What's the healthiest thing you can spread on a cracker?

[PamNY]

I like lots of little snacks through the day, but I'm eating entirely too much cheese and peanut butter. Both of those are okay, but I want more variety.

I've tried doing this and that to cottage cheese, but haven't hit on anything great. Any (non-meat) ideas?

[indysteel]

Hummus. But I'm not much for crackers--especially if I'm aiming for "healthy"--so I'd prefer it fresh veggies. Red bell pepper, cucumbers and tomatos with hummus are my favorites.

[Veronica]

I was going to suggest tuna - but you may think that's a meat. :)

Veronica

[OakLeaf]

Mmmmmm, hummus - so easy to make, too. Then there's baba ghanouj (pretty similar to hummus, but made with roasted smashed eggplant instead of chickpeas or favas).

If you're just looking for variety, you could include other nut butters besides peanut. Almond, cashew, sunflower, each has its own flavor and nutrition profile.

[KnottedYet]

I love Spam on crackers.

That's not really meat... ;)

[OakLeaf]

:D

If you're into a little cooking, you could do a mushroom or nut paté.

Raw foodies make hummus from zucchini, and what I've tasted is actually really good. I've never tried to make it myself, but here's a recipe:

http://courant.typepad.com/raw/2008/04/hummus-without.html

I always make my own tahini too, it's so much fresher. Just about anyplace has the Arrowhead Mills brand 12-oz bags of sesame seeds, and all you have to do is whir them in a blender for a couple minutes (the mini-blender attachment for a stick blender is perfect for this) - it won't be as smooth as commercial tahini, but once I put it in a recipe I never notice the difference.

[GLC1968]

Mmmm, hummus. My snack today is baby carrots with hummus. I love making it spicy either with the garlic from our garden (that has a nice kick!) or with jalapenos if I can find them fresh. Yum!

I also have a recipe for making hummus from zucchini. I'm waiting until this summer to try it, but it looks good!

You can also buy or make quite a lot of delicious bean dips. I have one made with black beans and salsa that is wonderful with hearty crackers or crusty bread (or pita).

[OakLeaf]

jalapenos if I can find them fresh.

Jalapeños actually freeze really well, whole, raw and unblanched. They lose their crunchiness, obviously, but none of the flavor, and in a purée or stew or even sliced and baked, I don't notice the difference.

Whenever we're getting close to our first frost, I just jam a couple of quart jars full of jalapeños and stick them in the freezer. Where I am, they grow so freakin' hot - hotter than grocery store habañeros - that a couple of quarts is plenty to last until the next season! :D

[Susan]

I like varieties of homemade curd spreads on my bread.

Also, you can take an eggplant, make some holes into the peel with a fork and put it into the hot oven for about 15 Minutes. After that the eggplant should be soft and mushy on the inside. Take that out with a spoon, mash it with a little salt (and if you want to some tomato puree). It makes a really good and healthy spread.

[lauraelmore1033]

i've got a new recipie for Creamy white bean and Artichoke Spread that sounds pretty tasty and pretty darn healthy. Looks like you blend together beans, onions and artichoke hearts and other tuscan type spices. Hmmm, I'll have to make it now...

[GLC1968]

Jalapeños actually freeze really well, whole, raw and unblanched. They lose their crunchiness, obviously, but none of the flavor, and in a purée or stew or even sliced and baked, I don't notice the difference.


Good to know! I'll have to freeze some this coming fall.

[Thorn]

Our local public television has a cooking raw program. Her fake cheese (don't think of it as cheese and it is tasty) and taco filling make good dips and should work on crackers

http://www.mptv.org/local_shows/recipes/?s=12

[Biciclista]

my husband? he's healthy. :cool:

[marni]

personally I like non fat cottage cheese and a tiny bit of jam or honey on a cracker. I also love my own homemade hummus on japanese rice crackers or just out of the container.

