Start the New Year with Something New

Start the New Year by making something NEW, something delicious, and something that’s good for you. Discover that eating a bit healthier, just means trying new tastes.

Waiting for the New Year to arrive always seems to need something to munch on. At Harvest Home, our New Year’s resolution is to cut our calories a bit and eat more fruits and veggies.  Eating delicious is still our primary goal.  For the New Year’s celebration, here’s some different dips and different ways you can enjoy them without overly salty, fatty chips to cut a few calories. 

Good ways to start the New Year.

Skip some chips:

  • Raw veggies like carrots, celery, cucumbers and even broccoli make great dippers.  Low in calories with no salt, they give you essential vitamins and minerals and a great change of taste.

  • Small bits of pita bread easily scoop up dips.

  • Make veggie chips.

Easy Veggie chips for dipping

  • Preheat the oven to about 400 degrees.

  • Cut sweet potatoes or carrots or any root veggie into matchstick size sticks or cut them in thin rounds like chips.

  • Spread them on a cookie sheet in a single layer. 

  • Sprinkle lightly with olive oil to keep them from sticking. Too much oil makes them soggy, not crispy.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Mix with your hands to spread the oil.

  • Add whatever other seasoning you like in the last 5 minutes.

  • Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, turning once.

For just veggies to nibble on, cook broccoli or Brussel Sprouts or Kale the same way.

Surprising Dips: Salsa, guacamole or hummus, please almost everyone. Simple to make, loaded with taste and nutrition. Have you tried, Muhammara, a Middle Eastern dip with peppers and walnuts or Black Bean dips you can make lots of different ways? See Recipes and Tips below.

Try something different for New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day.

You will discover how easy it is to eat healthier

New Favorites to Be

RECIPES: Dips that add flavor to your veggies

MUHAMMARA: Middle-eastern dip or sandwich spread.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 (12-ounce) jar roasted red bell peppers (7 ounces of peppers), drained well

  • 3/4 cup walnut halves

  • ½ cup fresh whole wheat breadcrumbs

  • 1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses, homemade or store-bought (or 1 ½ teaspoons balsamic vinegar + 1 teaspoon honey)

  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt

  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin

  • ½ teaspoon paprika

TO MAKE:

  • Put all the ingredients into the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade.

  • Pulse until nicely blended, but not completely pureed, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed.

Easy Black Bean Dips: More protein and less fat. Much like fiber, protein helps you stay full and prevents overeating

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 can black beans

  • ½ cup salsa

  • 2 Tablespoons lime juice

  • 2 Tablespoons chopped cilantro

  • ¼ teaspoon cumin

TO MAKE: Mix ingredients together! Top with cilantro

Spicing up Black bean dip:

  • Add chopped tomatoes, red onion and a dash of vinegar

  • Hot and spicy: Gradually add bits of jalapeno cut in small chunks, taste often

  • Top with shredded cotija cheese or Mexican cheese

TIPS: Adding More Fruits and Veggies

Tasty snacks

Fast Fruit Snacks Treats:

  • Apple slices dusted with cinnamon and sugar

  • Banana lightly dipped in cocoa powder

  • Pear slices with a dash of ginger and sugar

Raw veggie snacks:

  • Carrot sticks with yogurt and dill dips

  • Cauliflower with hummus

  • Broccoli stems with salsa

  • Celery with peanut butter

Avocado with a twist: In case you want a change from guacamole. Mix

  • 1 avocado

  • 2 Tablespoons of mayo

  • 2 Tablespoons of Greek yogurt

  • 1 ½ teaspoons of lemon juice

  • 2 teaspoons of mixed herbs like dill, onion and marjoram

Be creative with the herbs. Whatever you like.

Some like it HOT:  Add 1 Tablespoon of Sriracha to 1 cup of Greek yogurt and ½ teaspoon of garlic powder. Taste and adjust.

Eat what you love:

  • Avocadoes: Dense with nutrition contain 20 vitamins and minerals. Creamy, smooth, slightly nutty taste is liked by babies as much as adults

  • Oranges: Sweet, juicy low in calories, high in vitamin C to fight off colds. Yum!

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Video of the Week:

The right amount of servings of fruits and vegetables