Greek Yogurt Dips along with hummus and salsa offer a wide variety of flavors that will delight your sense while providing a healthy nutritious snack. They can be enjoyed with chips, crackers, fruits or vegetables depending on the flavors you choose.
Greek yogurt dips, hummus, and salsa are excellent sources of beans and vegetables. The dietary guidelines published in 2010 recommend people eat more vegetables and beans because of their high nutritional value and demonstrated support for healthy weight management. Diets high in vegetables and beans have also been proven to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and conditions such as diabetes, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease.
According to recent studies, nine out of ten Americans do not eat the daily recommended amount of vegetables each day. The average person eats about one cup of vegetables a day and less than a cup of beans daily, which is well below the daily recommendation.
Consuming fruits and vegetables three or more times a day has been closely associated with a significant reduction in the risk of various diseases. For example, a diet high in fruits and vegetables demonstrated a 27% decrease in the risk of strokes and a 42% reduction in the likelihood of stroke mortality.
Eating beans four or more times throughout the course of a week has also been linked to a reduction in diseases. For example, consuming beans on a regular basis has been associated with a 22% reduced risk of CHD and an 11% reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.
The primary ingredient in hummus is chickpeas, which were discovered in 3000 B.C. and were believed to be one of the earliest cultivated vegetables. Hummus has been enjoyed as a snack going back to the 13th century throughout the Middle East where chickpeas grew extensively.
Eating the recommended amount of vegetables and beans has also been linked to healthy weight management. Greek yogurt dips have 67% fewer calories and 88% less fat than dips made with sour cream, and the taste is still delicious. Greek yogurt vegetable dips provide the benefits of vegetables without the fat and calories of traditional dips.
Greek yogurt dips, hummus, and salsa are standard options served at parties for dipping and snacking, but they can be enjoyed anytime. They are can be used as spreads on sandwiches instead of higher fat spreads like mayonnaise or ranch dressing.
Kids also love them. Instead of giving kids veggie sticks with ranch dip, you can serve them raw veggies with hummus or a Greek yogurt dip. Tortillas with salsa is also a great snack for kids. It?s crunchy, delicious, and they won?t even know it?s healthy for them. It is an ideal option, especially for picky eaters.
Serving these types of snacks also offers a great learning opportunity for children. When they ask what is hummus or what is salsa, you can tell them about all the healthy and nutrition-rich ingredients that are healthy and delicious. If your kids are interested in cooking or just enjoy helping in the kitchen, they can easily help make these dips with you. If not, they can go to the store with you to help pick out new flavors they want to try.
The options in salsa, hummus, and Greek yogurt dips are extensive. You can find a variety of salsa recipes and hummus recipes online. They are both incredibly easy to make, and all you need is a food processor. You can try your hand at red pepper hummus, roasted garlic hummus, southwestern salsa, or even some spicy guacamole dip. Guacamole, made primarily with fresh avocado, is also very healthy and easy to make.