QUIKIES:

I know when I get home from a busy day; I am famished and want something RIGHT NOW!!!  (Whoa, three exclamation marks, I must really mean that.)  I want to eat healthy, but when hunger strikes, the tendency to reach for the chips or swing by the fast food joint often outweigh the desire for a healthy meal.  This type of situation is where my inspiration for creating this page came from.  Quickies is a page is dedicated to fast and healthy survival meal and snack ideas.  “What’s a Quickie?” you ask.  Well, a Quickie is a favorite snack or meal that takes little-to-no prep or cooking time; they are anything from a fast recipe to a favorite/new item available for purchase or a new twist on a traditional stand-by.  There are only three requirements:  1st-fast, 2nd-healthy, and 3rd-delicious (of course). 
I’m always in search for more, and I’m sure you all have your own Quickies so pleeeese let me know.  I’d love to give ‘em a whirl and add them to the list for everyone’s benefit.
 
• Cottage Cheese – I love cottage cheese!  I think I single-handedly keep the cottage cheese industry alive.  I get fat-free cottage cheese which is only 70 to 80 calories per serving as opposed to the 120 to130 calories per serving in the original variety and pair it with some fresh fruit (raspberries, peaches, pears, nectarines, or the traditional pineapple, etc.), vegetables (carrots, celery, tomatoes, jalapeños, salsa, peppers, etc.), or just season with some herbs and spices (seasoning salt, garlic and parsley, fajita or taco seasoning, curry, allspice and an artificial sweetener, etc.).  I’ll often eat this as a snack, but sometimes… I love it so much… I’ll eat the whole carton as a meal (don’t tell Mom). 

• Quick Dip – Add a seasoning packet (Ranch dressing, pesto, bacon and onion, a curry sauce, pureed vegetables, your own favorite blend, etc.) to a container of fat-free sour cream and keep it in the refrigerator to use as a vegetable dip or cracker spread.
Tip:  If you want something a little thicker try blending it with fat-free cream cheese.  This is also great for entertaining.

• Popcorn – You may only think of popcorn in association with movies, and particularly, as that sinful, movie-theatre indulgence, but popcorn can be a quick, easy, filling, and healthy snack.  If you get a healthy, microwavable kind you’ll find that 4 to 5 cups only has 90 calories.  To add a splash of variety try mixin’ it up with flavuh—I really like the kettle-korn popcorn sprinkled with some cinnamon or fun seasoning blends can really spice up regular butter or plain.