Blogs

Quick links
Turn on suggestions Auto-suggest helps you quickly narrow down your search results by suggesting possible matches as you type.
Auto-suggest helps you quickly narrow down your search results by suggesting possible matches as you type.
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Do you mean 
Chris Freytag

Summer Treats & Snacks Minus the Guilt

by on ‎06-30-2011 12:12 PM

Are you tired of hearing advice that you should watch every morsel of food you consume if you want to slim your waistline? Sometimes, small changes can go a long way. If you’re trying to get in better shape or watch what you eat, but still want to enjoy summer cookouts and yummy desserts, I have some great summer solutions for you to try so you can enjoy what you eat and forgo the guilt.

Snow Cone Maker


Cool down with snow cones  

 

Sure, snow cones aren’t packed with nutrition, but they aren’t going to destroy your calorie count for the day, either. Lighten up with this light treat! It’s fun for the kids, cool, refreshing on a hot summer day, and just might make you feel like a kid again! The Chris Freytag Snow Cone Maker with syrup, cups, straws, and ice molds (K34694) shaves the ice to your preference, letting you choose from more than a dozen different flavors. My personal trick: I make myself a “slushie.” I shave the ice into a cup and pour sugar-free lemonade or diet green tea over the ice. Add a lemon slice for instant refreshment!

 

Smoothie Maker


Get your fruit and protein easily with smoothies


Another refreshing treat — and meets a good part of your daily nutritional needs — are smoothies. Smoothies (K31424) are so easy to prepare and you can take them with you when you're on the go! You can throw in lots of fruit, too. I use frozen fruit at my house; we buy it in bulk and it never goes bad. You can even add a handful of spinach for nutritional bonus points! I promise you won’t even be able to taste the spinach. If you don’t believe me, try it for yourself!

 

Green Machine Smoothie


  • 1 overflowing cup of fresh spinach leaves

  • 1/2 cup frozen pineapple

  • 1/2 banana

  • 6 oz. container of low-fat yogurt (I use 0% fat Greek yogurt)

  • 3 to 5 ice cubes

  • 6 oz. liquid (I use diet lemonade or diet green tea)


 

Blend and enjoy! It’s so tropical, nutritious, low-calorie, and deceivingly delicious!

popcorn maker


Chill out and pop up some popcorn    

 

When those long, hot nights of summer have you running indoors for some cool air conditioning, cool off by watching a movie and enjoying some popcorn! Popcorn (K20912) is a high-fiber snack that’s significantly lower in calories than chips, cookies, or other processed snacks. If you are craving a little bit of salt and a little bit of sugar, I have a great recipe for Kettle Corn in my Choose This! cookbook (page 95).  

    

Choose This Cookbook

  

Prepare summer treats you can snack on 

 

If you wish you could munch on something at a party or a cookout but are worried about all the unhealthy choices, try my recipe for Spicy Peanut Dip (page 25 of Choose This!). Peanuts and peanut butter are great sources of monounsaturated fat and other nutrients which can promote heart health. And whenever I bring this dip to a party, everyone raves about it and asks for the recipe! Some other great snack recipes for summer include my homemade recipe for Chipotle Sauce and Sweet Potato Fries (page 155).

 

Choose This!

  

For more of my recipes, check out my cookbook, Choose This! (F09219) Making healthy choices doesn’t have to be about deprivation and starvation — just choose smarter! Now, get out there and enjoy summer!

 

—Chris Freytag

0 Hearts