Quick and Healthy Dips for Snackers

Dips for Chips

Cowboy Caviar - this dip is full of vegetables and is very low calorie!
Ingredients: 1 can corn (drained), 1 can black beans (rinsed), 1 can diced tomatoes (drained), 1 small onion or 1 bunch green onion (diced), 1/4 c oil, 1/4 c vinegar, salt and pepper to taste.
Optional additions: 1 diced avocado, 1 bunch chopped cilantro, garlic
Mix all ingredients together and enjoy!

Healthier Taco Dip - this is a lighter version of taco dips
Ingredients: shredded lettuce, sour cream, 1 can black beans, 1 can diced tomatoes (or chopped fresh tomatoes), 1 diced onion
Optional additions: low-calorie shredded cheddar cheese, lime juice
Mix all ingredients together. Using beans in place of ground beef reduces the calories and fat. Boca burger, ground turkey, or ground chicken can also be used.

Dips for Fruit

Vanilla Dip - this yogurt-based dip is a great way to provide an extra serving of dairy
Ingredients: 8-oz tub of vanilla low-fat or fat-free yogurt, 2 T brown sugar, splash of lemon juice
Variations: powdered sugar instead of brown sugar, add ginger, cinnamon instead of lemon juice, add 8 oz of softened Neufchatel cheese
Mix ingredients and enjoy!

Sour Cream Dip - this dip is less sweet, but also healthy and full of dairy
Ingredients: 8-oz tub of sour cream, 1/4 c honey or brown sugar, 1/2 t cinnamon
Variations: ginger instead of cinnamon, mashed bananas (no honey or cinnamon)
Mix and enjoy!

Dips for Veggies

Chil Sour Cream Dip - using light sour cream makes this dip with a kick a better version than traditional sour cream dips
Ingredients: 16 oz of light sour cream, 1/4 c salsa, lime juice to taste
Optional: 1/4 c chopped cilantro, chili powder, garlic
Mix and enjoy!

Cottage Cheese Dip - this dip is great with snow peas, sugar snap peas, or baby carrots
1/2 c low-fat cottage cheese, 1/4 t pepper, dash of lemon juice
Mix and enjoy!