Recipes + After Exercise

Healthy Baked Oatmeal **VIDEO**

Healthy baked oatmeal is always a hit in my house. It is like a muffin (and like a pudding).....

Low Calorie Cereal Recipe

Low calorie cereal is easy to make. I know you want to buy it - but it tastes much better to make it........

Take Your Apple and Peanut Butter To A Whole New Level

Snack Girl has long advocated for an apple and peanut butter for a perfect snack. Basically, you got your fruit with a another whole food (peanuts) just blended up. Super yum!....

Mason Jar Yogurt Parfait

Do you know those containers of fruit flavored yogurts? You know the ones I am referring to - Yoplait, Chobani, Dannon. etc.....

A Super Cold Breakfast For Summer

Are you hot? How would you like some steaming oatmeal?....

A Fruit Dip To Keep Life Interesting

Snack Girl has long advocated for an apple and peanut butter for a perfect snack. Basically, you got your fruit with a another whole food (peanuts) just blended up. Super yum!...

Make Your Own Mocha Roasted Almonds

Snack Girl is not trying to sell you rabbit poop, it just looks like it.....

The Fast Cooking Bean For A Warm Salad

Do you think the words “warm” and “salad” work together? Well, they can if you use lentils....

The In Season Vegetable With A Bad Reputation

Snack Girl knows how you are feeling right now. Too many bowl games?....

Good Read: How To Enjoy Fresh Cranberries

After picking on dried cranberries last week (see: The Truth About Dried Cranberries), I decided to feature the fresh variety....

Rock The House With Your Toaster Oven

Sometimes the simplest snacks are the best. I suppose the above snack isn’t going to win me any awards, but I still wanted to feature it....

Pizza Without Guilt

Snack Girl doesn’t believe in guilt about food. For me, there is no “good” food vs. “evil” food....

A Pumpkin Pie Smoothie For Fall

Last week, I introduced Fall with a no bake pumpkin oatmeal cookie. But, I had a problem....

Take Your Raw Veggies To the Next Level

Awwww, ma, raw veggies AGAIN! Yes, I know it is difficult but there is nothing healthier....

Have You Tried Baked Oatmeal?

If you combine whole grains, eggs, yogurt, milk, and fruit what do you get? Breakfast!....

The Best Brand of Yogurt You Can Buy

The title here is purposely misleading. I am just trying to get you to pay attention....

Turn Dull Beans Into A Potato Chip Replacement

Yesterday, we featured canned beans in a sneaky way. Today, they come out behind the curtain.

This Tuna Melt Is So Light & Tasty It Will Make You Cry

Tuna melts use to be a staple in my college dorm. One cup mayonnaise, a little tuna, and say the word "green" and you had lunch!...

Brown Is Beautiful: Making The Switch To Brown Rice

Hey, we all want to be beautiful. How about trying some brown rice to aid your efforts?...

Why This Pizza Crust Is My New BFF

For the older generation out there that doesn't text, BFF stands for best friend forever (someone had to inform ME of that :-)...

Spread It On or Dip It: The Best Yogurt Fruit Dip

Snack Girl has long advocated for an apple and peanut butter for a perfect snack. Basically, you got your fruit with a another whole food (peanuts) just blended up. Super yum!....

Kale Chips: Believe The Hype

Kale is getting a lot of press and finding its way on all the top blogs. I had to ask this kale to stop on the red carpet to photograph it....

How To Make Dark Chocolate Last Forever

Drizzle: to pour in a fine stream. Drizzle is a super cool word because you can hear it....

Take On The Prickly Fruit: In Season and Super Sweet

Pineapples are in season right now and costing about $2 each in my neck of the woods. YUM!...

Eight Exciting Things To Do With Bananas

When people meet me for the first time, what do you think they ask me? Where did you get your nails done?....

Looking For A Low Cal Burger? Give This Yummy, Simple, and Vegan Burger A Shot

I recently noticed that my favorite brew pub has a VEGGIE burger on its menu. Yes, we have shifted a bit when it comes to our burger consumption....

Return To An Old Favorite Snack (With A Twist)

Sometimes we need a little inspiration to make a healthy snack. We get into snack ruts because we are super busy....

Sunshine in Your Fridge: Grapefruit Made Less Sour

Do you know when citrus fruits are in season? The one bright spot of the winter growing season is that NOW is the best time for fresh oranges and grapefruits....

