It's no secret that eating healthy is the key to a long and happier life. The better you eat, the better your body runs, and the better you feel. Your mind is clear, which makes it easier to focus and make decisions. And your body isn't aching all over. While switching to a nutrient-rich diet may not fix all of your health problems, you will certainly feel better than before, especially if most of your meals consisted of junk foods. One thing that many people think they need to stop when switching to a healthy diet is snacking.
However, not all snacks are created equal. Snacking is an excellent way to help sustain your energy throughout the day. And when you snack on healthy foods often, it can help prevent you from indulging in unhealthy ones. When we think of healthy snack food, the first things that come to mind are dips and spreads. Easy to make at home, creating a healthy dip is an excellent way to satisfy those mid-meal cravings with something nutritious. If you're looking to lighten up snack time and need some help doing so, the Bob's Red Mill team is here for you. This article will discuss how you can create healthy dips and spreads that you don't have to feel guilty about snacking on.
How to Make Dips Healthy
There are several things you can do to create a healthy dip or spread. We've outlined a few of the most important below.
Keep It Homemade
Dips are a trendy snack food, and because of this, they're widely available in grocery stores. With flavors ranging from sweet to savory, the many different kinds of dips available to you can often be overwhelming. The problem with purchasing store-bought dip is that you don't know what goes into them. Because these dips are not made at home, they're often filled with a significant amount of preservatives to increase their shelf life. Additionally, store-bought dips are full of artificial sugars that aren't great for your health, and the aged ingredients cause them to lose flavor over time. To ensure the dips you're snacking on are just as great for you as they taste, we recommend making them at home. This way, you get to decide what goes into them—which is especially helpful if you're following a strict diet or have food allergies.
Whole Food Ingredients
Now that you know it's better to make dips at home, you might be wondering where to start. When making homemade dip or spread, use as many whole food ingredients as possible. Loaded with essential vitamins and minerals, using whole foods is an excellent way to keep your dips healthy and load them up with flavor. To get some inspiration for your next dip, we recommend visiting your local farmer's market and making a list of the in-season ingredients. Using local, in-season fruits and veggies is the best way to create a dip that's bursting with vibrant flavor and packed with nutrients.
Stay Away from Artificial Ingredients
In the same way that you want to focus on whole food ingredients, you want to steer clear of any artificial ones. While adding artificial ingredients to your dips and spread can help boost its shelf life, these ingredients are not necessary when making homemade dips. Because you'll likely be enjoying the dip the day of or week of creating it, it won't need to last as long as store-bought versions. Processed sugar and added flavorings should also be kept to a minimum to ensure that your dip remains nutritious. If you choose to add sugar to your dip, we recommend sticking with natural sugar like coconut sugar, agave or maple.
Pair Them with Something Just as Healthy
When it comes to creating a healthy snack, the dip isn't the only thing you should be concerned about. What you pair dip or spread with will add to the nutrients in the snack or take away from them. When choosing what to dunk into your dip, again, we recommend sticking to whole foods. There are also lots of cracker substitutes that can be used as well. Fruit, veggies and whole grain crackers are all excellent treats to pair your homemade dip with. And luckily, they're not hard to find. Pick up some additional carrots, cucumbers and even apples at your local farmer's market at the same time you're picking up the ingredients for your dip.
Homemade Crackers
Additionally, if you feel like keeping everything homemade, crackers are a simple snack that you can easily make in your kitchen. Not only do they use minimal ingredients, but they also bake quickly. This means that you can whip up a homemade batch of crackers yourself in the amount of time it would take you to run to the store and buy them. To make a savory cracker recipe that your friends and family won't be able to resist, make these sunflower crackers. Ideal for individuals following a gluten free diet, they are a healthy grain free snack that will pair well with your homemade dip or spread. Made from premium shelled sunflower seeds, tapioca flour, salt, water and a pinch of baking powder, it's the perfect cracker recipe for both novice and advanced bakers.
Fruit
If you plan on making a sweet dip recipe, then veggies may not be the best pairing. Instead, swap the veggie sticks out for fruit ones. Apples, pineapple and even orange slices can all be dunked into a deliciously sweet dip for a healthy treat that doubles as a dessert. Create a sweet yogurt dip with honey and lime juice for a refreshing creamy treat that pairs perfectly with fresh fruit.
Healthy Dip Recipes
By using the tips and tricks above, you can create a healthy dip that is out of this world delicious. We've rounded up a few of our favorite dip recipes to help you get started.
Vegan Cheesy Cauliflower Dip
Cauliflower can be used to create pizza crust or even vegan buffalo wings, but did you know that it also makes for a healthy dip? If you've walked past cauliflower at the grocery store and wondered how to use it, this dip recipe is sure to spark your curiosity. When blended into a dip, cauliflower creates a creamy and neutral base to which you can add all of your favorite ingredients. In the Vegan Cheesy Cauliflower Dip, jalapenos, garlic powder, tomato paste and Bob's Red Mill Nutritional Yeast are used to create an irresistibly delicious snack. Not only is it overflowing with cheesy flavor, but this creamy dip is also loaded with nutrients like Vitamin B12 and protein. Gluten free, dairy free and vegan, it's a dip recipe that you can feel great serving your family.
Avocado Cashew Dip
Cashew is by far one of the most versatile ingredients in vegan baking. It is an amazing substitute for cream in sauces, spreads and dips and can be combined with more flavorful ingredients like jalapeno, cilantro and lime. Its zesty taste and healthy ingredients make this Avocado Cashew Dip a star amongst those following a dairy free diet. Use it as a party dip, enjoy it as a sandwich spread, or use it to top your favorite nachos or tacos.
Dairy Free Spinach and Artichoke Dip
Spinach and Artichoke Dip is arguably one of the most popular dips you can make. Full of creamy and cheesy goodness, it's loved by people of all ages. And it's agreeable taste makes it easy to pair with nearly anything. Veggie sticks, crackers and tortilla chips are a few of our favorite food pairings. While this dip recipe may taste like the traditional version, one thing sets it apart—it is entirely dairy free. Dairy free cream cheese and nutritional yeast turn this creamy dip into an ideal snack for people who cannot tolerate dairy easily. Pair it with our gluten free crackers for an award-winning snack combo. Your friends and family will love this dairy free dip.
Ready to make these dips? Draw from one of the recipes listed above to boost your creativity in the kitchen. You can create a snack recipe that appeals to your taste preferences by working in your favorite ingredients. We can't wait to hear what you think. From everyone at Bob's Red Mill, we wish you the best in your dip-making journey!
Have a dip recipe that you'd like to share with us? We'd love to hear it! Let us know more in the comments below!
