Healthy chewy snack ideas please?
October 23, 2010 11:30 AM Subscribe
Healthy alternative to chewy cookies?
I love fat chewy oatmeal cookies. But I can never stop at just one (nor two, nor three...). I have no will power against them. So I need a healthy alternative to satisfy my cravings.
The thing I crave most about cookies is the chewiness. Ideally, I'm looking for something low-calorie and not highly-processed. I don't need it to be very sweet, I actually prefer mild flavour. It is really mostly about texture and mouthfeel for me.
Suggestions please.
I love fat chewy oatmeal cookies. But I can never stop at just one (nor two, nor three...). I have no will power against them. So I need a healthy alternative to satisfy my cravings.
The thing I crave most about cookies is the chewiness. Ideally, I'm looking for something low-calorie and not highly-processed. I don't need it to be very sweet, I actually prefer mild flavour. It is really mostly about texture and mouthfeel for me.
Suggestions please.
I really like this recipe for Chewy No-Bake Granola bars. The only cooking you have to do is to melt the butter/honey/sugar on the stove. Very customizable with whatever you want to put in them (I personally like dried cranberries, almonds, and chocolate chips).
posted by wondermouse at 11:44 AM on October 23, 2010
posted by wondermouse at 11:44 AM on October 23, 2010
If you're looking to improve the nutritional profile of your cookies, try PostPunk Kitchen's vegan pumpkin oat cookies. They're fantastic, full of good things, and freeze excellently. If you're looking to avoid cookies altogether, think about fruit leathers, gum, or turkey/soy jerky.
posted by apparently at 11:46 AM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by apparently at 11:46 AM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
Dried pineapple (the kind with no sugar added). I get it at my co-op. It's like eating beef jerky, only not disgusting. Chewy and with a mouth-full mouthfeel, and not bad for you either. Very satisfying.
posted by headnsouth at 1:01 PM on October 23, 2010
posted by headnsouth at 1:01 PM on October 23, 2010
Or dried mango. Or properly dried figs (not the soft, wet kind)
posted by Marzipan at 1:43 PM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Marzipan at 1:43 PM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Looks like some good recipes to try. Thanks!
I'm a little concerned about the sugar amounts though, I'll cut them down.
Now realizing low(ish?) sugar content is important to me. So I can only go so far with dried fruit, even with no added sugar.
posted by cheemee at 1:51 PM on October 23, 2010
I'm a little concerned about the sugar amounts though, I'll cut them down.
Now realizing low(ish?) sugar content is important to me. So I can only go so far with dried fruit, even with no added sugar.
posted by cheemee at 1:51 PM on October 23, 2010
Okay, I'm saying this knowing in advance that it's verry different from a chewy cookie and not what you're looking for, but when I'm looking to munch and chew I chew gum :). And even sugared gum is extremely low-calorie.
I'm not sure about the low-processed stuff.
Yeaahhh, I guess that's not what you're looking for exactly. But I figured I'd put it out there.
Have you thought about experimenting with a savory cookie? Maybe something like this? Not super low calorie but definitely lower sugar than a normal oatmeal cookie.
posted by R a c h e l at 2:10 PM on October 23, 2010
I'm not sure about the low-processed stuff.
Yeaahhh, I guess that's not what you're looking for exactly. But I figured I'd put it out there.
Have you thought about experimenting with a savory cookie? Maybe something like this? Not super low calorie but definitely lower sugar than a normal oatmeal cookie.
posted by R a c h e l at 2:10 PM on October 23, 2010
I go with dried figs. I cannot eat processed sugars, they make me sick (I had intestinal surgery), but dried figs are perfect. They are chewy and dense.
posted by fifilaru at 2:13 PM on October 23, 2010
posted by fifilaru at 2:13 PM on October 23, 2010
I like to make 300-calorie cocoa oat pancakes. They are THICK and chewy and good and not too sweet. This recipe makes one generous serving: Mix one container light vanilla yogurt (I have used light n fit and kroger brand carb smart) with 1/2 cup egg whites (about 3 eggs whites, or use liquid egg whites) Stir in 1/2 cup quick oats and 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder. Mix until the cocoa is mixed in, and let sit for about 5 minutes to let the oats absorb the moisture. Heat a nonstick pan to medium-high, and drop batter onto pan. I flatten the cakes with a spatula, because the batter is thick. They take about 2-3 minutes on each side. I usually make 4 small pancakes with the batter since they are eaier to flip that way. (They are too thick to try to make giant pancakes.) I don't think syrup would be great on these, but I like to melt one dark hershey kiss over the top.
Also, I LOVE Clif Kidz bars. They are processed, but individually wrapped for portion control. The chocolate brownie flavor is 120 calories and has a great chewy texture and sweetness. They also come in PB and chocolate chip. And they are cheaper than adult energy bars. Yum!
posted by shortyJBot at 4:02 PM on October 23, 2010
Also, I LOVE Clif Kidz bars. They are processed, but individually wrapped for portion control. The chocolate brownie flavor is 120 calories and has a great chewy texture and sweetness. They also come in PB and chocolate chip. And they are cheaper than adult energy bars. Yum!
posted by shortyJBot at 4:02 PM on October 23, 2010
Dates have a good chew. Maybe stuff them with almonds.
Dried fruit in general- raisins, apple, apricot, peach, mango, berries
Process nut butter, dates or other dried fruit, and cocoa powder into a stiff paste. Form in to small cookie shapes, and then coat with sesame seeds. This makes a pretty good cookie substitute, I think.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 4:15 PM on October 23, 2010
Dried fruit in general- raisins, apple, apricot, peach, mango, berries
Process nut butter, dates or other dried fruit, and cocoa powder into a stiff paste. Form in to small cookie shapes, and then coat with sesame seeds. This makes a pretty good cookie substitute, I think.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 4:15 PM on October 23, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by bolognius maximus at 11:33 AM on October 23, 2010