Ants on a log is a popular American snack made with celery, peanut butter, and raisins. It’s a healthy snack that can be easily prepared and has many variations. It’s a good choice for kids and can be packed in a lunch.
Ants on a log is a snack that is especially popular with American children, although various versions are made in other regions of the world as well. This snack is easy to prepare and can be a good introduction to the kitchen for children who are learning to prepare food. In addition to being popular with some children and adults, ants on a log are also considered a healthy snack by many nutritionists, making it a favorite with some parents.
The basic ants on a log recipe starts with celery sticks that have been washed and dried. The peanut butter is spread over the celery, then the raisins are perched on top of the peanut butter; if the imagination is stretched for a moment, one would think that the raisin was a large ant sitting on a small log. Ants on a log are usually eaten as finger food, although fussy eaters could theoretically use a knife and fork.
This basic recipe has a number of variations. Peanut butter can be chunky or creamy, or another type of nut butter, such as cashew or almond butter, could be used. Cream cheese and other soft cheeses could substitute for peanut butter, or adventurous cooks could use jams and chutneys. Other dried fruits like cranberries, chopped apricots or apples could be used in place of raisins, or things like chocolate chips, fresh fruit and nuts could substitute for “ants.” Some cooks substitute celery sticks for pretzels, for picky eaters who don’t like celery. In “ants on vacation” the raisins are left altogether, leaving the celery sticks and the filling.
This snack is generally considered healthy because peanut and nut butters are high in protein, while nuts are full of vitamins and minerals, and celery is a high-calorie food. When ingredients like cream cheese and chocolate chips are used, ants on a log are a little less healthy, but they’re still better than cookies, chips, and many other packaged snacks, making it a good snack choice for kids.
The ants on a log can potentially be packed into a lunch, ideally wrapped in plastic or packed in a small reusable container so the peanut butter doesn’t smear all over the place. Most commonly, it is served on a platter after school or during recess.
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