Curb the Cravings: Healthy Snacks

Ohhh, I have such a tough time eating well when I'm preggers. All I want to do, all day long, is eat, eat, eat. And I crave the bad stuff, the salty fried stuff. BUT one thing I learned from my pregnancy with Samster is sure, I can eat 'whatever I want' because I'm pregnant but that's still gonna mean having to lose an extra 20lbs after she's born. Trying to lose weight with a newborn was NOT fun.

Here's a few snacks I've been making to try & give in to my cravings but do so in a healthy way.

Yesterday I wanted to devour a bag of ruffles with a pop top can of Frito's french onion dip. Instead I made this little plate of goodness... I almost didn't post this one because I figured everyone knows how to make their own french onion dip but then I realized I didn't know until someone told me, & that wasn't too long ago. The dip is just a mix of low-fat sour cream & part of a packet of Lipton's dry french onion mix. (a staple in my crock pot recipes btw!) Low-fat sour cream (at least the Horizon brand) is actually a LOT lower in fat than the regular kind...like 60% less. And unless you're eating it out of the tub (in which case we should be having an entirely different conversation) you really can't tell the difference. Just get the amount of sour cream you want and slowly mix in the french onion mix until you get the taste you want. And you know how to make your cucumber slices have that cute star shape? My friend Laurie gave me this tip...after peeling just firmly run your fork down the cucumber lengthwise. When you slice them they'll look all fancy schmancy & people will think...well, isn't she a clever girl?

This is my other staple lately, I'm constantly craving melted cheese. Especially the kind on a large Papa John's pizza with the garlic butter dipping sauce. BUT. Instead I go for this whole wheat, low-fat, spinach version...The base is a whole-wheat pita, I just smear a little EVOO on top, then spread some skim milk ricotta cheese. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, smidge of garlic powder & a drizzle of lemon juice. Then a layer of baby spinach leaves & some 2% fat mozzarella sprinkled on top. I stick the whole thing on a piece of foil and bake it in the toaster oven until the crust is crisp & cheese golden. (about 5-7 min) How good is that?!

Do you have any craving kicking ideas for me that you use??