Driscoll's #3pmSnack Movement...Featuring Berry Parfait with Brown Sugar Cream

I don’t know about you, but most days I get what I call The Afternoon Hungries. It's been a few hours since lunch...and dinner is still a few hours away…and I’m sitting at my desk with a growling stomach. At the office, that could mean a trip to the vending machine. Luckily, my office offers healthier options in the vending machine, but it’s hard for me to make a wise choice when I see crunchy chips and sweet goodies through the glass! Do you find yourself searching your desk – or your kitchen – for something to snack on in the afternoon? If so, you’re not alone. A new survey sponsored by Driscoll’s Berries revealed that 97% of those surveyed indulge in a between-meal nibble at least once a day, and almost three fourths of afternoon snackers feel they should be making healthier snack choices. Another interesting finding is that half of those surveyed reported that they most often want snack around 3 p.m. – and 79% of those respondents snack in order to refuel or beat “the afternoon slump.”

The survey also revealed that the time of day people reach for their snacks affects their snack choice. People who snack between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. are more likely to choose fresh fruit. “It’s great to see that people often make a fresh fruit choice as an afternoon snack,” says Frances Dillard, Director of Marketing, Driscoll’s. “We know that it’s not easy to always make a healthy choice. That’s why we are excited to launch a campaign that will introduce great tasting blueberry snacks to replace the unhealthy 3 p.m. snack, especially as people are trying to keep their New Year’s resolutions on track.” Driscoll’s is launching its #3pmSnack campaign to encourage people to snack on fresh fruit, including their healthy and delicious blueberries.

Many people are looking for a sweet but nutritious way to crush their cravings and hunger. Blueberries offer the perfect healthy indulgence, and Driscoll’s is making it easier than ever to incorporate antioxidant-filled berries into your diet. At just 80 calories per cup and containing virtually no fat, fiber-rich blueberries keep you satisfied the entire afternoon. Blueberries are a super food that contain more antioxidants than many other foods; they also contain Vitamin C to keep health in peak condition while enabling you to meet your 2014 weight management goals. I’m taking part in this campaign by creating Berry Parfait with Brown Sugar Cream, a healthy and delicious afternoon treat that can be enjoyed at your desk…or in your kitchen. It’s a great after-school snack for kids too! Make the simple creamy sauce the night before and assemble the parfaits whenever your #3PMSnack cravings hit!

Berry Parfait with Brown Sugar Cream

a Weekend Gourmet Original

Ingredients for two parfaits:

• 1 cup Driscoll’s blueberries
• 1 cup Driscoll’s raspberries
• 1 cup lowfat sour cream
• ½ cup light brown sugar
• 1 tbs. honey
• ¼ tsp. lemon or orange extract
• Vanilla beans from one pod
• 1/3 cup granola
• 2 tsp. finely chopped pecans

Directions:

Step 1: Combine the sour cream, brown sugar, honey, extract and vanilla seeds. Stir well to combine and set aside in the fridge. If there are a few lumps of brown sugar, they will soften in the fridge. Just give the sauce  another stir just before you assemble the parfaits.

Step 2: Assemble the parfaits. Combine the berries and divide equally between two stemmed glasses OR portable plastic containers. Top with 2-3 tbs. of the sauce, half of the granola and 1 tsp. of the chopped pecans.

That’s it…these parfaits are a healthy and flavorful afternoon snack that will keep you satisfied until dinner! Feel free to use a different berry for the raspberries if you like – chopped strawberries would also work nicely. The fresh berries work very nicely with the tangy-sweet brown sugar cream sauce…and the granola and pecans provide a nice bit of crunch. FYI...you’ll have plenty of the brown sugar cream left…which is a good thing! Spoon the remaining sauce into the sour cream container and store it in the fridge for up to a week. It’s great for dipping all kinds of fruit – especially apple slices and whole strawberries.

I hope this simple parfait recipe will inspire you to create your own #3pmSnack treats using Driscoll’s blueberries. Driscoll’s is also sharing some awesome blueberry snack recipes at on their website. You’ll find lots of great ideas for portable, sharable snacks that empower you to take a fresh look at afternoon nibbling. These treats are delicious…but they’re healthy too. That’s a great one-two combination in my book! Through February 28th, you can also enter to win in the Driscoll's #3pmsnack sweeps. The Grand Prize package includes a Vitamix blender, snack containers and free berries for a year. Two other lucky berry lovers will win free berries for a year!

Disclosure: Driscoll's provided me with berries to facilitate this feature. I received no further compensation, and all opinions expressed are my own.

          

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