Broccoli With Peanut Sauce Is For Everyone (Even The Broccoli Haters)

Raise your hand if you like steamed broccoli with nothing on it! One, two.....TWO of you :)....

Need Umami? Try Using Mushrooms Instead of Meat

When you think of foods that will help you replace red meat in your diet, what comes to your mind? Obviously, not celery....

You Need To Cook With This Berry NOW! (Healthy Muffin Recipe)

Have you noticed the lovely bags of red berries greeting you in the produce aisle? Fresh cranberries are here!...

Turn A Healthy Food That You Hate Into A New Love

How many of you out there hate Brussels Sprouts? I bet you are really looking forward to them on your Thanksgiving table....

Wow Your Friends With The World's Simplest Cookie Recipe

Do you love cookies but hate the work that goes into making them? My least favorite part is the clean up of the kitchen. argh....

A Fantastic Snack From A Scary Place

You guys been anywhere scary lately? How about Costco where all your money seems to get scared out of your wallet?....

Love Salted Chocolate Caramels? Try This Healthy Candy Alternative

No one is ever going to accuse Snack Girl of not loving a WEE bit of chocolate. But, my taste bud credentials have been called into question....

The Secret To Making Chicken Breast Taste Much Better Than A Hockey Puck

Snack Girl hasn't sucked on a hockey puck lately, but she has grilled skinless chicken breast past the point of edible....

Mix Up These Healthier Corn Muffins In A Jiffy

Got time to bake? No? Don't worry, Snack Girl has a great tip for making it look like you have time to use that oven for something other than pots and pan storage....

Mix Pancakes With Oatmeal And You Get A Super Breakfast

Snack Girl keeps working on the perfect pancake. It is the "cake" part that gets me striving for the elusive goal of tasty and nutritious....

This Muffin Can Save Your Life

I know what you are thinking. How can a muffin save a life? Don't we usually use things like electrified paddles?....

Better Than Real Eggs

Going vegan seems like a big trend right now as we look at our calorie intake and our environmental impact. I never thought eggs were such a big deal because nothing was slaughtered to get them....

Create A Better Snack With Carrots

The healthiest eaters among us incorporate vegetables or fruit in every meal. This can be tricky because vegetables take time to peel, dice, chop and wash....

How Cantaloupe Can Keep Your Dishes Clean

I want to know which creative thinker came up with a "bread" bowl. That person was ON to something. Of course, most of us need to avoid bread bowls (especially if they are filled with a clam chowder)....

Fall In Love With A New Whole Grain

The comfort zone of American cuisine is meat, potatoes, and a wee bit of vegetables. When it comes to whole grains, we are sadly lacking....

Makeover The Best Selling Salad Dressing In America

Eating a lot of salad is a great way to maintain your health. And, when, you are asked which dressing you would like with that salad - many of you answer RANCH!....

A 100 Calorie Pizza That Will Rock Your Sox

You know what? It isn't that hard to make healthy pizza. Pizza would always be pretty healthy if we chose not to put 1/2 pound of cheese on every slice....

Why Watermelon Makes Us Feel Good

Snack Girl is chomping on watermelon and loving it. A hot day, a slice of watermelon, and watermelon juice all over the place. This is summer!...

A Fruit You Just Gotta Try

Something green and yummy is sitting right now in your supermarket and it will make your taste buds sing. This fruit resembles a tomato and is a staple of Mexican cuisine...

Lighter, Fluffier Trail Mix

Trail mix is for taking on your hike. Anyone been on a hike lately? No? Me, neither....

Sweet Corn Is A Stellar Snack

Don't tell me you haven't noticed the piles of corn at the front of your local grocery store. The stacks of 10 ears for $2 are calling Snack Girl....

Z Fries: The Latest In Nutritious, Delicious, and Low Cal Fries

Z French like to sspeak like thissss. In France, they call French fries - frites. Don't they know they are French fries? sheesh....

Whole Grain, Homemade Chip: Goodbye Potato Chips!

Chips, why do we love you so? Is it the crunchiness? The saltiness? or the just plain deliciousness....

Make Your Own Popsicles: "Great Taste...Less Added Sugar!"

Having something cold to refresh yourself on a hot summer day is essential. Snack Girl usually reaches for a beer POPSICLE when she is feeling droopy....

Skip The Ice Cream: Grill Your Dessert

Summertime is happenin' and I am SURROUNDED by ice cream stands. What is it about the middle of nowhere that leads to the proliferation of ice cream stands?....

