The Cottage-Cheese-Fruit-Bowl

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March 14, 2013 by ccichon

What’s the bane of every would-be-health-eater’s existence? SNACKS! Those pesky snacks can just be so darn tempting, especially those that promise to be the most filling, satisfying and sweet. It’s no thanks to the inventor of the Oreo or the Cheez-It that we struggle to find healthy snacks in today’s food market. What’s a foodie to do?

First, please eliminate anything that has “High-Fructose Corn Syrup” as the first (or second…or third…) ingredient on the list. PUT IT BACK. It’s not good for your body. That’s right, nice and easy now. And don’t look back.

With those unhealthy snacks out of the way, let’s turn to our next alternative: fruits! You may laugh now, but fruit is the best sugar alternative you can get now that those HFCS snacks are gone. But say even that’s not enough to satisfy your sweet tooth. How does one spice up a piece of fruit?

The answer: mix it! Fruit goes well with just about anything (except green beans. Please don’t mix apples and green beans). With this in mind, it’s easy to see where a little bit of flavor here and a little bit of spice there can turn a piece of fruit into a satisfying snack. Here’s one example…

COTTAGE-CHEESE-FRUIT-BOWL

INGREDIENTS:

• Cottage cheese
• Your choice of fruit (apples, bananas, oranges, pears, kiwis…blueberries and strawberries are good too, but not usually available in the ND dining halls)
• Optional: yogurt, cinnamon (my favorite), or sugar

DIRECTIONS:

1. Add a dollop of cottage cheese to a “dining-hall brown bowl” (you know the ones). Mind portion size! Your scoop may look small in the bottom of the brown bowl, but it will bulk up once you add the extras =)
2. Top with fruit. You may want to mix several types of fruit if that’s your style. I personally prefer mandarin oranges because they make the cheese seem less thick.
3. If you prefer a bit different texture, add some yogurt. The smooth yogurt will mix with the clumpy cottage cheese to leave the perfect combo for your fruit.
4. To give your mixture a little bit extra “sweetness”, add a sprinkle of cinnamon or sugar. Cinnamon is a delicious and surprisingly healthy alternative to sugar when you want to add a little bit of flavor and sweetness to your food!
5. Mix it together and enjoy!

Happy eating!