Whatever your mood, there is a snack for you! They can satisfy cravings, help you watch your weight, boost your metabolism, and even help you deal with sadness. So, let’s take advantage of National Snack Food Month in February. Hoard your favorite snacks and munch away. Snacking doesn’t always have to be unhealthy. In fact, it can be a great way to eat more proteins, fiber, and fruits — thereby helping your body stay in shape. Happy snacking!
In 1989, an MBA graduate came up with a great idea to increase snack sales in the slow month of February. According to the Snack Food Association (SFA), the idea of the month-long munch-fest was to increase consumption and build awareness of snacks during a month when snack food consumption was traditionally low. The result has been a substantial increase in snack food sales during this month. The promotion kicks off on Super Bowl Sunday, and publicity is generated throughout the month of February. Their idea has stuck because we can’t watch the Super Bowl without thinking about what we are going to eat during the game.
WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL SNACK FOOD MONTH
- We are a nation of snackers – Yes, we all snack. While some of us pick healthy foods, many of us are guilty of indulging. But this month — who’s judging?
- The choices are endless – Snacks come in all shapes, sizes, and flavors. Snacks can be healthy or your guilty pleasure. You just need to take your pick.
- Snacking can be healthy – Choose fruit, an energy bar, or low-fat yogurt as your in-between meal, and your body will thank you.
The information in this blog post comes from the Freeman/Lozier Library Blog, part of the Bellevue University Blog Network.
If you need some help in finding some snacking options, the books below are sure to get you started in the right direction:
Cool Snack Food Art: Easy Recipes That Make Food Fun to Eat! by Nancy Tuminelly
Play with your food! — The basics — The coolest ingredients — The tool box — Cooking terms — Techniques — Speedy snack — Beach ball cheese ball — Bug bites — Chili snake dogs — Peanut butter and candy pizza — Sunflower surprise — Kookie katerpillar — Sweet treat flowerpots — Wrap it up!
Treat Yourself: 70 Classic Snacks You Loved as a Kid (and Still Love Today) by Jennifer Steinhauer
Shares recipes for preparing homemade versions of such classic snack foods as Lorna Doone shortbread cookies, Fig Newtons, Cheetos, Cracker Jacks, and orange creamsicles.
Superfood Snacks: 100 Delicious, Energizing & Nutrient-Dense Recipes by Julie Morris
Offers one hundred flavorful snack recipes made with nutrient dense superfoods, including beneficial food laden spoonables, dips, spreads, sweets, pastries, and frozen treats.
Snacks for Dinner: Small Bites, Full Plates, Can’t Lose by Lukas Volger
We’ve all been there. Pressed for time, patience,or the will to cook yet another meal, we turn to eating snacks for dinner. While these “meals” are often thrown together, there is no denying that grazing on smaller bites is less stressful and often more pleasurable than planning and preparing a traditional meal. In Snacks for Dinner, Volger transforms carefree noshing into nourishing meals with recipes to inspire your own make-from-scratch snack spreads that are not only quick to makes, but also deeply satisfying.
The Unofficial Tiktok Cookbook: 75 Internet-Breaking Recipes for Snacks, Drinks, Treats, and More! by Valentina Mussi
Become the next viral sensation and make some delicious dishes that will impress all your friends with The Unofficial TikTok Cookbook. From whipped coffee to pancake cereal and mug cakes to seltzer slushies, you can find all the recipes you’ve seen on social media and have been dying to make in one place. Featuring simple, easy-to-follow instructions, you can now create the recipes you’ve seen all over the internet in the comfort of your own home. Whether you want to post your cooking creations online or just share them with your friends, this book is a must-have for chefs of all ages!
Munchies: Late-Night Meals from the World’s Best Chefs by JJ Goode
Presents recipes intended for late-night eating from such chefs as Wes Avila, April Bloomfield, Maya Erickson, and Mitch Orr, including scrambled eggs with uni, pad thai, and bacon and gravy mac and cheese.
Beautiful Boards: 50 Amazing Snack Boards for any Occasion by Maegan Brown
Over 50 creative and delicious food boards that are inspiring and easy to recreate with easy-to-find foods, ranging from breakfast boards and dessert boards to any special occasion board you would ever need. Make mealtimes, special occasions, and holidays extra memorable with these 50 delicious, inspiring, family-friendly, and easy-to-recreate snack boards.
Hack Your Cupboard: Make Great Food With What You’ve Got by Alyssa Weigand and Carla Carreon
It’s not always easy to try out a new recipe, especially when the risk of failure brings with it the risk of a hungry night at home. But sticking to what you know and love can get pretty boring after a while. So what’s a lazy, cash-strapped chef to do? Well, with the help of Hack Your Cupboard, you can grab whatever’s handy (ramen in a pinch) head to your pantry, and get to work!
The Complete Cookbook For Teen Chefs: 70+ Teen-Tested And Teen-Approved Recipes To Cook, Eat, And Share
For the first time ever, America’s Test Kitchen Kids is bringing their rigorous testing, kitchen knowhow, and hands-on learning to teenagers in the kitchen. Fiercely independent and searching for culinary adventure, teen chefs are ready for exciting, global recipes made to share with friends and family–with the support of fundamental kitchen techniques and approachable instruction.
The Baking Cookbook for Teens: 75 Delicious Recipes for Sweet & Savory Treats by Robin Donovan
Few things in life are more comforting than the aroma of baked bread. The Baking Cookbook for Teens makes it easy to introduce the aspiring baker in your life to the joyful satisfaction of baking — from their first batch to the last bite. The Baking Cookbook for Teens is the ultimate guide to learn essential baking skills and put them to use right away creating the tasty treats they love.