[Catrin]

....
I always make my own tahini too, it's so much fresher. Just about anyplace has the Arrowhead Mills brand 12-oz bags of sesame seeds, and all you have to do is whir them in a blender for a couple minutes (the mini-blender attachment for a stick blender is perfect for this) - it won't be as smooth as commercial tahini, but once I put it in a recipe I never notice the difference.

A regular blender will do this!?! Cool! I love it, but don't use it all that often - making just what I need and to have it fresh as well would be best. Do you add any liquid or oil to the sesame seeds before you blend them?

[warneral]

I love peanut butter! High calorie yes, but nutrient dense and filling.

Have you tried laughing cow or babybel cheeses? Those are lower in calorie.

I love Trader Joes Hummus.

I'm not much of a cracker eater though. I prefer whole wheat pita.

[Catrin]

I am trying to move to wrapping stuff up in lettuce rather than crackers or chips. I love baked tortilla chips. I REALLY LIKE THEM - this isn't good for me... Trader Joes has this fab multi-grain tortilla chip.... :o

[OakLeaf]

I don't add oil when I make tahini, but what I get isn't as "runny" as jarred tahini, so if you wanted a more liquid-y consistency, you could add a bit of light sesame oil. Doing that would likely make it smoother, too. If I was going to do that, what I would do is grind the seeds first, then add oil a little at a time until I liked the way it looked. I don't think it would take much.

[Selkie]

Liverwurst (in moderation). Found this sweet potato pate, local item, that's made with liverwurst and sweet potatoes. Great on crackers.

[Catrin]

I don't add oil when I make tahini, but what I get isn't as "runny" as jarred tahini, so if you wanted a more liquid-y consistency, you could add a bit of light sesame oil. Doing that would likely make it smoother, too. If I was going to do that, what I would do is grind the seeds first, then add oil a little at a time until I liked the way it looked. I don't think it would take much.

Thanks - it sounds like I will not need to add oil. I am going to try this!

[PamNY]

my husband? he's healthy. :cool:

And he's a cyclist, right? That could be one way to forget you want a cracker:D

Thanks for these excellent suggestions. Thorn, those raw recipes are very inspiring and sound tasty.

I hadn't thought of freezing jalapenos or making my own tahini, but what good ideas.

I got seriously burned out on hummus once, but I need to try it again. And eggplants...hmm

Oh, and the zucchini hummus. That sounds yum, especially when the squash is fresh. I wonder if yellow squash would work?

I need to go shopping.

[jelee1311]

Almond or peanut butter with yogurt on a rice cake or salasa mixed with cottage cheese on a cracker. Yummmmm

[spokewench]

small amount of low fat cream cheese mixed with sun dried tomato in oil (drain most of the oil) and a basil leaf

Yummy

[redrhodie]

Sweet potato dip:

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Sweet-Potato-Dip-13032

I haven't tried this, but I love sweet potatoes, and they're really healthy.

[emily_in_nc]

That sweet potato dip sounds good - thanks for posting the link, redrhodie.

[shootingstar]

Gourmet mustard. There's lots of choice these days.

Which reminds me, I haven't bought any for awhile. Until I move to new digs, I can't be bothered to lug an opened jar of mustard right now.

[PamNY]

Sweet potato dip:

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Sweet-Potato-Dip-13032

I haven't tried this, but I love sweet potatoes, and they're really healthy.

That does sound yummy. I love sweet potatoes too, and as you point out, they are packed with good nutrients.

[malkin]

my husband? he's healthy. :cool:


Cyclists are so 'all that' that they really deserve to be 'on a cracker.'

[PamNY]

Sweet potato dip:

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Sweet-Potato-Dip-13032

I haven't tried this, but I love sweet potatoes, and they're really healthy.

I made this tonight. It's really very good. I left out the tomatoes because winter tomatoes are so depressing.

[moonfroggy]

avocado!

[angelaslc]

Cilantro pesto......cilantro, garlic, olive oil, lemon, pumkpkin seeds, brazil nuts, sunflower seeds.....yum!