Best snacks?

[mikeshafer]

Tonight I'm home watching a movie, and I really wish I had some pretzels or potato chips and some dip. But I'm on day 25 of my 30-day 100% raw challenge, and I'm not giving up so close to the end. (I'm not doing Alissa's challenge, just my own) Still, I really would love some form of simple snack food to eat other than larabars. Something that takes the texture/taste of potato chips or pretzels. Are there good raw crackers or "chips" out there I can buy in a store? Maybe dip them with almond butter or guacamole? Any advice would be very much appreciated!

[Davylp25]

Well that seems to be a emotional repsonce. UNless you really are hungry and aren't needing comfort while relaxing.

Oh enuff, I will get off my know it all high horse. LOL

Where do you live? Whole Foods usually sells raw treats, flax crackers, ect? But since I'm not sure where u live, it's hard to say. You can always order crackers online. Natural Zing. Rawfood.com, rawguru. so many places..

[mikeshafer]

Things like popcorn and potato chips are more emotional, yes, than functional, but I love watching movies and eating -- it's a personal treat that's really tough for me to beat right now. (I'm typically still eating raw food while watching movies, but I am seriously tempted to go down to the convenient store and get some chips... I won't, but I really want to!)

I live near a Whole Paycheck but I never looked for flax crackers. You said "etc" but what does etc mean for raw snacks? I know larabars and now flax crackers. What else does Whole Foods sell that is a good raw treat?

[spicyfull]

Well I see you haven't ordered Alissa's Book. She has a Recipe for Potato Chips, Crackers, Quacamole, Salsa and OH So Much MORE.........

I think its OK to eat something if you want it........Just make it RAW.......

[mikeshafer]

I have about 8 raw books right now and am not ready to buy yet another one, so I'm more just looking for basic snacks I can buy in a store.

[sport]

Make Alissa's onion dip by blending cashews in water and adding finely chopped onions. Then use sticks of carrot and cucumber to dip.
Make some almond butter and put a little agave in it and dip slices of apples in it.

[fuzzywater]

Do you have a dehydrator? This probably won't help now, and you may have seen me mention it before, but turn your leafy greens into chips!!! You can do it with kale, collards, spinach or (my favorite) bok choy. Just slice/tear into manageable pieces (1. I usually do the stems and leaves into separate pieces because the leaves crisp up so much faster than the stems, and 2. do remember they shrink a LOT) and marinate briefly in some nama shoyu and sesame oil, then toss onto a dehydrator tray and let 'em go until they're crisp. This is the BEST substitute for chips. They are crispy and crunchy and salty and good for you!

[levamssg]

Make Kale Chips -- they are my "thing" when I need to fill the chip craving (which is really an oil/salt crunchie craving I think).

mix 3 Tbl olive oil, 1 Tbl apple cider vinegar and about 1/4 tsp celtic salt (or more if you want them really salty). Stir it up so the salt can dissolve.

Then, Use either "dino" kale or regular kale. Wash, cut out stems, and tear leaves into "chip size" pieces. Wash, spin dry.

Pour the oil/vinegar/salt mixture over the kale and toss until all the pieces are coated.

Put them on dehydrator trays (right on the mesh), and dehydrate about 4 hours. (Just dump them on and spread out - don't go crazy trying to line them up and flatten them out. One bunch of kale makes about 2 trays). They taste the best when eaten right from the dehydrator.

I have to stop myself to keep "taste testing" them while they are drying ... or I end up eating up the whole batch before they are officially done!

[Dimond]

I use to buy a lot of prepared snacks which really helped me stay raw. Whole Foods has some, but most I bought on-line from Glaser Farms & other places. Their cashew nori crackers & cashew pate are the best. Yoga Snacks has chips that taste good with a dip (not alone). Flavored nuts from Living Intentions & Living Nutz are good too. Glaser also has some good desserts like their fruit pies & temple Balls.

Now when I want savory, I eat cucumber slices with a dip or spread like guacamole or salsa or make a simple lettuce or nori wrap using walnuts. I don't even like most prepared crackers anymore & rarely miss chips.

[tdesign]

I don't know where you live but Target the red circle store www.target.com has alot of organic dry nuts and dry fruit. Its very strong and tasty. My favorite are the 'Archer farms - organic - strawberry fruit strips.

[Veganforlife]

I agree about Alissa's book. It had loads of suggestions. I sometimes just grab some nuts and raisins.
How about an apples chopped up, throw in some nuts, coconut flakes and a splash of agave?
The raw deviled egg "egg-less" spread is also very good with carrot sticks and/or stringless sugar snap peas.
There's a slew of snacky raw foods. Use your imagination!

[Veganforlife]

I have about 8 raw books right now and am not ready to buy yet another one, so I'm more just looking for basic snacks I can buy in a store.

I hear 'ya on this, but hers is THE best. Trust me. I have just about every raw book out there and I always refer back to hers.

[portiz]

I have about 8 raw books right now and am not ready to buy yet another one, so I'm more just looking for basic snacks I can buy in a store.

You know what?? I had a few (because they were cheaper) but Alissa's book by far has been the most informational and useful book I bought. I'm soooooo glad i was able to finally buy that and the DVD's. If I could go back and purchase my first RAW book it would be hers.

She has recipes for just about every craving you can think of. With that and this forum, you just can't go wrong!

[Eva]

Hey, my new favorite "munchies snack" came from when I tried to make Alissa's fettucini-like recipe. I screwed it up, and ended up with a great (not pasta-like) snack:

somewhat thick slices of green zucchini (raw, not dehydrated or anything) for dipping (or carrots or celery)...

and a sort of cross between guac and tomato sauce:

-some tomatoes (2-3 large)
-1 avocado
-some red onion (but not too much!)
-some garlic
-some sea salt

I think that was about it. It's not as heavy as guacamole because it's not nearly as avocado-heavy as usual, which is why I liked it for a munchies snack. I put it in my food processor, but I could have just as easily done a nice mix of heavy chopping and some mushing.

I find that when I have the munchies and turn to nuts, it's just too heavy. I feel a SAD sorta full if I have too many.

[tvillemom]

I love kale chips. They have easily taken the place of popcorn for me...and I LOVE popcorn!
I marinate my kale with evoo....and some braggs or ACV...then tear into pieces...taking away the stem because it's hard...and then dehydrate until they are CRISPY...oh yeah, to help with the "salty" even more, I sprinkle alittle bit of salt on the pieces just before I put them into the dehydrator.
YUMMY
Wendi

[Lunar*Fey]

This is going to sound weird but I highly recommend trying sprouted peas! no joke.
You can buy a bag of the whole peas dried at most grocery stores...soak them and give them little tails...then pop them in your mouth and crunch. I love them...they are rather addicting though. If you don't like them at first I suggest trying them again at different times. It's funny, I hated them when I first tried them...then recently I really wanted to try them again for some reason, I did and I loved them. I go throuh phases but I bet this will help you right now.