On the Go? Try These Easy and Healthy Snack Recipes

For all those snackers out there, this is your week. It's said that for those dieting or trying to lose weight, eating five small meals a day versus three big meals will help speed up your metabolism. Granted, those five small meals need to be healthy and hearty. It's tough to cook and eat fresh food when bags of processed chips, cookies, and candy line every grocery store and convenience store out there.

The key? Do a once-a-week quick shop at the Farmer's Market for the ingredients listed below. These three small meals will help get you on the right track to snacking smart.

Gather at the Poway Farmer’s Market:

1 to 2 containers of hazelnuts, shell them yourself

1 to 2 containers of dried fruit of your choice; dates berries work well

1 container chickpeas

1 head of garlic

1 bunch of parsley

1 bottle of good olive oil

1 bottle of balsamic vinaigrette

1 package of flat-bread

1/2 pound of green beans

1 container cherry tomatoes

1 package of goats cheese

Ingredients from the Cabinet or Local Grocery Store:

1 package of smoked fish of your choice; smoked salmon (lox) works well

1 package of dark chocolate chips, 60% chocolate is preferable as it is healthier

Directions:

1. Trail mix: Shell the fresh hazelnuts and mix with dried fruit and chocolate chips. Store in several small baggies or resealable containers. Pack in your lunch, throw on top of oatmeal in the morning for breakfast, or just munch on a handful when you're hungry. This snack is filled with protein from the nuts and is a sweet treat.

2. Hummus and flat-bread: Originating in the Middle East, this delicacy is now taking on popularity in America due to it's health-conscious nature. In a food processor, mix chickpeas (garbanzo beans), two cloves of garlic, and chopped fresh parsley. Drizzle in olive oil as you pulse the food processor. Hummus is done when it is a paste-like consistency. Serve with warm flat bread and enjoy! This is a perfect snack to serve at parties for friends trying to stay on the lite-food side.

3. Green-bean salad: This is a "super-food" packed snack. Chop up fresh green-beans and toss with sliced cherry tomatoes, crumbled goat cheese, and smoked fish. Drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette and you'll never try a salad easier or healthier. Packaged with veggies and protein from the fish and cheese, you'll feel good about eating this snack lacking all the "bad" or "hidden" fats. Fresh and easy is the way to go here. Toss this with eggs for a yummy frittata breakfast, as a salad alone for lunch, or as a side-dish for dinner.

In this fast paced life, the best we can do is try to serve our bodies quick and healthy food as we snack through life. Here's to the trail mix, hummus, and greenbean salad to help along the way.