French Onion Dip With Zero Guilt

When someone shows up to your house with sour cream, French onion soup mix, and a bag of Ruffles - you know you are in heaven....

You Don't Need Sugar For A Refreshing Summer Drink

It is FINALLY beginning to heat up here in the middle of nowhere and Snack Girl loves cold drinks when it is hot outside.

Who Else Wants Restaurant Quality Indian Food Without The Calories?

Snack Girl LOVES Indian food and would eat it more except for a few things. Let me list them for you: cream, butter, and oil....

Hate Bananas? Try These Pumpkin Bites

Back in April, Snack Girl posted what she thought was an awesome cereal bar recipe. People complained!

Veggie Burgers Can Be Better Than Meat Burgers (Seriously)

Snack Girl has been looking for a packaged veggie burger to endorse as a great snack. And, she hasn't found one :(...

Get Your Spring On With This Vegetable

Last year, Snack Girl featured one of her FAVORITE Spring vegetables and no one read my post. No, I won't give up....

The BEST Post Workout Snack

Whether you do yoga, walk, spin, bike, run, or swim, you usually get hungry after activity. Many people reach for energy bars such as PowerBar, but with a little creativity, you can do a WHOLE lot better....

A Grab 'N Go Breakfast With ZERO Added Sugar (and you will love it)

Anybody else sick of packaged cereal bars? But, they are just SO easy and fast....

Satan Would Hate This Recipe

Yes, this photo does look like "deviled" eggs, but Snack Girl has a fix to make them much less evil....

Give Me Three Ingredients and I'll Give You Amazing Salsa

If you are like me (and, hopefully, you are not), you can't create recipes on the fly. Snack Girl is mired in lists when she goes to the grocery store....

Now You Can Eat A Banana Split Without Splitting Your Pants

Snack Girl is ALWAYS looking for ways to makeover treats into healthy food. And, she loves banana splits!....

Try This: Vegan Toast

Guess what I didn't use on my toast this morning?....

See How Easily You Can Turn Cauliflower Into An Awesome Snack

Wouldn't it be cool if the snack aisle of your supermarket had bags of delicious cauliflower? Alas, you are going to have to break out your kitchen knife and make your own.

This Green Smoothie Does NOT Taste Like Grass

Snack Girl has had MANY readers tell her to try "green" smoothies. Well, before last Tuesday, I had one word for them - YUCK!...

Never Eat Fast Food French Fries Again

Yes, you can do it! You can give up your beloved french fries and celebrate their exit from your life.....

Green Thing...You Make My Heart Sing

Green thing, I think I love you. Your arrival in my neighborhood Stop-&-Shop means SPRING is coming soon....

Try This Healthy Pie.....Naked

Here at Snack Girl headquarters clothing is optional (for the 4 and under set). This is also true of our pies....

The Cheater's Guide to Healthy Yogurt

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!...

You Will LOVE This 81 Calorie Egg Recipe

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 :)...

Save Money, Your Waistline, And The World By Making Your Own Cereal

Okay, maybe I have gotten a bit dramatic with this title. But, you HAVE to try making your own cereal....

My Friends Use To Laugh At Me...And THEN I Made This Broccoli Recipe

Do you think Snack Girl is done trying to convince you to eat broccoli? I will NEVER give up (really)....

Homemade Whole Wheat Tortillas - So Ridiculously Easy

Back in November, I wrote a post about healthy tortillas (A Healthy Tortilla). A reader who commented on that post changed my world....

This Smoothie Will Blow Your Mind

Snack Girl isn't really a fan of smoothies because she finds them too sweet. But, there is one style of smoothie that motivates her to get out the blender.

Panini Extreme Makeover (Take THAT Quiznos!)

Maybe you like grilled cheese sandwiches? Okay, who doesn't like grilled cheese sandwiches?...

Transform Broccoli Into a Food the ENTIRE Family Will Eat

Snack Girl KNOWS about the broccoli haters of the world. And she wants to change their minds....

Makeover Kettle Corn Into "Can Do" Corn

Kettle corn has that perfect combination of crunchy, salty, and sweet that keeps you eating it long after you should stop....

How To Avoid Wasting Carrots

Do you hate limp carrots? Do you buy a bag of carrots only to find that half of them are rotten by the time you get to eat them?...

Simple, Delicious, and Low Calorie Smoothie Recipes from Camp Shane

If you’re looking for a snack that tastes delicious AND is good for you, then you’re in for a treat!

