Ants on a Log

Ants on a Log

Ants on a Log is a spin off the classic Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich that you love to eat for lunch. However, you don’t want to fill up on a PB&J right before dinner! So, you can get the same taste of a PB&J but in a snack-sized way.

Ingredients:

1 stalk of Celery

1 tbsp of your favorite protein spread, here are some suggestions:

• Peanut Butter
• Hummus
• Sun Butter
• Almond Butter

15 Raisins

Directions:

1. Cut celery into thirds
2. Spread your favorite protein spread into the groove of each of the celery pieces
3. Push five raisins into each piece of peanut butter- covered celery pieces
4. Enjoy!

Why can’t I just eat a PB&J?

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches are great to eat at lunchtime, but they are an entire meal so you shouldn’t be eating that much food right before dinner time. Also, the bread and jelly in PB&Js are full of empty calories. So, Ants on a Log is a much more nutritious way to snack before dinner.

Celery is full of fiber and Vitamin K

Fiber- a nutrient that helps the digestive tract (it helps you digest your food so you don’t get a stomach ache)

Vitamin K- helps build your bones (like calcium, it keeps your bones strong so they won’t break as easily)

-also is important for blood clotting (helps you make scabs when you get cuts so you don’t bleed forever)

Peanut Butter is full of proteins and unsaturated fats

Protein- a nutrient that is essential for building, maintaining, and repairing the tissues in our body.

Fat- a nutrient gives you energy. As a bonus, fat in food helps you feel full, so you don’t eat too much. Some kinds of fat are better than others and are actually good for your health. Here are the three major types:

1. 1. Unsaturated fats: These are found in plant foods and fish, and are good for heart health. 
   2. Saturated fats: These fats are found in meat and other animal products, such as butter and cheese, and also in palm and coconut oils. Eating too much saturated fat can raise blood cholesterol levels and increase the chance of getting heart disease.
   3. Trans fats: These fats are found in margarine and certain foods that you buy at the store or get in a restaurant, such as snack foods, cookies and cakes, and fried foods. “Hydrogenated” or “partially hydrogenated” oils in a food item means it contains trans fats. Like saturated fats, trans fats can raise cholesterol and increase the chance of getting heart disease.

Raisins have simple carbohydrates

Carbohydrates: a nutrient that the body breaks down into simple sugars — the major source of energy for the body. There are two major types of carbohydrates (or carbs) in foods: simple and complex.

1. Simple carbohydrates are also called simple sugars. They’re found in refined sugars, like the white sugar you see in a sugar bowl. If you have a lollipop, you’re eating simple carbs. But you’ll also find simple sugars in more nutritious foods, such as fruit and milk. It’s healthier to get your simple sugars from foods like these. Why? Because sugar isn’t added to them and they also contain vitamins, fiber, and important nutrients like calcium. A lollipop has lots of added sugar and doesn’t contain important nutrients.
2. Complex carbohydrates: These are also called starches. Starches include grain products, such as bread, crackers, pasta, and rice. As with simple sugars, some complex carbohydrate foods are better choices than others.
   1. The two types of complex carbohydrates are refined and unrefined grains. Refined grains, such as white flour and white rice, have been processed, which removes nutrients and fiber. But unrefined grains still contain these vitamins and minerals. They’re also rich in fiber, which helps your digestive system work well. Fiber helps you feel full, so you’re less likely to overeat. A bowl of oatmeal fills you up better than sugary candy with the same amount of calories.