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Healthy Dipping
Dips are a snack favourite, especially on hot summer days at parties, BBQs, at the beach or whilst lazing out the back. They are an easy option, whether store bought or home made.The varieties of dips and dippers are endless. Dips are generally grazed on before meals and maybe high in kilojoules, fats and sugars. Making a healthy dip and dipper choice is easy with an abundance of recipes online or buying a low fat variety.Try to emphasis fresh fruit and vegetables, low fat dairy and healthy oils and fat sources.
Use the following guide when looking for a healthy dip and dipper options.
Dips
Look for reduced fat dip varieties. These may include those that use low fat dairy products or less oil, or may include dips made purely from vegetables. For example, a salsa will contain little to no fat compared to a creamy French onion dip.
When comparing store bought dips, look at the per 100g column, as serving sizes will differ greatly. Remember, that if a dip contains Avocado, nuts, seeds or healthy oils, the total fat content may appear high but the saturated fat content will be low. These dips will contain a good source of healthy fat.
If you are aiming to watch your weight, stick to a small serve of any high fat snack.
Make your own versions of your favourite dips using less oil, low fat dairy and lots of fresh
vegetables. Low fat Philadelphia cream cheese, low fat ricotta cheese, low fat natural yoghurt and low fat Greek yoghurt are all good bases for a healthy dairy based dip. If you prefer a non dairy based dip, use canned legumes such as chickpeas, or a dense vegetable such as mashed pumpkin, sweet potato or beetroot as a base.
Dippers
Look for low fat cracker and chip options, such as Sakatas, Fantastic Delites, flavoured rice cakes broken into pieces, Red Rock Deli rice crisps or the new Special K Cracker Crisps in a number of flavours.
Make your own low fat toasted dippers using mountain breads, tortillas or Turkish bread. Cut into triangular pieces, brush with balsamic vinegar and place under the grill.
Always accompany any dip with a variety of vegetable stick dippers. Think outside the usual carrot and celery. Try red, yellow, green and orange capsicum , mushroom halves, snow peas, sugar snap peas or baby corn spears
Make toothpick dippers using pickled onions, low fat sundried tomatoes, gherkins, marinated artichokes or roasted/baked pieces of zucchini, eggplant, pumpkin and sweet potato. Roast vegetables in herbs and spices such as nutmeg, garlic salt, or thyme.
If you want a sweet dip, try the strawberry one featured in this newsletter.
Be adventurous with making fruit kebabs. Try interesting fruits such as star fruit, fresh figs, mulberries, raspberries, different melon varieties and even alternate fresh and dried fruits on each kebab.
Added to site on : Thursday, 20 February 2014