Low Calorie Comfort Food - It Exists!

There is more than one way to create comfort. One way involves lots of calories and icing....

Make Winter Warmer With Apple and Peanut Butter Oatmeal

Are you bored with your oatmeal? Let's give it a makeover!....

Love Sliders? Here Is A Healthy Version

In case you are wondering, a slider is a mini-sandwich or burger. I first encountered them at my neighborhood Chili's....

You Won't Miss The Butter In This Holiday Banana Bread

Can you trick your pals into believing you used a stick of butter to make your banana bread? I think so!...

Give the Gift of A Healthy Snack (Your Friends Won't Even Know Its Healthy!)

Looking for that perfect gift for that special someone? Put down your credit card and rev up your food processor.

Last Minute T-Day Side or Healthy Snack

Kill it on Turkey day with a fresh side that goes with everything, takes 10 minutes to make, and will WOW your guests....

Saving The Brussels Sprouts

Any of you Snack Girl readers hate Brussels Sprouts? I bet you are really looking forward to them on your Thanksgiving table....

Replace Mayo With This Healthy Spread

Seems like it is time to take on mayonnaise. I love the stuff, but when you start adding it to sandwiches, the calories sky rocket...

A Healthy Halloween Snack

Halloween is arriving in a mere 12 days and it is all my kids can talk about. We are decorating the house and getting ready for the festivities....

Healthy Banana Pudding from Jack LaLanne

Before Jillian Michaels, Jane Fonda, and Zumba there was Jack LaLanne. He presented fitness and exercise advice on TV for 34 years!...

Don't Toss These Out!

Who likes to feel like their hands are in worm guts? You? The slimy inside of a pumpkin is a SCARY place....

Got Apples? Try This Awesome Healthy Snack

If you read this website, you BETTER have apples in your fridge (or I'm gonna buy you some :) This is it people - apple season!...

Chocolate Pumpkin Protein Bars - YUM!

You would expect that a food blog called Lilveggiepatch.com would be set in a rural spot like Athens, GA....

Mix It Up For A Delicious Snack

Do you sometimes get bored with the same old snack? Perhaps the snack you brought to work is SO dull, you make a little trip to the vending machine....

Want Your Kid To Eat A Healthy Snack? Use a Stick

Sick of trying to get your kids to eat something healthy? Try my method of persuasion involving a stick....

A Grab And Go Breakfast With Staying Power

My daughter begged me to serve her pancakes for her first day of school. Pancakes are usually a weekend treat, but how could I deny her?...

Colorful and Healthy: Carrot, Raisin, Cream Cheese Bite

The healthiest eaters among us incorporate vegetables or fruit in every meal. This can be tricky because vegetables take time to prepare....

Skinny Italian Tomato Snack Recipe

Skinny Italian seems like an oxymoron. Can you eat pasta by the tons and still be skinny?...

A Cherry Tomato Salad For Summer

My farm share just gave us the go ahead to pick AS MANY cherry tomatoes as we want! Is that crazy?....

A Beet Recipe For Beet Haters

Why do people hate beets? Maybe grandmothers forced beets on to poor defenseless grand children. Or they haven't had tried fresh beets!...

Want Fewer Dirty Dishes? Try This Healthy Trick

I want to know which creative thinker came up with a "bread" bowl. That person was ON to something. Of course, most of us need to avoid bread bowls (especially if they are filled with a clam chowder)....

Kale Chips

There are bunches of kale ready to eat in someone's garden right now. What are you going to do with it all?...

Love Bagels and Cream Cheese? Try This Makeover

Has anyone else noticed the size of your bagel getting bigger in the last 20 years? And the amount of cream cheese spread on them seems to be growing too!...

A Tomato Salad For Tomato Lovers

Can you believe those colors? You know how they say to "eat the rainbow". Here is your chance!....

Got Watermelon? Try This Awesome and Simple Recipe

This is the season of watermelon. Supermarkets position these lovely creatures right at the front door so they hop into your cart! Really!...

How To Make a Power Breakfast (44% of your DV of Iron)

Snack Girl has a problem. It is a GREAT problem to have - too much fresh spinach in her refrigerator....

Turn Your Dull Toast into a Terrific Snack

What can you spread on your toast that will help guard against high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke? Butter, right?...

An Amazing Apple Pie Makeover In Two Minutes

Is it possible to cut the calories of apple pie in half and have it still taste good? Well, when you are working with food as great as Apples anything is possible....

