Snack time just got way more exciting!
Just because we are eating healthy does not mean we can’t have snacks. In fact, adding a nutritious snack between meals can be very good for you on many levels. It’s important that we have something on hand that is easy and quick to make, when that snack attack hits. Our simple bell pepper cream cheese snackers are sure to become your new, go-to!
Not all Snacks are Created Equal
Snacks, by themselves, are not evil or damaging to a healthy eating plan. It’s what we eat (or how much) that can cause problems. Incorporating small “mini meals” or snacks into our daily eating plan is a great way to keep ahead of out-of-control hunger at mealtimes, but it also has other benefits. Eating a healthy snack can keep blood sugar levels in check and contribute to maintaining our metabolism during the day. And, planning ahead to have a nutritious snack on hand keeps us from reaching for a quick-fix bag of chips, cookies, or worse.
That’s where our bell pepper cream cheese snackers come in. Bell peppers have a natural crunch factor that makes them incredibly satisfying to munch on. Plus, they are packed with vitamins, such as A and C. Bell peppers are also naturally low-carb, which is great for those of us who are limiting our carb consumption.
For our snackers, we are going to use those cute little “mini peppers” that are sold in a mixed bag at most grocery stores. Pick your favorite color or mix them up, as you choose!
Now, Add a Filling
Now, we need some extra flavor…and a dose of creaminess will make a great contrast to the crunch of the peppers. We start with a whipped cream cheese and season it up with garlic, some snipped chives, parsley, and salt and pepper to taste. The cream cheese, besides being yummy, has another purpose: adding a little fat to a meal goes a long way toward keeping you satiated. It doesn’t have to be much, but that extra little ingredient gives your tummy something to work on after it has digested the veggie base.
Assembly is easy. Simply mix up your cream cheese, spoon it into your pepper halves and top with a few more grinds of fresh pepper and a sprinkle of chives. Pretty, nutritious, crunchy AND creamy. Take that, snack attack!
Convenient and Portable
One other benefit of these simple bell pepper cream cheese snackers? You can make them at home ahead of time and keep them refrigerated to eat later in the day. Or, pop some into a portable container and take them with you to the office, a picnic, or even on a road trip. You do want to keep them fresh to maximize the bell pepper crunch, but you can easily see how they can become a new favorite, whether at home or on-the-go.
If you like this basic recipe, feel free to customize it to add other flavors for variety. Maybe you want your cream cheese a little spicy. If so, add hot pepper sauce or pepper flakes. Want to try some other herbs? Oregano or fresh tarragon might be a nice change. There are even vegetable seasoned whipped cream cheeses you can try. If you are being strict on calories, you’ll want to pay attention to the variations when you experiment with other ingredients.
We hope you enjoy our simple bell pepper cream cheese snackers! Let us know what you thought of them in the comment section!
Simple Bell Pepper Cream Cheese Snackers
Ingredients
- 10 mini sweet bell peppers
- 8 ounces whipped cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives chopped
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Slice the bell peppers in half and remove the seeds.
- In a medium sized bowl, use a spatula to mix the cream cheese, chives, garlic, fresh parsley, salt and pepper until combined.
- Use a spoon to scoop the cream cheese into the peppers. Top with more chives and black pepper before serving.
Nutrition Information
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