Recommend me a healthier alternative to...

[Gordon B]

...crisps.

Love them, have done for years but now its having the inevitable effect on waistline and cholesterol.

So, what can I eat instead, not a huge lover of fruit so looking for something a bit different, cheap, doesn't taste like cardboard and won't take an age to prepare.:D I know, I don't want much.

No lectures about the evils of potato based snacks. Not interested.

Mucho thanks.

[dizzyblonde]

Walkers Sunbites, as a crisp alternative? They're like a multigrain crisp thing. Sweet chiilli mmmmmm :-)

I know raisins are fruit(which I'm not a lover of either), but I like sweets and lots, so I eat raisins instead to resist the urge...if that makes sense.

[gruntygiggles]

I'll PM you a few things tomorrow as there are lots of things you can have that are not fatty, not starchy and very tasty. Might mean spending a bit of time in the kitchen, but it's worth it.

[Gordon B]

Walkers Sunbites, as a crisp alternative? They're like a multigrain crisp thing. Sweet chiilli mmmmmm :-)

I know raisins are fruit(which I'm not a lover of either), but I like sweets and lots, so I eat raisins instead to resist the urge...if that makes sense.

Sunbites. See above statement about cardboard. Horrible.

I'll PM you a few things tomorrow as there are lots of things you can have that are not fatty, not starchy and very tasty. Might mean spending a bit of time in the kitchen, but it's worth it.

Thanks. Happy to put in a bit of kitchen time for the right snack!

[DarrenSV650S]

Is it a secret gg?

[anna]

Ohhhhhh GG can you PM me too please???? this is one of my major downfalls too.

I am not a bit chocolate fan so have always been able to say not to that stuff but crisps mmmmmmmmmmmm.

[gruntygiggles]

Right...wait til Sunday then guys and I'll post a few things up on here. I have a BBQ for 30ish to prepare for tomorrow, ready for tomorrow evening, so will be a bit busy til Sunday :-)

[wyrdness]

Walkers Sunbites, as a crisp alternative? They're like a multigrain crisp thing. Sweet chiilli mmmmmm :-)

I was going to recommend them too. Especially the sweet chilli ones. They have fewer calories than regular crisps. I first had them in New Zealand. They're called Grainwaves over there.

Twiglets are great if you like marmite. They're baked instead of fried, which makes them healthier.

[wyrdness]

I'll PM you a few things tomorrow as there are lots of things you can have that are not fatty, not starchy and very tasty. Might mean spending a bit of time in the kitchen, but it's worth it.

Why not post them so that we all can make them?

[Razor]

Pies... They're much better than crisps.

[gruntygiggles]

Is it a secret gg?

Why not post them so that we all can make them?

I'm going to.......see...

Right...wait til Sunday then guys and I'll post a few things up on here. I have a BBQ for 30ish to prepare for tomorrow, ready for tomorrow evening, so will be a bit busy til Sunday :-)


:-)

I don't like posting too many recipes on the forum in case people get bored...lol. I usually PM unless, as in this instance, more than 1 ask for them :-)

[Gordon B]

Twiglets are great if you like marmite. They're baked instead of fried, which makes them healthier.

Love twiglets but surely they are almost as bad as crisps? Plus they make your fingers smell. Parp.

[maxinc]

If it is the waistline you are worried than it would have to be something that either is carbohydrate based with very limited fat content or something with proteins and fat but limited carbs.

Problems with crisps is they combine carbs, fat and salt which not only tends to increase the waistline but make you brain want more and more.

[Nobbylad]

Pies... They're much better than crisps.

:D

[davepreston]

smack or crack it is then matey

well have you ever seen a fat smackhead

[dizzyblonde]

Sunbites. See above statement about cardboard. Horrible.



Thanks. Happy to put in a bit of kitchen time for the right snack!

They don't taste like Rivitas ya know!

I was going to recommend them too. Especially the sweet chilli ones. They have fewer calories than regular crisps. I first had them in New Zealand. They're called Grainwaves over there.

Twiglets are great if you like marmite. They're baked instead of fried, which makes them healthier.

