Does colder weather make you want to cocoon? If you’re ready to curl up by the fire with a blanket and a book, you’ll want to stock up on comforting snacks to get you through the winter months. Here are some delicious foods that will keep your mouth and body healthy year-round.
Wellness + Nutrition
Winter snacks that will make you happy inside
In-season produce
Many fruits and vegetables not only taste good but also satisfy your urge for something crunchy. That crunch, along with high water content, helps clean your teeth.
While there are more fruits and vegetables in season during spring and summer, some produce thrives in colder temperatures. These mouth-friendly fruits and vegetables are in season during winter months:1
• Carrots take on a sweeter taste during winter.2
• Celery can be enjoyed raw, with hummus or in soup.
• Kale is an incredibly versatile vegetable (try our baked kale chips recipe below!).
• Juicy apples and pears are delicious raw, baked or in smoothies (keep reading for our apple pie smoothie and pear-walnut crostini recipes).
Healthy year-round snacks
Many appetizing snacks that are good for your smile can be enjoyed any time of year. Dairy products, such as cheese and low-sugar yogurt, are high in calcium for strong teeth.3 Nuts are not only packed with flavor, but they also stimulate saliva production to help prevent tooth decay and are much lower in cavity-causing carbs than many other crunchy snacks.4 With delicious dark chocolate, you can satisfy your craving for sweets while keeping a healthy mouth in mind. Plain dark chocolate washes off teeth easier than other candies and has less sugar than milk or white chocolate.
Easy ways to spice up these winter foods at home
Apple pie smoothie
Get your mouth-friendly apples, almonds and yogurt all in one delicious drink. Just blend these ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth:
Ingredients:
1 red apple
5 raw almonds
2 tablespoons oatmeal
1 banana
¾ cup plain yogurt
½ cup milk
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Baked kale chips
Unlike fried, starchy chips, these baked kale chips are healthy. And they’re also crunchy and savory, so you won’t want to stop at just one.
Ingredients:
1 bunch kale
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon seasoning salt
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
3. Remove kale leaves from stems and tear into bite-size pieces.
4. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with seasoning salt.
5. Bake 10-15 minutes until edges are brown.
Pear-walnut crostini
Satisfy multiple cravings with this interesting mix of flavors while getting the oral health benefits of cheese, nuts and fruits.
Ingredients:
1¼ cups ricotta or cottage cheese
2 pears, sliced
¼ cup walnut pieces
Coarse salt
Ground pepper
1 teaspoon honey
Whole-wheat crostini
Directions:
1. Spread ricotta or cottage cheese on crostini.
2. Top each piece with several pear slices and a few walnut pieces.
3. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Drizzle very lightly with honey.