63 Calories of Salty, Sweet, Sour, Spicy and Veggie Goodness for a Dime

After writing about Parmesan Corn Recipe, I felt bad about adulterating corn into a high calorie food. Parmesan Corn Recipe is a GREAT snack, but not the best choice for us who are watching our weight....

DIY Popsicles: A Happy, Healthy Snack

Summer is here, baby! My town hit 87 degrees and I was hot. Fortunately, I had just made some of these delicious treats for the website....

When It Heats Up Try This Simple Zero Calorie Drink

There is usually just one small step from ordinary to elegant. I know that sounds optimistic, but sometimes just a little change makes ALL the difference.

Try Rhubarb - In Season Now and Super Yummy

The best place to find healthy eating inspiration is your local produce source. And if you pay attention, you will see that there are vegetables and fruits that arrive at different times of year....

Olive Tapenade from Clean Food Cookbook

How many of you want to be healthy and sustainable? I'm not sure what sustainable means exactly - but if it means I'm living a long life then bring it on!...

Eat Asparagus for Breakfast from Eat Real Good

One of the ways that I know that Spring is here is that asparagus starts showing up in supermarkets. I love the stuff and get so excited when I see it priced as low as $1.50 per pound....

A Chocolate Shake With Only 116 Cals

As the weather gets warm, we want to reach for something cold. How about a chocolate shake? Most of us need to drop the ice cream from this indulgence and it isn't hard if you own a blender....

DIY Microwave Popcorn: Healthy, Yummy, and CHEAP

Popcorn is a whole grain snack that is really low in calories and has that great crunch we crave. But, the packaged stuff in the supermarket is expensive and can be high in sodium....

Banana Quesadilla: A Delicious After-Exercise Snack

Whether you do yoga, walk, spin, bike, run, or swim, you usually get hungry after activity. Many people reach for energy bars such as PowerBar, but with a little creativity, you can do a WHOLE lot better....

Smokeratoes: A Fabulous New Snack

Sometimes you have to open your eyes to what is in front of you. Recently, my vision changed in the canned seafood section of the supermarket. There was a product I had never noticed on my search for great tuna fish....

Do NOT Be Afraid of This Vegetable - In Season NOW and Yummy!

A sure sign of that spring is here is the lovely strawberries, asparagus and artichokes that show up in the supermarkets. My store has them right at the entrance beckoning to me....

Change Your Deviled Eggs into Angeled Eggs (Low Cal Recipe)

Snack-Girl is a working mother and sometimes she doesn't get around to things as timely as other food writers. I would say most food blogs featured deviled eggs last week. Now that I have 2 dozen Hard Boiled Eggs in my fridge, I am ON IT!...

Healthy Lavash Chips from Danica's Daily

Snack-Girl is always on the hunt for other blogs that inform her readers. Danica of Danica's Daily posts her healthy food consumption every day for people to follow.

Better and Faster than A Bowl of Cold Cereal

Life hasn't been easy since Snack-Girl set a new cereal standard in our house. I've tested many of our cereals and I've come up with very few that pass the Candy or Breakfast? Evaluate Your Cereal test....

Replace French Fries with This Easy and Healthy Snack

The most eaten vegetable in the United States is the potato. Found in fast food venues from coast to coast the delicious French Fries are hard to avoid....

How To Incorporate Veggies in Your Breakfast

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

DIY Cereal For A Healthy Snack

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....

Turn Cauliflower into YUMMYflower

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....

DIY Crackers from Sagan

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

Streamline Your Morning in One Step

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!...

Beyond Hard Boiled Eggs

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 :)...

Fastest, Easiest, and Tastiest Guacamole

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....

Have a Healthy Brownie! (a Mere 77 Calories)

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....

Comfort Food without the Uncomfortable Guilt

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

No-Bake, Nut Butter, Oatmeal Cookie

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....

The Tiniest (and Yummiest) Pizzas on The Planet

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....

How to Eat More Vegetables

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

A Dip that Won't Kill You

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....

Quick and Healthy Pizza

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....

Treat Yourself When Shopping in the Mall

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

Imagine Being On Vacation

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....

Healthy Homemade Granola

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....

Energy Bar Recipe

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?...

Fun for kids to make and eat (adults too!)

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

Cheese and Crackers

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

Homemade Banana Bread

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...

77 calories packed with nutrition

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....