Dips for Healthy Snackers: Quick and Easy Recipes

Finding healthy snacks is a challenge. Having basic ingredients on hand makes life much easier. Use lots of herbs, along with spices to kick up the taste of your foods. Lemon and vinegar are great to have on hand. Onion powder, minced onion, garlic, yogurt, canned peas or beans and tomatoes are the basis for quick and easy dips. Serve dips with veggie chips, whole grain crackers, or vegetable dippers.

An easy snack is roasted tomatoes with garlic, basil and olive oil. When tomatoes are soft the skin will peel easily. Mash tomato with the soft garlic and blend juices with oil. Add basil, salt and black pepper to taste. Add yogurt and delete olive oil for a creamy dip.

Arugula has a peppery taste, substitute for spinach. Add minced dry onion, onion powder to yogurt. Add salt and pepper to taste. A jar of pureed artichoke can be added for variety.

Want a quick clam dip? Mix the yogurt, non-fat mayonnaise, and garlic together until smooth, minced clams and blend in with hot pepper sauce, black pepper, salt and dash to one teaspoon Worcestershire sauce.

For a high protein dip, in a blender add two (15oz) can of regular or organic black beans drained, canned diced tomatoes, ½ small chopped red onion, few dashes of hot pepper sauce, 1 teaspoon each cumin and cilantro, dried or fresh. Blend until mixture is smooth. Any pea or beans can be substituted. Tomatoes are optional. Delete yogurt and add olive oil.