Afternoon Snack

Snack-Girl is always looking at great snack ideas - and What's Gaby Cooking? is an inspirational food blog.... read more

Convenience foods are typically worse for you than food that you make yourself. But, once in a while a product shows up that is truly healthy and helpful to the time-stretched among us.... read more

National Cereal Day is this Sunday. How should we celebrate? How about making your own cereal? I'm sure the people at General Mills will LOVE this idea.... read more

Snack-Girl has been on the hunt for yogurt that makes her heart flutter. A yogurt so good that she wouldn't even miss ice cream. Is it possible?... read more

You can eat 2 cups of cauliflower and only add 88 calories to your waistline. Not only that, but the stuff is really good for you. This is one of the vegetables your doctor is telling you to eat.... read more

The great cracker quest continues with a guest post from a Snack-Girl reader.... read more

Do you dread getting out of bed in the morning? Are you overwhelmed by the enormity of the tasks ahead? Take one job off your list right now!... read more

The search for a great cracker has ended with an entry from Texas. Organic and artisan-baked, these crackers are better than anything I have tried in a LONG time.... read more

Eggs are incredibly nutritious. Just think, a baby embryo was supposed to consume that yolk to become a chick! (hmmmm, maybe you don't want to think about that :)... read more

Using apples in a recipe is always a great idea. This post from A Fit and Spicy Life is a delicious way to enjoy them for a sometimes treat.... read more

When we dream of the perfect salty snack we tend to think of Potato Chips. Dah-duh-duh-dah! Snack-Girl to the rescue!... read more

Guacamole is not a dip that should be avoided because of the calories. Of course, if you add guacamole to something that is already calorie dense (such as a cheese and meat filled burrito), you are throwing gas on the fire.... read more

The yogurt choices in the supermarket seem infinite. They seem to be only surpassed by cereal with all the crazy flavors and brands. After posting Yoplait Strawberry Yogurt, Snack-Girl has been on the hunt for a great yogurt choice.... read more

Do you have a food fight with your child after school? Is your child starving because he tossed out his uneaten lunch because he was having too much fun in the school cafeteria?... read more

After taking on Ritz Crackers, I decided to look into other brands of crackers. Kashi crackers really SCREAMED to me from the supermarket shelf. 8g Whole Grains!.... read more

Some of my readers make pizza dough, tomato sauce, dice vegetables, grate cheese, own a pizza stone, and create amazing pies in their oven. Thank you for reading Snack-Girl, Martha Stewart.... read more

When we think of the Super Bowl, we think of BBQ chicken wings, pizza, 7 layer dip, guacamole, Potato Chips, Doritos, beer, etc. (mouth watering, yet?)... read more

Is there a food out there that can explode with taste and also fight cancer? The obvious answer is berries, but the fresh ones are pretty pricey.... read more

Is it possible to create a healthy brownie? A regular brownie contains oodles of butter, sugar, eggs, and chocolate. They are a confection of MEGA calorific proportions and should be eaten as a treat.... read more

Simple, elegant, and delicious, you can't go wrong with olives for a healthy snack. Olive bars have been popping up in supermarkets all over the country, and I, for one, am a BIG fan.... read more

Comfort food, by definition, makes us feel better. The BEST comfort food are the ones that both make us feel better and are healthy.... read more

Let's be honest. Nobody has time to bake. Okay, if you have time to bake, you are in the minority. My favorite snacks are one that are just assembled from readily available ingredients and served with no mess.... read more

What if you could create the chocolate of your dreams in a few easy steps? What would you add to your chocolate if you had a ton of different flavors at the tips of your fingers?.... read more

I really appreciate Snack-Girl readers, and am thrilled when someone suggests something that I need to review. Crystal wrote me a very nice e-mail admonishing me for leaving these veggie goodies off the site. So, today, I will fix this situation.... read more

The inclination to grab for food when you are stressed is completely understandable. Food calms you down and makes you feel good.... read more

If you could make your own healthy bread in five minutes a day would you do it? Could you find the time for such an enterprise?... read more

Are you bored with the same old dull snacks? Do you need a way to "dress-up" your healthy snack?... read more

