6 Sweet and Savory Dips And Spreads That Will Spice Up Your Family’s Meals
by Marni Fogelson-Teel, 09/28/12
Most parents would agree that it's easy to get into a food routine: Monday is quesadillas, Friday is pizza night, etc. And there’s nothing wrong with that, especially since most kids thrive on routines and predictability. But occasionally you may want to give your family’s meals a little nutritional oomph and variety. Enter our 6 dips and spreads. They’re just enough to add some healthy ingredients into your family’s food repertoire, and they can even be a sneaky parent’s secret weapon.
These dips and spreads are also great for having around for those times when it seems like the only thing that's left in the house is a loaf of bread or a package of pasta. Whether you serve them before dinner with veggie sticks or use them as a tomato-sauce alternative for pasta or rice, we hope you find them useful tools for giving your family some flavorful options. Read on for our 6 versatile dips and spreads.
1. Sweet Bean Dips
They may sound weird, but sweet bean dips can taste really good and can add yummy protein into your family’s diet. Choosing Raw’s sweet bean dips include one that uses azuki beans and another that uses black beans. This type of dip is ripe for experimentation, but if your kids’ tastes are slightly tamer, you could always try one of many savory bean dip versions, which taste great with veggies and Mexican food.
Image © flickr user Albertas Agejevas
2. Hummus
Hummus is an amazing spread as is, and kids love its creamy, smooth texture. It makes a great canvas for other veggies and seasonings. Try this orange hummus or consider adding spinach, roasted red peppers, sundried tomatoes, even pumpkin. You can also get creative with what beans you use instead of the traditional chickpeas. We love making a black bean hummus seasoned with cumin and cilantro, for example.
3. Ajvar
This sweet red pepper spread goes great with quesadillas, paninis, or even tossed with pasta. It’s exotic enough to keep kids and adults interested, but it’s also comforting and with a texture that even little eaters can enjoy.
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