Kid-Friendly Summer Snacks: Recipes & Tips

Summers: Kids love them; parents have mixed emotions. You’re constantly on the run, and putting together healthy meals and snacks may be a challenge.

During the summer, snacks account for more than a quarter of an average child’s calorie intake. Why settle for non-nutritious, salty or sugary snacks when healthier options are easy to prepare and very accessible.

ABCs of Easy Summer Snacks

• Here are a few registered dietitian-approved tips and easy to prepare nutritious snacks to help your child’s growing needs during these long hectic months:
• Kids love to dip.
• Wraps are kid-friendly.
• Kids enjoy helping out with snack preparations, especially if you allow their friends to join the fun.
• Communicate and work together with other parents.
• Be creative.
• Make healthier snacks easily accessible.

Summer Snack Recipes

Ingredients	Preparation
Caprese Salad Kabobs 3 pieces of fresh mozzarella cheese (small pieces). 3 basil leaves 3 cherry tomatoes 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil Bamboo skewers.	Place cheese, basil and tomato onto a skewer until all ingredients are stacked. Drizzle olive oil over assembled skewer.
Cucumber Boats With Spiced Yogurt Small cucumbers. Small container of plain yogurt. Cumin.	Cut the cucumbers in half lengthwise and scoop out seeds. Mix yogurt and a dash of cumin in a bowl. Spread the mix into hollowed cucumbers.
Little Dippers Carrot sticks. Crushed peanuts/almonds/or chia seeds. Hummus.	Dip carrots in hummus. Roll in nuts or seeds.
Magic Wands Pretzel sticks. Nuts/chia seeds. Nut butter of your preference.	Dip pretzel tip in nut butter and roll in nuts/seeds.
Ants on a Log Celery Sticks* Tbsp. of your favorite nut butter* Almonds Raisins or other dried fruit*	Load a few celery sticks with 1 tablespoon of any nut butter Top with a few whole almonds and/or raisins.
Banana Nut Wrap 1 whole grain wrap. 1 banana. 2 tablespoons of your favorite nut butter*	Lay out wrap and spread nut butter. Place sliced banana on top of nut butter. Roll up,

* Celery, nut butters and dried fruit should be avoided for children under the age of 3 years old, due to increased risk of choking.
Source: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics www.eatright.org

Krista Yoder Latortue is a registered dietitian affiliated and educator affiliated with the Community Health department of Baptist Health South Florida.