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May 2021

Foods

Healthy Snack Ideas

by Deng Bliven on

When snack time hits, it’s tempting to grab a bag of potato chips or another unhealthy option. These are “go-to” munchies because they’re fast and easy and require pretty much zero thought. But, if healthier eating is your goal, then it’s time to change your snacks. Make healthy snacks your new default with the following ideas:

Flavored Popcorn

Pop your own popcorn in the microwave, and then add your own flavors such as garlic salt or chili powder. The crunch and the spice will satisfy your savory snack cravings.

Trail Mix

A handful of trail mix as a snack is a much healthier choice than an equivalent handful of chips. You’ll get variety and a bit of protein, both of which will meet your snacking needs.

Mozzarella Sticks

Healthy mozzarella sticks are a great mindful snack choice. The warm, melty, creamy cheese has every quality a great snack needs.

Apples and Peanut Butter

The sweetness of an apple paired with the saltiness of peanut butter is a match made in heaven. It tastes delicious and will keep you going all afternoon.

Rice Cakes Spread with Almond Butter and Banana

Brown rice cakes topped with creamy almond butter and sliced fresh banana have minimal calories and maximum flavor.

Avocado Toast

Avocado toast makes a perfect healthy snack, especially if you use dark, rich, whole grain seeded bread. Maybe even add a cherry tomato for a dash of color and sweetness. Yum.

Yogurt and Mix-ins

Pair a serving of plain or vanilla protein-rich Greek yogurt with your favorite mix-ins. Try the following combinations:

  • Honey and dried figs
  • Lemon curd
  • Strawberry jam
  • Fresh berries
  • Crunchy granola

Or try your own “recipe”. Lots of things pair well with yogurt, so be creative.

Fake Snickers

To make fake Snickers, you’ll need dates, peanut butter, and dark chocolate chips. Slice the dates in half, remove the seed, and fill with a teaspoon or so of peanut butter. Melt chocolate chips in the microwave and drizzle over the filled dates. You can also sprinkle on a few flakes of sea salt if that sounds good to you. Freeze for 30 minutes. You’ll be amazed at how delicious these bite-sized treats are.

Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate, the darker, the better, is a good snack choice, especially for chocolate lovers.

New Habits

Once you stock your fridge and pantry with these healthy snack options, you’ll find yourself reaching for the good stuff every time. Whether you need after-school snacks for the kids or something to munch on during movie night, make mindful eating easy with these simple snack ideas.

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Restaurants

Easy Ways to Go Green with Restaurant Supplies

by Deng Bliven on

Businesses and consumers have increased their concern about eco-friendliness and adopting ways of preserving the environment. Restaurants, whether big or small have not been left behind. They have decided to go green to save on food costs and utilities. Going green has also helped them to generate leads, considering that this is an appealing aspect to customers. Going green does not have to be hard when it comes to restaurant supplies. You only need to make minor adjustments and you become part of the groups in the world that have decided to minimize the negative environmental impacts. There are various changes your restaurant can adopt to reduce the impact on the environment. Check them out below.

Use Energy-Efficient Equipment

This is one of the main industries that utilize a lot of electricity through various processes. This means electric equipment is utilized to complete these operations. One major way of reducing the impact on the environment is by replacing outdated appliances with modern ones. The modern equipment is fitted with energy-efficient features to help restaurants and the entire foodservice sector reduce energy consumption. So, you can look for a supplier of energy-efficient bulbs, refrigerators, spot air conditioners, and more.

Reorganize your Food Shipments

When it comes to a regular supply of food and equipment, say weekly, you contribute to increasing the carbon footprint. Consider that the delivery vehicle will be driving to your restaurant frequently. Another problem is, your supply might be surplus such that it results in food waste. So, think of getting your supplies from a local supplier. It will reduce the distance they have to travel to deliver the products. You can also order in bulk since fewer shipment frequencies contribute to the lowered carbon footprint.

Use Disposables that are Eco-Friendly

Today, there are different eco-friendly products you can substitute with plastic disposables. For instance, you can use paper coffee cups for coffee takeaways and other compostable and biodegradable options. There are numerous options when it comes to eco-friendly disposables. Others include supplies made from bamboo, sugarcane, PLA plastic, and more. You may be worried about the quality of these disposable but the good news is, the modern types of eco-friendly choices are long-lasting and made of good quality. Furthermore, many cities have banned the use of plastics, so, it’s time for you to choose the green option.

Use Eco-Friendly Cleaning Supplies

Even though the cleanliness and hygiene of your restaurant are vital, you may be doing more harm than good if you use the wrong cleaning products. Most of these products have chemicals, some of which carry toxins that pose harm to the environment. So, if your supplier brings you such products, consider choosing another one. Choose cleaning products with non-harmful chemicals. Instead of using products made from different chemicals, you can also choose other options like steam cleaning for carpets and floors.

Conclusion

Being a green restaurant means that whatever activity that happens in your restaurant is directed towards preserving the environment. It is your sole responsibility to adapt these eco-friendly supply practices to reduce your carbon footprint and join millions of others who are dedicated to reducing the impact on the environment.

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