Cooking with Herbs and Spices: Quick and Easy Low-Calorie Snack Recipes

Cooking with Herbs and Spices: Quick and Easy Low-Calorie Snack Recipes

Eating low-calorie snacks not only nourishes and strengthens your body, but also helps you maintain a healthy weight. Here are 3 must-have herb and spice snack recipes that are only 400 calories or less:

Peppered Turkey Wraps

What you need:

• 12 10-inch whole wheat flour tortillas

• 1/4 kg. Deli turkey, sliced

• 1 lettuce

• 2 cups chopped tomatoes

• 2 cups shredded carrots

• 1 cup cream cheese

• 1/2 cup ranch dressing

• 1/2 tsp. dried herbs

• 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

Rub the turkey slices with dried herbs and black pepper. Set aside. In a small bowl, combine cream cheese and ranch dressing and stir well. Spread each flour tortilla with cream cheese and ranch dressing mixture and top with lettuce leaves and herbed turkey slices. Scatter carrots and tomatoes over turkey and roll tortillas into wraps. Cut each package diagonally to create bite-sized pieces, then secure with a toothpick. Bake in the preheated oven over medium heat for 4-5 minutes or until tortillas are lightly browned. Serve immediately. Ideal for vegetable chips or low-calorie nacho chips.

Herbs and Spices Pomegranate Salsa

What you need:

• 1 pomegranate, peeled and membranes removed

• 1 1/2 bunches flat-leaf parsley, chopped

• 1 1/2 bunches fresh cilantro, chopped

• 1 1/2 sprigs fresh mint leaves, chopped

• 1 tomato, diced

• 1 red onion, chopped

• 1 serrano pepper, chopped

• 1 jalapeno pepper, chopped

• 6 tbsp. fresh lime juice

• 2 tbsp. olive oil

• 2 tsp. grated lime peel

• Salt and ground white pepper to taste

Combine pomegranate, parsley, cilantro, mint, tomato, onion, serrano pepper, jalapeno pepper, lime juice, olive oil and lime zest in a medium bowl. Stir to combine ingredients well. Season with salt and white pepper. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Serve chilled.

Cheesy Herbs Tomato Sandwich

What you need:

• 1 whole wheat bagel

• 3/4 cup low-fat cottage cheese

• 1 orange

• 4 slices of tomato

• 1 garlic clove, minced

• 2 tbsp. chopped fresh chives

• Salt and pepper to taste

Place cottage cheese in a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. Place cheese in a small bowl and add garlic and chives. Season with salt and pepper. Roast the bagel to the desired degree of doneness and cut in half. Spread 1 half of the bagel with cream-colored cottage cheese and top with tomato slices. Top with the other half of the bagel to make a sandwich. Serve or consume with orange slices.

Get into the habit of snacking healthily, starting with these easy, low-calorie snacks made with natural herbs and spices.