Step Up to the Calorie Counter: Not Your Processed Fruit "Roll-Up"

Want to carry fruit with you, but you don't want the mess?

How about wrapping it to go?

Yes, it really is that easy.

Peanut Butter and Fruit Roll-Up

Image courtesy of Pinterest

It really is that easy. 

1. Choose your bread. Keep it thin so it rolls easily, such as a whole wheat tortilla, thin pita (split a pita pocket in half) or naan.
2. Choose your fruit. Banana are the perfect fruit on the go, but strawberries, raspberries or other fruit that's not too juicy or fragile may be on the menu. This is your creation, so make it your way.
3. Choose your peanut butter. Check the sugar and salt content in your favorite peanut butter or spread to make sure you're staying healthy. Even a little may be too much.

What will you put in your roll-up?

Step Up to the Calorie Counter: Fruit Cup With Peanut Butter

Fruit Cup With Peanut Butter

Imagine a cup with your favorite fruit — bananas, oranges, berries, mango, pineapple — topped with a dollop of peanut butter.

Choose your fruit and enjoy that healthy snack. Choose fruit in season and mix it up as the weather changes.

Courtesy Fitness for Bombshells via Beautiful Pictures of Healthy Foods.

Step Up to the Calorie Counter: No-Bake Banana Bites

Spring has sprung, which will take you outdoors and away from the kitchen. Try these nifty snacks on the go, courtesy of Nature Box.

Remember to look for low-salt and l0w-sugar ingredients — and try to find local honey.

Makes 2 dozen 1-inch balls

Ingredients:

• 1 cup NatureBox Banana chips
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup chunky peanut butter (or other nut butter of your choice)
• 1/3 cup honey

Directions:

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Crush the banana chips with the back of a butter knife (or roughly chop in food processor) and add to a large mixing bowl.

Add the oats and cocoa to the banana chips and mix together. Add the peanut butter and honey and stir well.

Place in the refrigerator and chill for 30 minutes. Once chilled, remove from the refrigerator and form small 1-inch balls with your hands.

Place onto a baking sheet and chill for 15-30 minutes (until firm). Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Courtesy Nature Box

Step Up to the Calorie Counter: Peanut Butter Dip

Peanut Butter Dip

• one-half cup peanut butter
• 1 cup Greek yogurt

1. Stir together and enjoy!

Courtesy Fabulous Food Blog

Step Up to the Calorie Counter: Neat Apple and PB Sandwiches to Go

While apples are at their peak, take advantage of them: use apples to make a healthy, neat peanut butter sandwich. 

Here's a recipe from Whole Living.

Photo: Johnny Miller, via Whole Living

Ingredients

• 1 apple, halved and cored with a teaspoon
• 2 teaspoons all-natural crunchy peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon old-fashioned rolled oats

Directions

1. Stuff cored apple halves with peanut butter and sprinkle with oats.

Press the parts back together and go!

Step Up to the Calorie Counter: On-the-Go Munchies

Skip the candy bars and other empty-calorie snacks that drain the wallet and healthy eating habits.

Try one of these great ideas offered by Choose to Thrive in a recycled, easy-to-carry container.

Celery and peanut butter? Put it all in a clean, used peanut butter jar:

When you get home, wash the jar for your next snack.

Contain your dip in a container within a container, such as a baby food jar, small jelly jar or yogurt container:

Keep everything in a cooler or on ice until you're ready to eat it.

Sure, there are plenty of manufactured containers that may fit the bill as well —  but before you invest more money in containers that may not make it back from the campground, road trip or friend's car, look around at what you already have on hand.

What ideas like this can you bring to the table?