fbpx

AFTER SCHOOL SNACK: PESTO AVOCADO DIP

getfresh | After-School Snack: Pesto Avocado Dip

Guest post by Keri Houchin, One Mama’s Daily Drama

Healthy Snacks for Kids

By the time my kids get home from school, just after three in the afternoon, they are wiped. They spend a full day learning new things, remembering old things, following rules and building relationships. The first thing we do every afternoon is sit down and take a break. It gives them time to unwind and a snack provides the energy they need to do homework and chores. It also gives me a chance to ask them about their day.

When choosing an after school snack, I look for foods that are easy to serve and eat, but also healthy. Before I really started thinking about what we were eating, our after school snacks were often sugar-packed, processed foods that came with a small novel in the ingredients list. Back then, both kids were prone to a 3:30 meltdown. Go figure.

Now our favorite snacks are whole-grain pretzels or popcorn, organic yogurt smoothies, and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. As my kids have become less picky and are more excited about vegetables – no joke – I’ve tried to come up with creative ways to make them. This recipe combines two of our favorite foods: basil pesto sauce and avocado. It’s also a wicked shade of green, naturally.

Avocados are high in monounsaturated fat – the kind that is good for you and that growing kids need for brain development. They are also high in fiber, have more vitamins that you can probably name, and leave you feeling full for a while.

Pesto avocado dip recipe

Ingredients:

    • 1 cup fresh basil leaves, stems removed

    • ¼ cup parmesan cheese, grated

    • ¼ cup olive oil

    • 1 clove of garlic, grated or minced

    2 avocados

Instructions:

Combine everything but the avocados in a food processor and pulse until it forms a paste. Put the paste, bowl and all, in the refrigerator to chill for about an hour, or until you are ready to serve it. At snack time, return the bowl to the food processor. Peel, pit and dice the avocado and add it to the paste. Pulse until everything is combined, but still a bit chunky.

Serve the dip with raw veggies or organic corn tortilla chips. I like to make my own by cutting day-old tortillas into triangles and baking them in the oven at 350 °F for about 15-20 minutes, or until crispy.

Assuming you have any leftovers, the dip can be covered and refrigerated for a day or so. If it discolors, just scrape the top layer off and it will be green again underneath.

getfresh | After School-Snack: Pesto Avocado Dip

Keri Houchin is a freelance writer and lifestyle blogger. Her blog, One Mama’s Daily Drama, is about the ups and downs of parenthood and includes crafts, recipes, and diy projects. Connect with Keri at Facebook.com/FortWorthMama, Twitter.com/KeriHouchin and Pinterest.com/KeriHouchin

Search

Winter Cooking Guides 4-Pack

Winter Soups, One Pot Meals,

Roasting, Freezer Meals

Cook Healthy, Mouth-Watering Meals Like A Pro
(NO CULINARY SCHOOL OR FANCY TOOLS REQUIRED)

OUR ANNUAL MEAL PLANS ALSO INCLUDE

VEGAN MEAL PLAN

- Buy One Annual Plan & Get an Additional Annual Plan Half Off

- Access to The Fresh 20 Meal Plan Archive with 10,000+ Healthy Recipes

- Searchable Recipes and Weekly Menus

- Only $1.67 per Week

- Our ALL ACCESS PASS also Includes Our Super-Popular Lunch E-Book

AS LITTLE AS $1.67 A WEEK

Woman eating a vibrant hearty vegan curry in a black ceramic bowl on a white marble countertop
Meal prep with 20 fresh ingredients

OUR ANNUAL MEAL PLANS ALSO INCLUDE

FOR ONE MEAL PLAN

- Buy One Annual Plan & Get an Additional Annual Plan Half Off

- Access to The Fresh 20 Meal Plan Archive with 10,000+ Healthy Recipes

- Searchable Recipes and Weekly Menus

- Only $1.67 per Week

- Our ALL ACCESS PASS also Includes Our Super-Popular Lunch E-Book

AS LITTLE AS $1.67 A WEEK

Black ceramic soup bowl filled with succulent shrimp pho with lime wedge, chopsticks & a glass of water on a white marble surface
Meal prep with 20 fresh ingredients

