen. This keeps the flavor and the nutrients intact. Contrary to a popular belief, fresh food that we buy from the market may not be as fresh by the time it reaches the stores. This is because after harvesting, the food has to be transported and this process may take a few days. So the food we assume to be ‘fresh’ may not actually be that fresh.

So enjoy the benefits of having frozen foods. They are healthy, tasty, easy to use and above all do not burn big holes in your pockets!

Tortilla Chips: Healthy Snack For Kids

Tortilla chips come under the category of snack food and is relished mostly by people of all age groups, especially kids.  This is a Mexican recipe but is a favorite of all Americans. The corn tortillas that are made out of corn, vegetable oil salt and water are cut into wedges and then fried or baked. Although yellow corn is the usual type of corn use to prepare these chips, but red, white and blue corn is also used by certain manufacturers including various other ingredients like wheat, sugar etc. Since corn is the main ingredient of tortilla chips, these snacks are healthy and rich in fiber and various essential minerals and vitamins that are required for a kid’s growth. The various healthy nutrients contained in a single serving (1 oz.) of corn tortillas are discussed below:

Macronutrients and Calories
A single serving of tortilla chips include around 138 calories out of which carbohydrates contribute 76 calories, 54 calories are provided by fats and the remaining 8 calories are provided by proteins. A single serving includes 7grams of fat, out of which 1 gram is saturated. The protein content is 2 grams, 1.3grams of dietary fiber, 0.3grams of simple sugars and 18 grams of carbohydrates is contained in a single serving of tortilla chips.

Additional Nutrition
A total of 5 percent of the recommended dietary allowance for calcium is contained in a serving of tortilla chips which is required for healthy bones and teeth in kids. About 6 percent of Vitamin E and 7 percent of Vitamin K of total RDA is contained in an oz. of tortilla chips. The essential minerals contents in a serving are 9 percent for phosphorus, 7 percent for magnesium and 6 percent for selenium of RDA. One serving tortilla chips also consist of approximately 118 mg of sodium.

Salsa, queso, cheese dips and various other sauces are often eaten with the tortilla chips. These all are likely to be high in fat content. There are many other healthier alternatives to salsa and other dips and sauces which include celery, carrot sticks and slices of jicama, which are low in fat and calories. However, there are many low fat and low calorie frozen forms of dips and sauces available in stores that you can pick and eat with tortilla chips. You must also opt for baked varieties of tortilla chips because unlike the fried versions these have fewer calories and less fat.

Classic Foods offers a range of crispy tortilla chips and cheese dips including Premium Queso, Nacho Cheese Sauce, Yellow Cheese Sauce and White cheese Sauce. They also offer green & red pickled jalapeno is a perfect topping for tortilla chips. To order, contact them at 629 Mony, Ft. Worth, Texas 76102 or call them at 817.332.1071.

Making Delicious Hamburgers At Home

The fast life of today has made fast foods like hotdogs, tacos, etc. rise in popularity especially with the people on the go. Hamburger is another such fast food item that has been accepted worldwide. It is a sandwich made out of a cooked patty enclosed inside a sliced bun. The patty is made of ground meat that usually is beef. The hamburger is often garnished with lettuce, bacon, onion, tomato, cheese etc. and is served with ketchup, mayonnaise or mustard sauce. The simple recipe of hamburger has turned to a gourmet’s delight, as now the simple beef patty is accompanied with a variety of mouthwatering ingredients. The recipe of this delicious fast food is easy to follow and economical to prepare at home.

Being the most important of the hamburger, the patty can be created by making use of different meats like pork, ground lamb, sausage and ground turkey. You can also add fish, chicken or a squash and cracker mix. You can also prepare a totally vegetarian version of ham burger by making the patty of tofu cheese or potato.  Although, the preparation of this fast food meal is easier, but still it requires skill and more importantly appropriate ingredients.

To prepare a patty, make sure that the meat is coarse grind. Finely ground meat becomes very soft and cannot be cooked into a patty easily. It can fall apart while grilling. Add diced vegetables instead of large pieces of onions and garlic to coarse ground meat so that they can mix up well and can be held together. You can also add breadcrumbs to the ground meat that absorbs the extra moisture and hold the meat together on the grill. When you are done with making the patty, prepare the hamburger by enveloping it inside a sliced bun. You can further dress up with lettuce leaves, cheese slices, sliced tomatoes, onions and finely sliced pickles. Serve this delicious hamburger with ketchup or cheese dip.

Sliders are the latest craze in the food industry.  These are nothing but mini hamburgers. Their tiny size and delicious taste make you eat many of these at one time. While watching TV, you can pop these mini snacks into your mouth. Just like hamburgers, the sliders are also versatile and can be prepared with a variety of ingredients and served with different dips and sauces. The slider burgers are made of ground chicken or turkey or more exotic meats like ostrich or beef. They can be used as appetizers in parties. These sliders served at various restaurants and eateries are delicious and quite affordable.

Classic Foods offer raw and frozen Beef Hamburger patties which are perfect for making all types of sliders.  To order, you can contact them at 629 Mony, Ft. Worth, Texas 76102. You can also call them at 817.332.1071.

Convenience Foods For Kids

Convenience foods are gaining popularity among various households. The reason being, it’s ease to use and requires less preparation time. Convenience foods are available in a variety of flavors and more importantly these meals are healthy. They fill you with everyday required nutrients. It is really difficult for the working parents to serve their kids a freshly prepared nutritious meal every time. To avoid inconvenience, they can stock their refrigerators and kitchen cupboards with delicious convenient and nutritious foods and prepare a healthy meal in no time. Moreover, children love the various yummy delicacies and pick the one of their choice to satisfy the taste buds.

Breakfast: A quick and nutritious breakfast is what you want in the morning, as you have to drop the kids to the school and head to work. Here you can rely on convenience breakfast to feed your entire family with a tasty yet nutritious breakfast that can be prepared in a very less time. Convenient breakfasts like low-sugar instant oatmeal provides with fiber and iron and high fiber cereal breakfast made with sliced fruits like banana, strawberry, almonds cashew nuts etc. provides essential vitamins, minerals and fiber.

Lunch: What your kids eat at the cafeterias of the school may be unhealthy. You can get healthy convenient food packed instead. The lunch may include hotdogs with frozen meat sausages, corn tacos with variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian frozen fillings. These hot-dog sausages and frozen taco fillings are glutton free and give your kid the essential proteins, fibers and minerals required to maintain his/her overall health while saving your time. You can also prepare peanut butter sandwich with whole-wheat bread. This can be prepared quickly and provides the body a good supply of fiber, protein and vitamins. You can thereby pack healthy lunches for your kids in a hurry.

Dinner: After returning home from work, one is generally too tired to cook fresh food for kids and oneself. Therefore, a convenient ready to eat meal can make for a healthy dinner and can be prepared in a less time effortlessly. Ready to eat foods that are fully or partially cooked like pasta can be prepared in less than 10 minutes and served with low sodium frozen spaghetti sauce. Corn tortilla filled with low fat shredded cheese and other nutritious frozen fillings and chopped tomatoes is another nutritious dinner that can be prepared quickly and provide fiber, proteins and vitamins to the body. A healthy meal at dinner time will energy to the child, which will help him study with concentration and do his homework.