National Ants on a Log Day

So who's celebrating this national holiday? Personally, I think everybody should. But not just for the day. Ants on a log are good every day and should be celebrated as often as possible. People ask me all the time, "How can I get my kids to eat more fruits and vegetables?" or "I try to eat healthy, but I don't know what to eat. And I don't like to measure stuff out.". Well...here ya go...



 

Ants on a Log is the perfect snack for kids or adults. It gives us a veggie, fruit and protein, wards off hunger pains and really packs a punch with vitamins and minerals. When shopping for food, always try to buy organic. Make sure you wash your celery. Sure, it's organic, but who knows who has been touching it. So just to be safe, wash your fruits and veggies. I trim my celery at the top near the leaves and at the bottom just before the stalk gets white. Then I cut them in half. Makes it easier to put into a lunchbox.

Celery on its own doesn't have much of a taste. But it's very versatile. You can eat it alone, or chop it up to be added to stir fry or salads. It is full of phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals. And unlike some vegetables, it will retain its vitamins even when steamed. It's a good source of vitamin K with smaller amounts of vitamin C, vitamin A, and some B vitamins. And it's a good source of potassium and fiber.

I don't normally measure out the peanut butter. But I used about a tablespoon of peanut butter for all 4 pieces. Peanut butter is high in calories, so be careful not to overdo it. However, peanut butter is a great source of potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium, zinc, manganese and selenium. It also has good levels of vitamin K, niacin, vitamin B3, vitamin E, thiamin and riboflavin. 

 

The final step is to add the "ants". I like having the little snack size boxes of raisins on hand because raisins help satisfy my sweet tooth. I put a few on the celery and then put the box in my purse. That way I have a snack that is easily accessible while I'm running errands during the day.

The health benefits of raisins are amazing. They are known to help with constipation, acidosis, anemia, fever, and sexual dysfunction. These little gems have high levels of catechins. What? Catechins. Those are polyphenolic antioxidants in the blood. You know what antioxidants are right? Antioxidants scavenge on free radicals that float around the body and wreak havoc on the organ systems and cells.  Free radicals are bad. They are one of the primary, underlying factors that lead to the spontaneous growth of cancer cells. So while this all sounds promising, raisins are also a high calorie food. Again, don't overdo it. Everything in moderation. 

So Happy National Ants on a Log Day! Celebrate with your family and friends and put this power packed snack into rotation of your healthy eating habits.