Healthy Summer Snacks for Children

Summer holidays are around the corner and the children are going to be home all the time. They are  always going to be hungry, not to mention hot, once they rush in after they have played long hours in the sun. Here are some healthy summer snack ideas for children, for fun, and to beat the heat. And since they are so healthy, all the hard-working mommies can indulge in them as well!

Banana Ice Cream
Ingredients: Bananas, crushed peanuts in bowls, dark chocolate chips in bowls
Final Product: Banana ice cream in container with toppings
Peel bananas and freeze. Remove from freezer and blend. Place in containers and add your favorite topping.
This is the “un-ice cream ice cream”! Also, if kids have any dairy issues, this is a fun way for them to participate in an ice cream sundae.
Cold Fruit and Dip
Serve a plate of strawberries, apple chunks, kiwi slices and pieces of chopped watermelon with toothpicks to make handling easier. Blend 2 cups of low-fat sour cream, 1 package of sugar-free instant vanilla pudding mix, 1/4 cup of milk and 4 tsp. of lemon juice to make a zesty dip and serve it alongside the fruit. As an alternative, combine creamy peanut butter with honey and a little bit of lemon juice to make a nuttier dip option.

Frozen Orange
All you need are oranges and orange juice. Cut tops off oranges and remove insides. Place insides with orange juice into blender and pour mixture into empty orange shells. Freeze. This is a refreshing snack that adds fluid to help meet hydration needs.

Berry Ice
In a mixer, combine 4 cups berries and ¾ cup white grape juice and pulse until mixed. Strain the mixture into a medium-size bowl through a medium mesh strainer. Add ¾ cup maple syrup, 2 tbsp lemon juice, and pinch of salt to bowl and stir. Transfer mixture into a pan and freeze for 1 hour. Remove the pan and scrape frozen edges into the center. Freeze again and then scrape ice crystals into the center again. Freeze for 1 hour, or overnight. Serve when mixture is firm.