By Jonathan Elkins
I’ve recently made a move away from keeping certain snacks in my pantry; no more chips, cookies or snack packs. I made a deal with myself that if I was going to eat food, it needs to take more than a minute to prepare. While most people are capable of exhibiting self-control, I unfortunately have been known to demolish family-sized bags of chips in a single sitting. This routine has led me to create several snacks that fit within my rule.
- Classic PB&J.
The main difference between a normal PB&J and mine is that I toast the bread instead of using regular bread. I think that the toast does a good job of breaking up the texture of the peanut butter and jelly with a nice crunch.
- Grilled Cheese Sandwich
I start off melting about two tablespoons of butter in a hot frying pan, lightly toast two slices of bread in the pan, and wipe out the excess butter. Leaving only a bare coating of oil on the bottom of the pan, I take around a quarter cup of shredded cheese and spread it evenly on the bottom of it; this part is entirely up to you. I always like to heat the cheese in a non-stick pan so it’s easy to cook and peel off the pan. After the cheese is melted and dark brown on the bottom, use a spatula to move it to your toast. While most sandwiches are done at this point, I usually prefer to re-butter the pan and cook the sandwich for about 30 seconds on each side to ensure everything is warmed through. Personally, I like to add chipotle or fry sauce between the toast and cheese, but whatever your preference, it buttery, crunchy deliciousness.
- Fruit and Peanut Butter.
I find that chilled fruit is a very refreshing and enjoyable snack. I slice a banana, an apple, or some celery and top them with peanut butter. I place them in the fridge for several hours and while this can be a bit difficult with fresh apples, pre-cut apples are easier given their citrus coating.
These snacks have made a big difference in how much I eat each day. I find myself snacking less overall lately, as I think there is much less temptation in needing to heat a pan than there is in grabbing a bowl of chips or ordering in.
