Quick snack, great treat
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EmailFast snack power surge for little time, busy schedules.
The everyday hustle of August makes a very busy day. Kids are preparing to go back to school, beginning fall sports, meaning lots of running around. Michigan State University Extension recommends eating a healthy snack to provide a helpful boost of energy needed for sports, dance and even socialization activities for children and parents alike.
A simple and nutritious snack is ants on a log., consisting of sun nut butter spread on celery topped with raisins. Sun butter is made from sun flower seeds and can be used as an alternative option to peanut butter. Sun flower seeds are a good source of protein. For more on sun flower seed nutrition read What Are Protein Foods? from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA offers a great site to find recipes that show you how to use sun flower seeds and sun nut butter called SNAP-Ed Connection: Recipe Finder.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) it’s recommended that 10–35 percent of your daily calories come from protein. What exactly is protein? The CDC defines it as being composed of amino acids. Think of amino acids as the building blocks. There are 20 different amino acids that join together to make all types of protein. Some of these amino acids can't be produced by our bodies, so these are known as essential amino acids. It's essential that our diet provide these. One cup of sun flower seeds contain 23 grams of protein. According to the USDA peanut butter contains eight grams of protein and 238 milligrams of potassium per two tablespoons a serving.
Protein can also be found in the following foods:
- Meats, poultry and fish
- Legumes (dry beans and peas)
- Tofu
- Eggs
- Nuts and seeds
- Milk and milk (dairy) products
- Grains, some vegetables and some fruits (provide only small amounts of protein relative to other sources)
Ants on a log has been a favorite healthy snack for many years. Three simple ingredients combined for a delicious nutritious snack that tastes like a real treat for hungry people.
