You may be familiar with peanut butter-filled celery (often including a few raisins on top, making that cute kids' snack aptly named ants on a log), but the combination of carrot sticks and peanut butter is also surprisingly delicious. Crunchy, sweet carrot sticks topped with creamy peanut butter create a snack that will keep you going all afternoon. Add to both kids' and adults' lunch boxes, or enjoy as an after-school snack for a perfect pick-me-up. The protein in the peanut butter will give you a boost of energy while the carrots provide plenty of vitamins and minerals, including a generous dose of vitamin A.
If you don't want to cut the carrots yourself, you can buy precut carrot sticks or baby carrots, which you can find in the produce section of your local supermarket. To add a bit of fun, purchase crinkle-cut carrots, which look like orange french fries. Use your family's favorite type—creamy, chunky, or natural—and brand of peanut butter, and if you need to eat nut-free, you can of course use an alternative such as sunflower butter, or almond butter if tree nuts are OK.
This is a great combination as is, but if you'd like to add a little variety, color, and more nutrition to this snack, toss in some raisins, celery sticks, or apple slices, or sprinkle on a bit of granola.
Ingredients
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2 large carrots, washed, trimmed, and scraped
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1/4 cup peanut butter
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
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Cut the carrots into 2-inch pieces.
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Spread each carrot piece with a little peanut butter.
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Place on a small platter and enjoy.
Tip
If carrots spread with peanut butter are too messy to pack in the lunch box, place the peanut butter in a small airtight container and the carrots in a zip-top bag. If you prefer to keep them together, place the carrot sticks upright in a jar and add a scoop of peanut butter alongside. Either way, the snack can be enjoyed as a dip.
Why is this such a healthy snack?
Peanut butter is always a good choice when looking for a food that will fill you up, without a lot of calories and sugar; the protein provides energy and a feeling of satisfaction. The carrots bring a bit of sweetness and crunch and are lower in calories than whole-wheat crackers or toast.
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
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206 | Calories |
16g | Fat |
12g | Carbs |
7g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 2 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 206 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 16g | 21% |
Saturated Fat 3g | 15% |
Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
Sodium 180mg | 8% |
Total Carbohydrate 12g | 4% |
Dietary Fiber 3g | 11% |
Total Sugars 4g | |
Protein 7g | |
Vitamin C 2mg | 8% |
Calcium 31mg | 2% |
Iron 1mg | 5% |
Potassium 299mg | 6% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |
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