Well I think they taste great. Tastier than corn chips Dorito things.
As for Twiglets.....mmmmmm but sniffy fingers!:-?

[EssexDave]

Maybe try some nuts?

[Gnome]

Tesco's Chilli rice cakes.

Deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-lish!

[thedonal]

If you love crisps that much-

just excercise more?! :D

I'm a sucker for a pack of crisps or 3 (or 4 or 5) myself. Just can't resist them...

[Gordon B]

If you love crisps that much-

just excercise more?! :D

I'm a sucker for a pack of crisps or 3 (or 4 or 5) myself. Just can't resist them...

:D

That's been the theory up until now, I still play football 3 times a week and go cycling most days.

[Jabba]

Snak-a-Jak rice cakes - much better for you that crisps.

If you have a Co-op near you then try a bag of their Fruit & Nut Mix. Cost a £1 but there's a fair bit in there and semi-dried fruit (yeah, i know what the op said) is nice.

Alternatively, get a bag of Jordans Mixed Berry Granola. Dry or in a bowl with milk - great stuff!! It will give you lots of slow-release energy and stop you feeling hungry as well. Can't loose :thumbsup:

Crisps are the spawn of the devil :smt096

[Razor]

bag of Jordans Mixed Berry Granola.

yumm-a-licious

costco sell 2 bags taped together for the price of one in the supamarkets

[lukemillar]

I first had them in New Zealand. They're called Grainwaves over there..

Oh man, I F***ing love those! Especially when dipped in that other kiwi classic - the onion soup and reduced cream dip

http://blogs.southflorida.com/citylink_dansweeney/homer-drool.gif

[gruntygiggles]

Right, my favourite are Apple crisps, but you'll need an apple corer/melon baller.

In a pan, heat 50g Xylobrit or canderel sugar alternative and 2 cups water gently.

Peel and core 2 apples, then using a mandolin on thin setting, slice across the apple to produce wafer thin slices with a hole through the middle.

Put all the slices in the syrup and let sit on a low heat for 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let the apples cool in the syrup.

When cool, lay out onto baking trays lined with baking parchment and if you want, sprinkle on a little cinnamon. Bake in a very low oven (gas 1/2 or 80-100c) for 2-3 hours until they are all light golden in colour. Remove, cool and they'll crisp up.


That's the make at home variety....BUT, tbh, I just opt for snack-a-jacks......I LOVE them.


Your other option is of course, keep eating crisps, choose packets that are less than 100cals per pack (wlkers do a few of these) and if you have 4 packets in a day...cut 400 cals out of the rest of your meals through the day.

I have got more, but all are quite complicated to do at home. I've tried thinking of ways to simplify though, so when I figure that out, I'll post up.

Ooooh, something I do love doing is granola. Home made granola is lush. Just get some porridge oats, nuts and seeds of your liking and dried fruit of your liking. Pile it on a baking tray and toast in the oven (gas 3 or 140c) until it just starts to colur at the edges, mix it around, bake again and repeat this process until it's all evenly gone a nice light brown.

Then, allow to cool a little and drizzle a little proper honey over it and stir through. The proper honey is much better than using golden syrup and if you use local honey, over time it will help with your hayfever as well.

Oooh, also, something else I like is making my own flavoured croutons. You can eat them like crisps. To be healthy, buy a loaf of granary or wholemeal bread, cut it into squares and use a pastry brush to brush it with a healthy oil like rapeseed oil. Don't use olive oil.....it's 600cals per tablespoon!!!!!
So, by brusing oil on, you use a lot less and rapeseed/groundnut oils are less calorific. When you've oiled both sides, chuck the bread squares in a big bowl and season with whatever you want. A little garlic powder/salt and pepper/herbs...whatever you want.

Spread on baking trays and bake in a low oven until they have completely dried out. Watch them carefully so they don't burn. Turn when one side has browned.

These are nomalicious. If you keep them in an airtight container, they'll last for ages too.

I'm sure other things will pop in my mind as well, so I'll post up when they do :-)

[Gordon B]

Thanks for the recipes

[BernardBikerchick]

simply oatcake with LOADS of garlic mayo ........... oh sorry you said healthy ! lol