OUR ANNUAL MEAL PLANS ALSO INCLUDE

PALEO MEAL PLAN

- Buy One Annual Plan & Get an Additional Annual Plan Half Off

- Access to The Fresh 20 Meal Plan Archive with 10,000+ Healthy Recipes

- Searchable Recipes and Weekly Menus

- Only $1.67 per Week

- Our ALL ACCESS PASS also Includes Our Super-Popular Lunch E-Book

AS LITTLE AS $1.67 A WEEK

The Fresh 20 juicy pork chop with nectarine salad and shaved almonds clean eating meal plan service recipe
Meal prep with 20 fresh ingredients

OUR ANNUAL MEAL PLANS ALSO INCLUDE

CLASSIC MEAL PLAN

- Buy One Annual Plan & Get an Additional Annual Plan Half Off

- Access to The Fresh 20 Meal Plan Archive with 10,000+ Healthy Recipes

- Searchable Recipes and Weekly Menus

- Only $1.67 per Week

- Our ALL ACCESS PASS also Includes Our Super-Popular Lunch E-Book

AS LITTLE AS $1.67 A WEEK

Three hands eating 3 fresh healthy family rice bowls on a white marble table from above
Meal prep with 20 fresh ingredients

OUR ANNUAL MEAL PLANS ALSO INCLUDE

GLUTEN FREE MEAL PLAN

- Buy One Annual Plan & Get an Additional Annual Plan Half Off

- Access to The Fresh 20 Meal Plan Archive with 10,000+ Healthy Recipes

- Searchable Recipes and Weekly Menus

- Only $1.67 per Week

- Our ALL ACCESS PASS also Includes Our Super-Popular Lunch E-Book

AS LITTLE AS $1.67 A WEEK

A baking sheet pan loaded with maple soy salmon recipe surrounded with vibrant bok choy and a bowl of rice
Meal prep with 20 fresh ingredients

OUR ANNUAL MEAL PLANS ALSO INCLUDE

VEGETARIAN MEAL PLAN

- Buy One Annual Plan & Get an Additional Annual Plan Half Off

- Access to The Fresh 20 Meal Plan Archive with 10,000+ Healthy Recipes

- Searchable Recipes and Weekly Menus

- Only $1.67 per Week

- Our ALL ACCESS PASS also Includes Our Super-Popular Lunch E-Book

AS LITTLE AS $1.67 A WEEK

Woman squeezing a lime wedge into a hearty bowl of The Fresh 20 Vegetarian Spanish Instant Pot Crock-Pot recipe
Meal prep with 20 fresh ingredients

OUR ALL ACCESS PASS INCLUDES

ALL ACCESS PASS

- 12 Months of Access to ALL 6 Meal Plans (Classic, Paleo, Vegan, For One,             Gluten Free and Vegetarian

- Access to The Fresh 20 Meal Plan Archive with 10,000+ Healthy Recipes

- Searchable Recipes and Weekly Menus

- Monthly Resource Guides

- Also Includes Our Super-Popular 6-Week Lunch E-Book

 

NEVER WORRY ABOUT MEAL PLANNING AGAIN

9 different healthy meals for The Fresh 20 All Access Pass
Meal prep with 20 fresh ingredients

When you purchase the All Access Pass, you get not one, not two, but access to all 6 meal plans. (goodbye boredom & hello variety!) Your teenage daughter just turned vegan? Husband can’t give up meat? You went Paleo this season?

Or maybe you...

Want to break out of your dinner slump and experiment with out-of-the-box flavor combinations and “less-likely-to-use” ingredients that become your go-to favorites?

Finally, a chance to keep everyone happy.