Ice cream is a dreamy concoction. It tastes best when you make it yourself right out of the ice cream maker. But, who has time to make it? The supermarket seems to have an endless aisle of choices to answer our craving.... read more

Our society is constantly reminding us to exercise. Why is it so hard to get off our butts?... read more

Is it possible to find a yogurt that tastes great and doesn't inflate your waist? Yes! Does yogurt have to have Sucralose or other artificial sweeteners to be low calorie? No!... read more

The quest for the quickest (and healthiest) pizza continues! One dedicated Snack-Girl reader, Theresa, sent me her solution for a pizza makeover after I posted English Muffin Pizza.... read more

Holiday parties don't have to be about meatballs, 7 layer dip, and cheese. You can do festive things with vegetables and people won't even realize they are eating them.... read more

The cupcake followed me home. I was spending a little time at our local market and he got in my basket - really!... read more

Is there something that you could bring that would be festive, delicious, easy to make, cheap, and give your friends 350% of their recommended daily allowance of Vitamin A per serving?.... read more

I know what is stopping me from losing the tire of chub that sits on my belly. Baked goods.... read more

A couple days before Thanksgiving, I called our local "Survival Center" to find out how I could help. I was ready to roast a turkey, clean up, or help serve.... read more

Is it possible? Can you remove butter from a great recipe and still want to eat it? Well, I was skeptical, until I decided to work this out for my waistline.... read more

Dear Snack-Girl Readers, I receive snacks from manufacturers to review for this site. I always put a line at the bottom of the review to indicate that status.... read more

Their dazzling color and shape are too lovely to believe. Shall I buy them for Christmas? Shall I give them as a gift?... read more

Do you have time to cut up an apple or peel and slice a carrot? No? Well, join the club. Every day, I get up, run to my fridge and start chopping (in my dreams).... read more

We have featured Hard Boiled Egg before as a great snack. My pal, Damaris, over at The Little Foodie has a great idea for keeping kids quiet while you cook dinner.... read more

Diets that advise you to stop eating Potato Chips and start eating Celery Sticks are asking too much! Celery Sticks , while crunchy, do not taste anything like a potato chips.... read more

The holy grail for healthy packaged snacking is finding a snack with fewer than 5 ingredients. The Lara Bar fits this definition well.... read more

Replacing your "junk food" chocolate with a nutritious chocolate is a way to give yourself a luxurious treat you deserve.... read more

How can you eat healthy without spending a lot of time or money? This is a vexing question because most of us are limited in either money or time (and most likely - both).... read more

There can be no doubt that eating vegetables is good for you. Scientific study after study proclaim their health benefits.... read more

Have you noticed how many calories a sour cream and onion dip has? We can fool ourselves into believing we are eating healthily by dipping veggies in these dips.... read more

Is it necessary to add 3/4 of a pound of cheese to a pizza to have it be delicious? Do you need a cheese stuffed crust to have a great eating experience? I don't think so.... read more

We don't ordinarily think about the sun, water, and nutrients absorbed by a food when we eat it. We usually just eat it.... read more

Do you have time to sit and peel a fresh mango every time you want a snack? No? Well, I'm sure you are in the majority.... read more

The shopping malls of the U.S. are dangerous places for people who watch their weight.... read more

Are there certain foods that remind you of vacation spots? It seems that most tropical destinations have a form of fruit salad to start your day.... read more

Hidden in the "Asian" section of your supermarket is a papery substance that is food. My package actually proclaims that the company that makes the stuff has been in business since 1690.... read more

Sitting on the shelf with all the bright colored Fritos and Doritos is the lowly pretzel.... read more

We take medicine to make us feel better when we get sick. We undergo all kind of treatments to get rid of diseases such as cancer and diabetes, and we pay oodles of money for these treatments.... read more

You CAN make popcorn in the microwave without the prepackaged products from the supermarket. All you need is popcorn, lunch bags, tape, and some flavorings.... read more

Bear Fruit Bars do not occur in nature, but they are made of natural ingredients. They are made by a small, family run company called Mountain Organic Foods.... read more

