hey everyone:

I have just been introduced into the whole food lifestyles and wanted to know of easy snacks that I can eat. I know that I am supposed to have 5-6 mini meals throughtout the day. My usual snacks are either:

* a slice of whole grain bread with almond butter

OR

* half a handful of raw almonds with some kind of fruit.


However, I think that I might have too much fat from the almonds.
Any suggests would be appreciated.

P.S. I am trying to stay away from cheese and meats

The almonds and their fat are definitely good for you. Studies have shown that a serving of nuts 5 times a week can lower the risk of heart disease up to 30% - that is significant.

Some of my favorite snacks:

- Baked apple with blueberries
- home made sun dried tomato hummus with baked pita chips or veggies
- A banana dipped into 2 tbs maple pumpkin butter
- Low fat greek yogurt with fresh berries
- Sliced vegetables (grape tomatoes, baby carrots, sugar snap peas, sliced peppers)

Hummus on whole grain flat breads or Wasa bread, is one of my favorites. You can buy hummus in the grocery store, but I make my own, and all sorts of other "bean pates," by whirring up beans and seasonings (at least garlic and a little lemon juice) in a food processor. Then I spread it on veggies or whole wheat or rye crispbreads.

Sliced apple w/ nut butter
Plain yogurt w/ berries
Akmak crackers (or ww crackers) w/ cottage cheese
protien powder smoothie
orange w/ pumpkin seeds
small spinach salad w/goat cheese
green beans and a cup of LF soy milk

Trader joes has the ultimate in portable snacks if you need things to carry with you. One of my favorite combinations is an organic string cheese for protein and satiety, paired with these amazing dried granny smith apple rings. Normally dried fruit is so high calorie for the volume, but you get 12 apple rings (prob 3/4 a cup) for 110 calories, and they don't have any added anything (no sugar, no sulfur, no anything but apples). These are so easily tossed into a bag.

I like FF greek yoghurt with oats and pecans and dried cranberries (high in sugar but tasty )

Also, chicken breasts in a WW pitta
multigrain high fibre bagel with beef and hummous and cucumber
cucumber and hummous
roasted chick peas (all hail the chick pea )
not sure if you can get them over in the US but I found these all natural raw food bars, I can't remember what they're called but they're mainly dates, nuts, dried fruit and a smidge of spices. They're tasty.
Plums
Oh and this is a good one - BfL apple pie but you can modify it and it's soooo good! Chop up a cooking apple and nuke for 30 secs, then sprinkle half a cup of oats on the top and nuke for a further 1:30. Then you can add whatever white dairy stuff you like on the top! The original is whipped up CC with vanilla and Splenda, but sometimes I use Fromage Frais or Greek Yoghurt on the top. Sometimes I use plums in with the apples, or cranberries or raisins or rhubarb.

Roasted chickpeas sound wonderful...how do you do it?

Thanks!

I bought mine ready roasted, but I've heard you can do them by soaking the dried chickpeas (for however long it says on the packet) then putting them in the oven on low to crisp them up.

how i roast chick peas is take canned chick peas, drain well, toss with a little olive oil, salt, pepper, curry powder, chilli powder, garlic powder and bake on a low oven (about 300 degrees) for a while...until dry and crispy..

mmmmmmmm...they are good!

thanks for all of the suggestions