This 5 minute cottage cheese snack with fruit is not only delicious by combining peaches, honey, and mint with cottage cheese, it also has the ideal mix of protein, fiber, and nourishing fats (aka the PFF combo), making it the ideal pick-me-up for a mid-afternoon energy dip.
I developed this recipe one afternoon, when I was feeling particularly peckish. I was feeling inspired by a story my parents often recount from their first time in Greece, eating yogurt with peaches and honey on the rooftop under the stars.
I decided to bring that memory to life using ingredients I had on hand. While I didn’t have Greek yogurt, there was some cottage cheese and Okanagan peaches in our fridge and some fresh mint from our garden. I decided to recreate this snack I had heard about since childhood and it was DELISH! I knew I had to get it on the blog.
Why Snacks Matter
As a Registered Dietitian, snacks are a big topic of conversation. I love sharing with my clients and communities about what you can add into your diet so you can feel energized and satisfied throughout your day.
Adding a snack in between meals is the number one cure to hanger. Snacks can help keep your blood sugars stable which improves your mood and energy. Another benefit of snacks? Less cravings and bingeing or eating beyond fullness. That’s right, let me explain…
When there’s a big gap between meals or when we consume snacks that digest quickly, our blood sugars drop and the body initiates a physiological cue to eat.
Ignoring this hunger signal will cause it to intensify over time, growing stronger and stronger until it can no longer be ignored. This can lead to intense cravings, out of control eating, eating beyond fullness or satisfaction, or bingeing.
This 5 Minute Cottage Cheese Bowl with Peaches, Honey & Mint is packed full of protein, fiber, and satisfying fats (the PFF combo), making it the ideal snack for balancing blood sugars. Not only does this trio of nutrients help slow down digestion, it will also help keep you feeling full for longer.
What You Need For This Cottage Cheese with Peaches Snack & Substitutions
Cottage Cheese: Cottage cheese serves as the heart of this snack, providing a creamy and protein-rich foundation that’s both satisfying and nourishing. I love adding cottage cheese to smoothies and popsicles or making a strawberry ice cream with it for an extra boost of nutrition.
While cottage cheese is currently going through a renaissance, I know that it’s not for everyone. (That being said, if you haven’t tried my High Protein Strawberry Ice Cream – it’s DELISH and has converted the pickiest of eaters!)
If you don’t like cottage cheese, you can make this snack like my parents enjoyed in Greece with Greek yogurt. It’s similar in texture and high in protein. I would recommend unsweetened or Vanilla Greek yogurt with this recipe.
Ricotta cheese is another option that can provide a creamy texture similar to cottage cheese. It’s slightly milder in flavor compared to cottage cheese and works well in both sweet and savory dishes.
Peaches: I am lucky to live in BC where Okanagan peaches are abundant in the summer and fall months. I used some fruit stand peaches to make this snack and the result was amazing. If peaches aren’t in season, you can use canned peaches or you can use other fresh fruit. Raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, mango, and nectarines are all great substitutes for this dish.
Mint: I used fresh mint from my garden (did you know it’s one of the easiest herbs to grow?!) but you can always use store bought. If you don’t have any available, you can simply leave the mint out or add another flavor booster like the zest of lemon or lime, coconut, or slivered roasted almonds.
Honey: I used honey to bring out the sweetness of the peaches. You can also leave this out or you can substitute for maple syrup or agave nectar.
How To Make This Nourishing Snack
Scoop the cottage cheese into a bowl.
Top with peaches, honey, and mint. Enjoy!
Mistakes and Fixes
This is a fairly straightforward dish but there are a few issues that can arise (like with any recipe).
Over-ripe or mushy peach: If your peaches are overly sweet or mushy, you can blend them into a puree (like this delicious mango puree) or cook them down into a jam and add them to the cottage cheese bowl.
Too much honey: While honey is a tasty addition, too much of it can overshadow the natural flavors in this dish. If you find your snack too sweet, balance it out by adding more cottage cheese or peaches.
Nutritional Benefits
Cottage cheese: Cottage cheese is rich in protein, which helps with muscle repair and overall body function. It’s also an excellent source of calcium, phosphorus, and B vitamins. Try it in these Lemon Cottage Cheese Pops or this High Protein Cottage Cheese Ice Cream.
Peaches: Peaches are rich in Vitamins A and C. They’re also packed full of fiber, which aids in digestion and helps with our overall gut health and blood sugar levels, and antioxidants which can help with inflammation.
Mint: Mint, especially in teas, has been used traditionally to help with any digestive discomfort and help with indigestion. It’s also a source of antioxidants and adds a refreshing flavor to dishes, making the sensory experience of eating more enjoyable!
How to Meal Prep This Cottage Cheese with Fresh Peaches
If you want to save time in the kitchen while also having quick grab and go snacks for the week, batch prep this recipe.
- Portion out the cottage cheese into individual containers and top with sliced peaches.
- When you’re ready for a snack, top with the mint and honey and enjoy!
Here are 15+ More Quick and Easy Meal Prep Snacks for you to save time while having nourishing snacks readily available throughout the week.
How to Elevate This Snack
Looking to take this snack to the next level? Here are some ingredients you can add for an extra boost of nutrition.
Chia Seeds: Sprinkle a teaspoon of chia seeds over your cottage cheese for a boost of omega-3s.
Hemp Hearts: Add a tablespoon of hemp hearts to your bowl for some extra protein, fiber, and vitamin E.
Nuts or Seeds: A small handful of chopped nuts or seeds (such as almonds or pumpkin seeds) will add satiating fats and crunchiness.
Other Fruit: This can be a little bit of a kitchen sink recipe. If you have any fruit in the fridge that’s about to go, throw it into this bowl and get the benefits of more fiber and vitamins in your diet.
If you make this Cottage Cheese Snack with Fresh Peaches, Mint, and Honey, it would make my day if you would leave a comment and/or star rating below— I love hearing your feedback! And don’t forget to snap a pic and tag me on Instagram @lindsaypleskot.rd so I can see your versions! It makes me so happy to see these recipes come to life in your kitchens! Xo
Print5 Minute Cottage Cheese Snack with Fruit
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
Description
This 5 minute cottage cheese snack with fruit is not only delicious by combining peaches, honey, and mint with cottage cheese, it also has the ideal mix of protein, fiber, and nourishing fats (aka the PFF combo), making it the ideal pick-me-up for a mid-afternoon energy dip.
Ingredients
- ½ cup cottage cheese
- ½ cup fresh peaches
- Honey
- Mint
Instructions
1. Scoop the cottage cheese into a bowl. Top with peaches, honey, and mint. Enjoy!
- Prep Time: 5
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