You can buy all sorts of different brands of granola. Granola comes in bags, boxes or bulk. It is found in the cereal aisle, the health food store, and the corner market.... read more

How much can you eat before you start gaining weight? Obviously, this depends on what you eat.... read more

Most of us don't think of milk as a sports drink. The drink aisle abounds with neon colors of Gatorade and Powerade to entice us to recharge after and during exercise.... read more

Seven percent of the average American's calories come from soda (see reference below). What if you could reduce or even eliminate soda from your diet?... read more

Are Cheetos nutritious? No, the cheese part does not make them nutritious. They are filled with salt, processed cheese, and corn... read more

At $2 per bar, products like PowerBar can really take a bite out of your wallet. Of course they are incredibly convenient to buy and eat. Can you really make these at home?... read more

Isn't watermelon just water? It is actually over 90% water, but that leftover 10% is pretty great. For example, watermelon has more lycopene than tomatoes.... read more

Ants on a log is a combination of celery, cream cheese (or peanut butter), and raisins... read more

This classic combination turns out to be an pretty good snack. The key is to use real cheese... read more

Pre-washed stringless sugar snap peas can be found in your local supermarket in a plastic bag. Those of us... read more

Baked snap peas are mashed green peas shaped into a pea shape and baked with oil and salt. They have the same calories per ounce as potato chips.... read more

Also known as string cheese, this cheese stick is an example of a packaged snack that is good for you... read more

Wasabi peas are fried peas with a mustard sauce on them. They go great with beer and are a great replacement for Doritos or Fritos... read more

Isn't celery mostly water? Yes, but it is chocked full of other great nutrients. It has protein, Vitamin K, and lots of other vitamins to keep you going.... read more

Coffee is roasted bean juice. Since we don't pick the beans, roast them, and grind them, we forget that coffee is derived from plants.... read more

Hey, these look like fries!! Yes, they are "fry posers" created by Burger King to help you (and your children) avoid eating French Fries. Will it work?... read more

Is this really a healthy snack? Eating too much of any baked good is damaging to your waistline, but made with real bananas and eggs, this snack includes protein and vitamins your body needs... read more

Can you have a treat that is also nutritious? Absolutely. There is no reason why you need to chose a food that lacks nutrients to get a great treat. read more

If you are hungry, this is a perfectly fine snack. Everything is relative of course, and if you are watching your weight you would want to avoid something with so many calories.... read more

Onion rings are another delicious fast food. I love the soft oniony inside and the crunchy batter outside. Unfortunately, the deep frying part renders these puppies into a very fatty snack.... read more

The average American eats 30 pounds of french fries a year. I found this statistic on a website devoted to the history of french fries. French fries are a much loved staple for us Americans. We probably out do the Belgians who consider them a national treasure. read more

Hey, wait a minute! Almost 600 calories in a bag of Fritos??!! That is ludicrous. Yeah, it is. Maybe YOU will be able to stop yourself from eating the entire bag. read more

The stick of jerky photographed here is actually not beef. I was shocked to discover that I had purchased a stick of jerky made with pork and something called "mechanically separated chicken". Okayyy. read more

The Hostess website claims that there is a person in Florida who eats 4 Hostess cupcakes a day. So, at 680 calories, I hope she is replacing a meal with them (cupcakes for breakfast anyone?).... read more

"Eat. Spit. Be Happy." says DAVID, a manufacturer of sunflower seeds. I can't agree more. If not for the fact that I've been trying to teach my children not to spit, these would be a perfect snack. read more

What can I say that hasn't been said? These little snack cakes are the definition of junk food. They are so hard not to love. And they sell 500 million of them a year. read more

It sounds so great doesn't it? Veggie Chips! I can have vegetables AND chips. Woo-hoo! Yeah.... read more

Aren't they so cute? Those little bears dressed in sweet colors are a very fun treat. I like these because they don't pretend to be something that they are not, like "fruit snacks". These are candy, plain and simple. read more

If you choose sugar free gum, or close to it, you have a snack that won't wreck your teeth or your waistline. You can stop the desire to put something fattening in your mouth and it can be a pretty good experience. As long as you are not hungry, chewing gum is a good alternative to food.... read more

What can I say? This one is tough (ha!), shoe leather tough in fact. I bought this package to review for Snack Girl and I literally can't eat it. This has got to be one of the first that I find myself totally unable to swallow or chew.... read more

Most of us have heard that red wine has health benefits. The theory was conceived when we noticed that all those French people consumed alot of it and didn't get heart disease at the same rates as Americans. How amazing! An alcoholic drink that is actually good for you.... read more

I love donuts so much that a friend once suggested that I become a police officer. I realize this is a slander against police officers, and I apologize to them, but the connection has to do with staying up all night and getting a snack from the only place that is open at 3 AM... read more

What is the size of a slice of pizza? It can really vary. I use a measure from Domino's because, while I don't like their pizza, I think we all know what a Domino's pizza looks like. read more

Pork rinds are (mysteriously) not that bad a snack. George W. Bush, near the beginning of his presidency said that they were his favorite snack, and sales shot up. read more

"Snickers Really Satisfies" goes their marketing jingle. I think that the company that makes them (Mars Bars) wants to remind you that they have peanuts in them, and that they will stop your hunger. read more

Graham crackers can be pretty yummy. There are a lot of different brands but they all average out to be about the same for calories... read more

Are you thirsty? If you are - try to grab a glass of water. The price is usually close to free and it may stop your hunger craving. read more

Wait a minute, these are supposed to be healthy! Do you really consider these a treat? read more

You get protein, lots of vitamins, fat and a whole slew of compounds that your body needs. So, eat eggs! Do not be afraid. But, try to keep it to 2 a day.... read more

Why do I recommend salami? Well first of all, the taste is very strong. If you have a few thin slices for a snack, you probably won't be able to eat much more. read more

I never had a mango until I visited Mexico in 1987. I bought one from a street vendor, and just sunk my face into it. Wow! If a mango is perfectly fresh, it is an almost euphoric experience to eat it.... read more

Mallomars are a weird Northeastern United States phenomenon. If you have not lived in New York or New Jersey, you may have never seen one. read more

Oreos are America's favorite cookies. They are truly delicious. The dark bitter chocolate outside and the creamy inside are world famous.... read more

I have to admit my love of sparkling water. I just love those little bubbles.... read more

Why is dark chocolate good for you? Most people don't realize that dark chocolate is derived from plants.... read more

Is this a snack or a meal? Well, I think many people would still feel hungry if you had just a cup of noodles for lunch, so I think it is a snack.... read more

Raisins are "nature's candy". I suppose that is true. They are SUPER sweet and yummy, and a great snack for those with a sweet tooth.... read more

Microwave popcorn is a fast and easy snack that can be satisfying and nutritious but you need to choose carefully if you are on a diet... read more

Americans are bananas for bananas! They are the most consumed fruit in the United States and the world. read more

If you like crackers, Triscuits (or whole wheat baked snack crackers) are for you. They are salty and crunchy and great alternative to the higher fat alternatives such as potato chips or Doritos.... read more

I had this boss who used to worry about things going "pear-shaped". I still don't know what he was talking about, and I was always kinda worried he was talking about me. read more

My grandfather would to send us a box of oranges for Christmas. I was pretty disappointed as a youngster because I was hoping for toys. But as an adult, I would appreciate the gift.... read more

The state of Georgia salutes the peach on its license plate. Wow! A fruit actually gets "Rock Star" status.... read more

Biting into a fresh nectarine is like tasting a summer's day. So many flavors play over your tongue as you taste one.... read more

"If Life is a Bowl of Cherries, What am I Doing in the Pits?", Erma Bombeck, (1985). I guess I am dating myself with this title, but it always makes me laugh.... read more

If fresh raspberries were cheaper, I would eat them all the time! They are sweet, luscious, and arguably very good for you.... read more

Strawberries are a wonder food. At just 46 calories for a cup of strawberries they are both sweet and delicious.... read more

"An apple a day will keep the doctor away" goes the proverb. I think we can all agree that apples are much cheaper than health insurance. Can an apple really make good on its promise?... read more

Are you nuts about nuts? I sure am. Roasted, salted, plain or slivered, almonds are a wonderful snack.... read more